So glad that your daughter had good service from the NHS and that she is now on the mend.

I must say that I, too, have been very impressed with the NHS service since we have been here. The wheels fell off the parental wagon when we arrived and we had to call the ambulance 5 times in a short space of time (got our knuckles rapped for actually taking dad to A&E in the car while having a heart attack - he didnt want to be a nuisance! - but fabulous service once we arrived!). The ambos have been amazing (all of them!), the ward service was fantastic for my olds on their various visits, and the follow up has been very impressive!

For my part, on registering with the NHS I have been scanned for all the things that people get scanned for over the age of 60 and that all within the first 4 months of being here. Our practice also has things like online booking appointments and renewing meds which is impressive too.

I was recently signed off sick for a week - first time ever in 4 years! Got docked 80 sick hours and had to pay $65.00 to see the doctor and get a certificate. As I was off for a week, work insisted I get a return to work certificate so I did - another $65.00. Medicare covered $28.00 each visit but I am still $72.00 out of pocket. We don't have a surgery that bulk bills up here and there are only 2 so they can charge what they like! I will NEVER take the NHS for granted ever again lol!

I am almost sure here you can self certify yourself as sick for 7 days as law, then you have to get a doctor's note which of course will be FREE!!

Yes, you are 100% right there! In the UK I was entitled to 6 months sick with full pay and then 6 months half pay but I only had one day sick in 5 years so never had to use it. Here we have to earn our sick monthly at 90 hours a year and have to provide a sick certificate for more than 2 days absence. Stupid really cos as paramedics we get exposed to all kinds of illness and potential injury! Another reason I am looking forward to my UK return!

Can someone explain why gout always arrives unannounced in the small hours - usually when there is no chance of getting medication !

Maybe something to do with what you have eaten, or drank, like alcohol or fatty foods etc.

Also age

I am a teetotal vegetarian !! And only 65 and three quarters !

I think our NHS is amazing always have thought so (mine and my families personal opinion from past experience)unless you have not lived overseas in countries where there is not that type of Health Care, people often do not appreciate the NHS but I suppose thats human nature, I have an injury similar to one our DS had overseas, we had to pay for his treatment, my treatment has been by the NHS and its been excellent...dare I say it....even better.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics rightly celebrated the Creation and Conyinuation of the NHS as a great achievement. Long may it continue, and Confusion to its Enemies !

Great to hear that your daughter is getting well.

My husband banged his head on the car door the other day and managed to cut himself quite badly. We went to A&E and he was taken care of within 20 minutes. I was amazed as we've had a few very negative emergency room visits in the US, probably because the GP could never see us so they'd always just tell you to go to emergency, which of course clogged up the hospital.

Anyway, 3 cheers for the NHS