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Is The Nhs All It's Cracked Up To Be?

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Khandro | 11:07 Sat 14th Nov 2020 | Body & Soul
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This, written by a doctor, is one case only, but one case too many don't you think?

https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/read-this-shocking-account-and-decide-if-our-nhs-is-wonderful/
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mushroom, regarding Covid ALL public health services faced the unknown to the same degree (and substantially still do), the NHS was in that respect no worse placed than any other national health service. Mind you, the reactions by other authorities were inexcusably inept in too many of those countries where the first onslaught lagged by weeks behind the early countries. Too many countries (UK included) seemed to think, ah, the Italians can't do anything right, so sat and did nothing expecting "Us" to cope splendidly......and then the proverbial hit the fan (Oops).

Incidentally, one form of praise of the NHS to cover all the failures is often held up: But it's all free. No it isn't, huge amounts of tax money goes into it - and anyway, is it better to get a poor standard of health service and from it that type of treatment (World's Best) without a personal bill to pay or is better to know that the service you go to is statistically/literally the best in achieving a good access/outcome/value for money (yes, for everyone's tax) ? When it matters I would rather have faith in the truth than the myth as to "best", even if I have to pay a bill.

Incidentally, in all the countries I know about, those who genuinely cannot afford to pay for medical care do get medical care for free, even in the USA. It's just that the service available to you on that basis is not at the very best hospitals, etc. That actually also applies in the UK with public versus private healthcare.
For all its faults I am very glad we have the NHS. Over the years I have received excellent service from them. On the other hand I have lived in a country where there was no health service as we know it. Don't have money to pay? On your way.
well said Karl
The concept of obligatory contributions to provide health care for all the nation's citizens, is wonderful. If that isn't the envy of every nation that doesn't have it, then it should be.

Isolated incidents are not necessarily a good indicator of the whole system. And every system is subject to potential improvement anyway.
I have had many calls on the NHS and never found them wanting.
Why do people always say its a choice between the NHS and the American system? What about France and Germany?
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brainiac // are you later [inthe USA] (assuming you survive) presented with a bill for your treatment?

Depends on circumstances, but in the UK you are presented with the bill BEFORE treatment (even if you don't have any) by your national insurance contributions.

dave, quite correct - why not just look at the outcomes (the list in my link is a good start, just look at the hugely detailed comparison, illness by illness) and then reach for a higher rating by copying what the best are doing. Too foreign ? OK, don't expect any better then and remain inferior.
Khandro, I know someone who, while away from the UK last July, phoned the local surgery with a concern, got an appointment for four hours or so later, was seen by not just one but two doctors who compared notes. The medication was available at any pharmacy nationwide before she left the surgery, all needed was to present ID and the pharmacy (any one of them) accesses the online prescription and issues the medicines. At her local surgery in the UK she would have been lucky to reach them for a telephone conversation with a doctor in the couple of days, she would definitely not have got a face-to-face consultation/examination.

Incidentally, all of the above was provided courtesy of the EHIC which will disappear at the end of this year. Where will the NHS end up in the ratings post-Covid and post-Brexit I wonder. In one sense allen is correct: The NHS is very possibly the envy of the countries below the UK in the ratings, but certainly nobody living where the health service is better will want to have NHS outcomes. This is the point, we shouldn't be staring down the way and give praise that it could be worse - we should face upward and strive for better (not just inappropriately award ourselves "Best" status).
Of course the NHS isn’t perfect, but I have always had excellent treatment for both long term and short term health conditions. There are certainly some areas of the country that are less well served than others and maybe, after Covid this can be looked at.
[i]he was unable to get an appointment to see a doctor on the NHS in less than 3 weeks, even when trying telling them he was a doctor[.].

excellent. Why should he jump the queue by pulling rank? Heal thyself, mate.
Anyone with health insurance in any health system is "presented with the bill BEFORE treatment (even if you don't have any)" if one insists on looking at it in that way. But some systems ensure that, that means all are covered to the required standard, equally.
// Do any other countries worship their health system?//
yeah Germany - and the US of A - if you are insured
and people really do say - yeah really good if you are insured
All of you !
Go ! Go ! to the places where it is better
off you trot ....

no one moved? - - - I kinda thought so
// but in the UK you are presented with the bill BEFORE treatment (even if you don't have any) by your national insurance contributions.//

complete and utter booloo of course - kandy try to keep it straight

in the UK you pay an insurance premium - around £6 000 per tax payer I think . And this is NOT tied to the treatment you consume and so can in NO way be thought of as a bill or fee note. Play the game and tell the troof
jesus
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Karl: This is a link about Germany I have just received,
https://email.t-online.de/em#f=INBOX&m=15679552001560610&method=showReadmail.

PP. N.I. contributions are paid before & after treatment, even if there isn't any, it never stops. My dad paid all his life & never once went to the doctor's, though he did once have a tooth out which was 'free' in his day, an expensive extraction of money & tooth
// PP. N.I. contributions are paid before & after treatment,//
good we agree
then it is not a FEE is it? or BILL

[answer reqd: no PP you are quite right again - it is more in the nature of an insurance premium]
I hve no idea why people call me bullying hectoring and ignorant

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