dunroving

Not if you work in A&E and have to deal with the influx of (often agressive) boneheads.

BritinFLUSA

Correct. I have so much respect for front line NHS workers. I laugh here in the US because ignoring inner city ER's, most hospital workers here are overpaid buffoons who fanny around with clipboards and chat with colleagues over coffee or stand around doing nothing. They have no real medical skills beyond looking at the computer to see what it gives as a diagnosis and then incorrectly bill your insurance all the time for the privilege of using their "service".

I know it is fiction, but watch Casualty or Holby City and you will see the "real life" (beautiful) NHS in action.

vikingsail

10 years ago my second US dentist quoted me $25,000 for dental work. now I am no Brad Pitt but my teeth are not that bad! I did use to own a wife . I should have realized as the dentist casually was conversing with me about homes where I lived etc. It was all about sizing me up for the $$. 10 years later and several dentists later I have had none of the work suggested done and no issues. In fact my next US dentist laughed when I told them.

Unfortunately, in the land of the f..., opportunism is seen as a God given right and I am sure that with the practiced 'patter' that same dentist probably hooked two or three unsuspecting victims each month or week for all I know.

Imho, they are rarely looking out for your welfare.

dunroving

... or watch "24 hours in A&E" (ITV? Channel 4?) and see a factual account of "real life" in the NHS.

I have nothing but respect for what they do but acute annoyance for the BS they have to put up with. Grown adults behaving like badly-behaved schoolkids.

The outrageous bonuses paid to mealy-mouthed, self-serving financial sector execs should be redistributed among front line NHS, police and rescue services, IMO.

BritinFLUSA

AGREE! :-) - and I'm a Tory free marketeer!

feelbritish

I watch that program here on BBC Canada and like you am amazed at their patience and the badly behaved. At least it is a true life drama and not hollywood remake of what they think should be an ER!

BritinFLUSA

Hahahaha like that terrible American soap... "General Hospital" - hahahahaha!

chris955

Now I can only give my own personal experience of the NHS since being back and i would hate to come across as overly positive
Unfortunately one of our boys broke his arm around 7 weeks ago, right at the start of the summer school holidays. Took him to hospital where he received fantastic care and we had no complaints at all. His ongoing 'aftercare' has also been great. We took him to the local doctors surgery to have his dressing changed where they removed the wire. They gave us 10 new dressings and a padded protective 'sock'. No charge and no fuss.
I can only compare to our experiences in Australia of course, not America. I had 2 operations in my time there, one on my knee and one on my back and on both occassions I returned home with a bad infection.
Hospitals in both countries seem under staffed and with recently announced cuts back in Australia that could become worse.
The major difference in Australia is the huge cost of dental work, even private dental treatment here is very affordable by comparison.
I would have to say that overall the NHS does an incredible job but as with any system there are problems.

dunroving

Quality of care in the NHS does seem to be a bit of a postcode lottery, and resources are stretched. Don't expect fancy surroundings, privacy, etc., like you get in the US, or a host of diagnostic tests before they decide what's wrong with you. And don't expect non-emergency treatment to occur in a hurry (I'm due for surgery later this year, culminating from a visit to the GP almost three years ago - it seemed like everything occurred in 6-9 month intervals).

But you won't have to worry about becoming bankrupt, unlike the US.

I think that the quality of care is overall better in the US, for those with decent insurance or are wealthy enough to cover the costs - problem is, these are in the privileged minority. And even if (like I was) you are lucky enough to have employer-covered health insurance, you can still end up spending a fortune on co-pays, deductibles, etc., if you have any major treatment.

As I alluded to in an earlier thread, perhaps the most upsetting thing about the NHS for me is that taxpayers' money is wasted on people who self-inflict their need for medical treatment.

rebs

Does that mean you would like to see maternity services no longer offered on the NHS? That's self inflicted and can be avoided, no?

dunroving

I'm not so sure it is "self" inflicted - although it's a while since I took GCSE biology.

BritinFLUSA

Hahahaha!!

Dunroving you are right, re the US - even with expensive employer covered healthcare the co-pays and deductibles ruin you. This is one reason my parents are looking at returning to the UK from here in the US as my mother spends $500 a month for EMPLOYER healthcare for herself and my Dad and then spends thousands each of year on copays and deductibles. I think her insurance starts to kick in around November each year..meaning that she probably enjoys just a few visits/scripts that they completely cover!

Ironically she had some outpatient surgery last that would have cost more with the insurance so opted to pay cash instead!

Bevm

But the crown would probably be the better treatment, long term. Every filling weakens a tooth, and if it's cracked and eventually splits it probably can't be saved. I don't think it's always that dentists are looking to make money, and in my experience really good dentists have a waiting list. They don't have to squeeze money out of those they have, but they do feel passionately about saving teeth.

Bev

Pomster

we registered with an NHS dentist who checked our teeth without even touching them (how can they tell if there are any problems?)

Speaking to medical folk, they said that many of the newly qualified not very competent dentists g under the NHS flag...certainly true for the one we registered with.

Re-registered with a private dentist and the difference was remarkable- and of course more expensive but definitely hugely better.

MissBetty

Last week I was off duty in my local supermarket when I got accosted by a man who'd been a patient of mine the week before. He came up to me saying "Where do I know you from?" I shook my head and said "Sir we don't know each other!" and tried to walk away. He got annoyed and grabbed my arm and said "I DO know you, why are you saying I don't?" I removed my arm, smiled sweetly, leaned over and whispered in his ear "The last time I saw you sir you were blind drunk, had a fight with the bouncers, cut your arm open and lost a lot of blood. You called me a c*** and kicked me even though I was trying to help you. Eventually you passed out on the back of my ambulance and then proceeded to s*** yourself. I'm the paramedic that came out to you that night." The look of horror on his face was priceless as he muttered 'Um sorry!" and shuffled away.................

In reply to some of the other posts I always have my dental work carried out in the UK when I am on holidays. I have to go private but I find its a third of the cost of Australia and far better quality of work IMO. Hopefully I can find an NHS dentist to sign up with when I am back though