UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
Jul 11th 2019, 4:43 am
#62
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: SW Calgary
Posts: 776
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
Never once waited more than an hour at any ER in Calgary...
Jul 11th 2019, 4:47 am
#63
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: SW Calgary
Posts: 776
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
It's their usual frothy-mouthed ranting about Alberta. Pay it no mind.
Last edited by Photoplex; Jul 11th 2019 at 5:12 am.
Jul 11th 2019, 12:16 pm
#64
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
Jul 11th 2019, 6:24 pm
#65
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 15
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
Jul 11th 2019, 7:57 pm
#66
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: SW Calgary
Posts: 776
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
When another family member was diagnosed with late stage cancer, the quality of care, compassion, professionalism was something like I've never seen before - and most of my family in the UK are doctors and surgeons. I know what I'm talking about. One UK family member who is an oncologist commented that they couldn't be luckier to be treated by the Tom Baker Center in Calgary as they were world renowned for research and treating that family of cancers.
You're taking your single bad experience, and tarring everything with the same brush. Have the presence of mind to realize your experience is an outlier, not the norm.
Last edited by Photoplex; Jul 11th 2019 at 8:04 pm.
Jul 11th 2019, 8:24 pm
#67
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 15
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
That may have been your experience, but that doesn't align with anyone I know personally. In fact, the opposite. In one family members case when they were going through a depressive episode, their GP tried everything first before prescribing meds, such as a relatively unknown therapist service as part of their Care Network, that was free of charge and had an appointment available within days.
When another family member was diagnosed with late stage cancer, the quality of care, compassion, professionalism was something like I've never seen before - and most of my family in the UK are doctors and surgeons. I know what I'm talking about.
You're taking your single bad experience, and tarring everything with the same brush. Have the presence of mind to realize your experience is an outlier, not the norm.
When another family member was diagnosed with late stage cancer, the quality of care, compassion, professionalism was something like I've never seen before - and most of my family in the UK are doctors and surgeons. I know what I'm talking about.
You're taking your single bad experience, and tarring everything with the same brush. Have the presence of mind to realize your experience is an outlier, not the norm.
I have followed this forum for 10 years and never joined because of people such as yourself that can get frustrated by differing opinions and getting 'nasty' instead of politely disagreeing, we don't all have to agree with each other and I accept that whereas you don't appear to.
I shall say no more on the matter as I had decided that when the 'nasties, start appearing (and I knew they would) then I would leave the forum as that's not my way.
I hope that sharing what I went through may help someone, if not, then that's okay too.
I still wish you and your family well photoplex and I hope that you continue to enjoy Canada.
Also, If I may add, I am a health care professional too that also comes from a family of that consists of Doctors and Lawyers but I am a firm believer that as much as I respect them I am more than capable of 'knowing what I'm talking about' without being a Doctor or surgeon...does that mean the rest of civilization can't form an opinion unless you are in that field?
I feel that I am now taking on the 'nasty' stance and I'm not into that.
Thanks to all that have listened and answered in a polite manner whether we agreed or not.
Best of luck to all...even photoplex.
Jul 11th 2019, 9:30 pm
#68
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,821
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
Taxes are always too high. Too much traffic. State of the roads. Faceless bureaucrats. Benefits scroungers. Workshy. Young people of today and so on.
People like to moan.
Jul 11th 2019, 10:31 pm
#70
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 22
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
Majority of UK based “World class” private specialists have had to and continue to hone their exemplary skills via the demands of the politically infested, poorly resourced, very free NHS and it’s gazillion patients. I would not (probably never ever) recommend a private specialist who does not have a foot in the NHS.
Jul 12th 2019, 2:14 pm
#71
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 22
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
I’m sorry to hear this. Hope your health has been stabilized by said specialists.
Majority of UK based “World class” private specialists have had to and continue to hone their exemplary skills via the demands of the politically infested, poorly resourced, very free NHS and it’s gazillion patients. I would not (probably never ever) recommend a private specialist who does not have a foot in the NHS.
A fellow forum-ite suggested going to USA for high quality specialist. Yes, that's an option, but affordability needs to be factored in. Private healthcare in UK is not a privilege for the 1% - in USA it sadly is - plus said option would mean you need to travel abroad for care, so they do not compare in practice.
Again, it may be just bad personal experiences on my behalf so I keep an open mind, but so far while I'd say that NHS and AHS (can't comment on other provinces) are comparably bad, and having private options within reasonable distance and cost is a distinct advantage for UK.
Jul 12th 2019, 2:14 pm
#72
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Near Kingston, Ontario
Posts: 1,318
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
Same as the UK- depends on your postcode!
Jul 12th 2019, 5:09 pm
#73
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 22
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
Be that as it may, when you have a health issue you only care about getting a competent medical professional to look after you - not how they achieved said competence. We would all love to have high quality NHS-style healthcare, but for a whole raft of reasons this has proved to be unachievable wherever it has been implemented. Are there solutions to it? Yes, but I don't expect us to live long enough (no pun intended) to see the whole public/private healthcare debacle sorted.
A fellow forum-ite suggested going to USA for high quality specialist. Yes, that's an option, but affordability needs to be factored in. Private healthcare in UK is not a privilege for the 1% - in USA it sadly is - plus said option would mean you need to travel abroad for care, so they do not compare in practice.
Again, it may be just bad personal experiences on my behalf so I keep an open mind, but so far while I'd say that NHS and AHS (can't comment on other provinces) are comparably bad, and having private options within reasonable distance and cost is a distinct advantage for UK.
A fellow forum-ite suggested going to USA for high quality specialist. Yes, that's an option, but affordability needs to be factored in. Private healthcare in UK is not a privilege for the 1% - in USA it sadly is - plus said option would mean you need to travel abroad for care, so they do not compare in practice.
Again, it may be just bad personal experiences on my behalf so I keep an open mind, but so far while I'd say that NHS and AHS (can't comment on other provinces) are comparably bad, and having private options within reasonable distance and cost is a distinct advantage for UK.
I hear you though and respect your opinion. I have no delusions about the major flaws within the NHS. I had alluded to it’s current shambles in my previous post and my presence on BE is a testament to this mess. It truly sucks lemons for a number of service providers and users like yourself (who are unfortunate innocents within the patchy accounts of incomprehensible failures). However, I can not deny the very high level and standard of training I have received together with my colleagues. Neither can I generalize terrible levels of practice based on a “few” rotten eggs who continue to perpetrate misery to their poor patients.
In the meantime, countries like Canada, Australia, NZ, UAE etc etc are desperately trying to poach us from the NHS much to the annoyance of the GMC and NHS England. They certainly recognize the high level of training. I have resisted out of a misguided sense of loyalty, however like you, I have had enough quite frankly and will be jumping ship soon.
Good, bad and very ugly exist everywhere (including the US and other countries) and within all professions (anecdotes abound of unethical lawyers, dentists etc). Unfortunately you encountered the very bad of which I am embarrassed and apologetic as a clinician.
Jul 14th 2019, 5:29 pm
#74
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 37
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
Jul 18th 2019, 12:27 pm
#75
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,649
Re: UK NHS vs Alberta Health Service - Which one is best?
Dolled out another $120 for a prescription on the weekend. It wasn’t planned or expected. Had to change my plans to accommodate the expense.
Health care is better in the UK because it is healthcare for all.
Health care is better in the UK because it is healthcare for all.