The NHS is far from perfect but...

sox8369

Very Interesting site - my medication is £550 per dose !!!! (dont think i will be retiring to the USA !)

Ames

sh1305 wrote: »

Ouch! How much would it be in the UK?

I've no idea, but I was told by a doctor friend that it costs tens of thousands, he wasn't clear whether that's per year or over a lifetime.

I'm just 'lucky' that my condition is one that supplies are ringfenced for so they don't run out, as once you're bad enough to be on it it's lifesaving treatment.

WhiteHorse

Hmmm. I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but let's not forget such things as the postcode lottery. Get breast cancer for instance, and you could be denied the right treatment simply because you live on the wrong side of the street.

I also have to say that NHS costs are hugely inflated. Drug companies charge the earth for products that cost very little. Why politicians have never broken the pharmaceutical giants stranglehold is a mystery.

Finally, I have to say that on those occasions that I, my family or my friends has put the NHS to the test, its performance has ranged from barely adequate to lethal. I have been less than impressed.

kingfisherblue

I have nothing but praise for the NHS. My son was born with a range of birth defects in the digestive tract and abdomen. He also has Down's syndrome. His first surgery, which corrected four life threatening abnormalities, was carried out when he was nine hours old. He has had further surgery since, but fortunately none for five years.

Every day he takes nine different medications, plus two types of prescribed high calorie milk. Several years ago, I looked up the cost of his medication (he wasn't on as many types then) and his milk - it came to almost £500 then. I might look up the link from sunnyone to check the current prices.

I was in touch with somebody from Australia a few years ago - their child had a couple of conditions in common with my son. They had to pay half of the cost of all the drugs needed.

My son will need medication for the rest of his life. We are indeed fortunate to have the NHS, despite its problems.