durham_lad

UkWinds5353

That is very heart warming. I love my country but I just don't understand why in America is the healthcare system so profit focused. For a country that prides it's self on religion and values we are one of the least caring nations when it comes to protecting people that are sick and have no real financial resources.

UkWinds5353

Thank you for pointing that information out. Whatever problems the UK might have it certainly is getting some very important things right.

GeniB

Its simple UK winds The system has allowed Big Pharma to become obscenely wealthy in the relentless pursuit of gains for shareholders. They now literally dictate to the government what will and what will not happen .Their lobby is the biggest in the country No-one dare go against them.That Vice president of Pfizer was not kidding when he stood up in that New York court room ( during yet another class A case against the Statin drug and damages caused to thousands of patients ) When the judge asked him why his company couldn't make a useful drug like an antibiotic ,his reply was .'We are not in the business of making people well. an antibiotic would cure someone in two weeks. We are in the business of making people dependent .We need them to take our drugs for long periods, or life.In other words they need a consistent and reliable stream of revenue.
They had been allowed carte blanche to charge what they like for the drugs ,hence the appalling situation with Opioids These companies have encouraged doctors to hand them out like candy. Once addicted the patients have been forced to pay higher and higher sums to get their 'fix' Whole states are now severely addicted to these drugs . My own SIL's state of New Hampshire being one such. People have become so desperate that they have gone on to heroine instead as its actually cheaper.
Until the US government stops putting the dollar before everything ,nothing will change .The mere whiff of socialism sends them screaming 'reds under the beds'

Zoe Bell

I'm another one singing the praises of hospice care and macmillan nurses.
because of them my dad died without pain in his own home with my mom close by. they provided amazing daily routine care for him and respite night sits for my mom.
nothing was ever too much trouble, we had one phone number to call 24-7 and if dad needed urgent care someone was there in record time.
they provided all the medical equipment he needed to be comfortable and were there for my mom as much as my dad.
I will never be able to thank them enough

and yes it was all covered by the NHS

UkWinds5353

What a wonderful story. We never want to lose a love one but when illness happens it is very reassuring to have all needed services there in place to help a family care for a parent or family member. America has so much potential for good but all that promise gets lost or increases on election night. Right now we're moving backward.

ChiJan

Hubby and I are challenged in the reverse here. He was diagnosed with cancer in August of 2018, so our "future" retirement plans to the UK were sped up, especially when I read a press release from the NHS saying that the immunotherapy drug he was getting amazing results with in the States had been approved for patients in the UK. Unfortunately, the fine print is not working in our favor as yet. Although the NICE and the Cancer Drug Fund has granted temporary approval to fund the drug for a clinical trial, we are leaping through all kinds of hoops to get him approved to be covered by the Temporary Approval. His NHS oncology consultant is great and is also working to get him in to see a private doctor down the road in Bristol, but in the meantime, we are waiting. He had infusions in the US every 3 weeks. Now it has been almost 6 weeks since his last treatment. Sigh.... Still we remain hopeful and are "squeaky wheels."

UkWinds5353

Thank you for sharing your story and I hope everything goes your way in seeking the care that your partner needs. I personally would like to see the major countries that are involved in immunotherapy drug creation to start a special funding for patients to afford the use of the treatment. The UK and America certainly can afford the expense of putting to the side several billion so families in their respective countries don't have to worry about the high cost of these new generation drugs. It is not unreasonable for drug makers to experience a lot of expense while making these new treatments but I feel the government should partner up with society in sharing the cost. Because if these drugs accomplish the goal of curing illnesses and improving quality of life, that will lower over-all cost to the government. And it improves society.

ChiJan

Wanted to follow up!! Just got the word today, dear hubby has been approved to resume immunotherapy next week!! We love you NHS!