Kinell, now were getting a thesis on it, I don't have time for the playground attitudes and your attempt at derison, I'll go for a pint, you go jump off a cliff... or Get a life...

Wigin Bob, that better for you...

I can't say I know the word "wigin" is it the verb form of wigger ?

That's a great response K - thank you

Bob, if you ever need a hip replacement, I know a good vet.

I once was told to go to a vet by an A&E doctor.

I had a tick on my leg (fortunately not infected with Lyme's Disease). I had tried an ice cube, petroleum jelly, hot needle, to make the little swine let go. He didn't. He just died. So I had to go to A&E to get Mr. Tick's jaws dug out. The doctor said he'd never treated anyone for a tick before, and that I was better off going to a vet.

Alas, in this litigation-frenzy era no vet would treat me. In the end I had an incredibly painful anaesthetic jab (that doesn't make sense!) and a scalpel slicing Mr. Tick's remains from my leg.

K.

As someone who has worked in both the NHS and Canadian healthcare I can say that the NHS is a much superior system. I'm fed up with people feeding off the UK media wagon that jumps on any negative story about the NHS and pumps it up into something huge. Canada Bob, how much have YOU used the NHS?

Yes, the NHS may appear to be underfunded, but that's because of the ever increasing numbers of people who
a) don't turn up to appointments
b) waste clinicians' time through turning up at A&E to have something checked out that the family doctor could've done
c) hypochondriacs, abusive drunken louts who've fallen over or gotten in a fight and
d) people who don't take responsibility for their own health and expect others to pick up the pieces for them when things go wrong.

I've come across them all and believe me, it's incredibly irritating as a clinician to have to kill time because some pratt couldn't be bothered turning up for an apppointment. And don't give it the "but you can never get an appointment" crap - yes you can if you NEED it! Compared with Canada where thousands, if not millions, of people don't actually have a family doctor, we do OK in the UK. And the UK has just about double the population of Canada, so the NHS is treating a hell of a lot more people. A lot of very dedicated people work in the NHS and pull out the stops when people NEED a service.

Take into consideration the advances in medical technology and the much superior team approach to working with patients (unlike here where it's very much old school bowing to the doctor for all the decision-making), people are now living much longer, despite the increase in chronic conditions, and are requiring more care at home and more equipment - this is all provided free in the UK - you have to pay in Canada (well, Ontario anyway) for home equipment, eg. powered bath seat - Canada $1500, NHS free.

I have animals that came with me from the UK and have required veterinary care in both countries - the vet system is totally privately funded in both countries and operates within the private sector, so of course the vet is going to carry out an operation asap as he knows you'll go elsewhere if he/she doesn't!

A poor comparison overall - and don't get on your high horse about tongue-in-cheek humour or it was a comment made only for a laugh. Joking about the system that I put heart and soul into for 12 years for patients I cared deeply about is no laughing matter when ignorant types like you decide to slag it off. And most of my NHS colleagues felt the same way.

The NHS has its issues (many of which appear to be caused by politicians sticking their oar in and causing turmoil), but its coverage is excellent. If you want to see what's covered on other healthcare systems take a look at the notes accompanying your E111 form (as it used to be) to see what people in the rest of the EU (or EEC if you're Canada Bob) have to pay. For example, usually ambulance cover is not part of European healthcare systems (out-of-province ambulance isn't usually covered in Canada, either).

K.

My OH was recently examined by a vet after coming off a horse. She's not covered by any sort of healthcare scheme in Canada and the vet had to come out for the horse anyway so it only made sense to ask him whether or not her leg was broken. If we had been in the UK we would have taken her to have the leg x-rayed but, since we're in Canada, she's getting by with a combination advice from the vet and from a mate who's a research scientist in a medical field. She hears a lot of "if you were a valuable horse..." and "in the case of a lab rat....".

Ambulances aren't covered by OHIP. At least, I've always received a bill.

So is the NHS better than the Canadian healthcare system

There's no Canadian healthcare system, there are provincial systems. The NHS offers better care in some locations than the comparable system in some parts of Canada.

If anyone on this forum can talk about government supported persecution against himself or his family, then its Canada Bob, he has been through worse situations than many of us could ever imagine. He stood up and fought for what he believed was right, in order to protect the good public, such as yourself, at a very real and immediate risk to his own and his familys lives.

All Bob was trying to do was point out what could be considered an ironic situation.

Get off his case!

Cor Blimey, what a diatribe...

You don't think I'm handing in Homework for your approval do you !

Who's all these "people fleeing torture" that you're on about, I think you need to speak to the lads at Manchester Airport in the Immigration Control. I've known one of them for a long time, and you should hear what they think about the reality, not your spin of it.

What's this about "you'll bet you've paid more tax than me" what do you know about me ?

Seeing as you brought money up, the probability is...
I'd bet I could buy an' bleedin sell you with my pocket change, you brought up the inference but beware, the reality would embarrass you.

I'd go point to point with you but yer not worth it, another PC maniac gagging for a platform by the sound off from.

Get a life, relax, ease off a bit, who the bollocks do YOU think you are !!!

It's not a class room in here, its not your job to mark folks up or correct them, I {like anyone else} am entitled to see the world the way that I do, so if you're looking for someone to walk over, you picked the wrong bloke, go vent yer spleen on someone else.

What's with this talk of testicles, electrodes and wallet sizes, some kind of penis envy you've got going ? Tell you what, save yourself a journey, connect the electrodes to yer own testicles, I wouldn't want you near mine, I'm not into that sort of thing...

Wigin Bob...

His dispute with his former employer has no bearing on his view of the NHS. In light of his tale though one might find irony in his view of asylum seekers.

You initiated the thread by posting a political opinion; an attack on the NHS, you can hardly complain if someone comes back with a literate criticism of your position. Stop blustering, either substantiate your argument that dogs are treated better than people by the healthcare system in the UK, or move on to something else. The ad hominem attacks just make your initial position look silly.