Similar problem in Canada too. Currently pregnant with our second, and we`re declining most tests and intending on a home birth. Wish we had done that the first time too.

A third of US births are now by Caeserean. Even the WHO has expressed its concern at the rate and questioned the medical necessity. Of course, hospitals and doctors make more money if surgery is involved and doctors perceive a lower risk of being sued...

Same applies to the NHS, my friend.

Ive heard those stories too, but how true is it, I think its been told so many times that people start to believe its a common thing, I doubt it...

I hear Americans go to Mexico and other South American countries for surgery and drugs, but I dont know of anyone thats actually done it...

Americans were having bus trips to Canada for drugs, then the politicans were telling us the Drugs from Canada were not the same high quality as American Drugs... its all eye wash to put fear in Americans...

I see we have lots of fake drugs coming in from China, theres no wonder with all the profit to be made in this country, Americans pay more for drugs than anyone, that's why we are a target...

I think everyone is aware that there are "horror stories" about every country's healthcare system and that as such these anecdotes are essentially useless.

Also a vaginal birth generally triggers a two-night minimum stay in hospital while the caesarean triggers a four night minimum (as far as I'm aware), which means the hospital gets to charge the insurance company twice as much for the hospital stay.

Or that my work colleague, a UK resident (she's French) has gone over to France on a number of occasions in order to receive immediate healthcare (for her and her children) because the wait through the NHS was too long.

And as far as that 'study' is concerned, it was a study of 100,000 people. Which does not a nation make, my friend.

I'm not knocking the NHS, just saying.

Just saying what, "my friend"? It was a statistically valid sample from a respected organization (Princeton) published in a respected medical journal (American Journal of Epidemiology). The NHS clearly has its problems, but it sure as heck does a lot of things right as well, as noted in that study.

You are aware that some people have an infinite wait for treatment in the US, my friend? Or that they delay treatment for financial reasons only for a condition to become more acute or even fatal?

Mummy, what I was trying to say was that I did not have the 'American view' the OP was referencing with regard to as being influenced by Obama-speak.

I appreciate your opinion but on the same hand, for patient centered, I'd choose US over UK. I studied and worked as a CNA in the States when I was in my 20s. I've been in hospital in the US on a number of occasions as a patient. Fortunately, I've not been a patient in the hospital in the UK, but I've seen stories on telly* and have read things in the newspaper and received firsthand information from family members here who have been hospitalised for various reasons.

I don't know why I'm wasting my time on this conversation. It's really pointless. My opinion is my opinion.


*In fact, just last night there was something on telly on Panorama about surgical instruments that are made in Iran and imported into the UK. You might want to Google it.

Really? Honestly that's not the impression you give. I think you've been pretty hard on the NHS since you arrived and that's understandable. You're used to something different and you, like me, were one of the lucky few in the US. But to keep saying you're not knocking the UK system seems disingenuous.

As for the horror stories - of course there are horror stories in both places. Personal anecdotes mean nothing - to get an idea of which system works best, you have to look at the overall picture. It's a fact that the UK system leads the US in outcomes, life expectancy and access. But I suspect if you looked at the sub-set of wealthy, insured people in the US versus everyone in the UK, the results would be different.

That's really what this argument comes down to. Do you want access for everyone or just the lucky few? And yes, if your goal is to change minds, it's probably a fruitless exercise. We all know both systems and we all have our own views.

PS: The UK media is inherently negative. You have to tune it out or it drives you insane. The Iran thing is a perfect example. *Insert eye roll.*

You seem a little confused. The "American view" being mentioned was not that influenced by "Obama speak" but by disingenuous opponents of his attempts to get towards universal access in the US. Or maybe your slip is showing?

So why are you living in the UK then????????????????????

I'm wondering* if the Panorama piece covered where other countries get all their surgical equipment from? With the profit motive in the US, you know half the hospitals source equipment from China or India where it can be made for a fraction of the price.

* I'm not really wondering. I already know the answer. The story wouldn't be half as scary if the viewers realized what they're reporting on is the norm.

The NHS medical offering is fine - only downside occasionally is waiting lists for non-urgent treatment - but the NHS dentistry offering is very basic compared to what modern dentistry can do thesedays so he might want to choose an ethical private dentist from the get go (please don't inflict NHS dentistry on him he will hate it).
I would use the medical side of NHS happily but not the dental (unless I were skint).

Only the medical side is totally 'free at point of use' thesedays. Adults may have to pay prescription charges for medicines unless on very low income but these are subsidised heavily and anything prescribed for kids is always free of charge.

It's one of the joys of living in the UK...no one cares about your pre-existing conditions, no paperwork to claim things back after treatment and staff who are more interested in caring for you than in generating dollars, in fact they don't generate any more dollars for themselves by how many procedures they do - they get salaries, albeit reasonably generous ones for doctors.
USA is one of the few countries in the world where people go into medicine to get rich...ie they do it for the wrong reasons.

I'm wondering two things. Firstly, what's wrong with surgical instruments from Iran anyway? Secondly, I'm wondering how one would find out where surgical instruments for any given medical facility in the US come from? I'm betting it's next to impossible to determine.