sparkie down under

Who here either works for, or has personal experience of, both the NHS and Kiwi medical services, and which do you think are the best?

My reason for asking is I've had experience of both and personally give me the NHS, queue's an all, any day. (plus I've just been told that one of the few Kiwi friends I have has just died 3 weeks after having an op. Zip him up - pack him off and opps)!

And given the thread by Genesis on that pension tax and the fact that as we get older we all will need medical services more, I'm all for ditching NZ in favour for UK when I reach pension age.

Just wondering what the rest are thinking

Justcol

dont get ill to soon after you return as there is a qualifying period for free nhs treatment regardless of whether you were born and bred there or not

I think your zip em up statement is a bit of a slap in the face for everybody who works in the health system here in NZ.
I'm guessing you don't know all the details of your friends condition so as upsetting as it may be for you at this time
I think your wrong to suggest the NZ health system operates in that way.
It may operate in a different way to the nhs but that certainly doesn't make the diagnosis, treatment and nursing care
any worse than the UK.

bourbon-biscuit

Weeeeeeeeeeeeell, I've got to say that I will feel much happier when we can afford health insurance. And I also not never ever want to get properly poorly out here.

But for the day to day minor stuff I think it's a better system because I like being able to see the Dr the day I phone, etc. We've had dental treatments + and various doctor trips for things as diverse as a violin string snapping and scratching an eye ball and a burst ear drum and a strained foot tendon and an injured knee (both needing fair bit of ACC paid for physio) and a facial dog bite and anaemia and all the things that happen in families and the service we've received has been prompt, professional and more than satisfactory. You pay for it all of course, but I'm OK with that.

mikelincs

NO THERE ISN'T if you are a British citizen, then you have access to the NHS from day 1 of your return, all you need to do to get access is to prove that you have a valid UK address, utility bill, rental contract (not a holiday let).

rix

the medical system in nz is 3rd world. NHS anyday.

mickey_d

I recently had an operation on my arm & the treatment before, during & after has been 1st class. But it was like being treated by the NHS anyway, all the staff in theatre were either English or Scottish. A Kiwi was on hand after the op. with a drink & a sandwich though
It does help a bit when you OH works at the hospital though

Justcol

Oops my mistake

Based on ?????

Catchafire

Based on BS.

We have had two kids and the pre and post natal care has been exemplary. When I took my kid to A&E after she took a tumble, they could not have been quicker or more caring.

Poster is one those "back in blighty, now I can pan everything about NZ" types.

scrubbedexpat094

I certainly wouldn't describe New Zealand's health service as 3rd world. I've never had to walk for a day or two to access healthcare, set up in a makeshift shack, with beds practically on top of each other to squeeze as many people as possible into a room. Stuff & nonsense rix .

I have worked in the NHS & the NZ healthcare system both public & private. The NHS for me, from a work point of view. The professionalism, the camaraderie, research-based care (as opposed to doing things as a matter of routine for no good reason). I could go on.

As a patient, again I would choose the NHS.

Being given a potassium IVI without it going through a pump gave me a sleepless night.
Being told to wear TED stockings because that's what Mr So & So insists for all his patients. I did argue the toss & lost. I must've been ill !!!
Mr S&S turns up with a whole load of students....doesn't introduce himself, doesn't consent me to have students present, talks as if I'm not there et cetera, et cetera. Didn't wash his hands or use alcohol gel before or after (though this is a trait of many doctors worldwide )
I happened to be in North Shore Hospital which doesn't have the greatest of reputations. The place makes my skin crawl. I'd have been much happier in Auckland City Hospital which is a more modern hospital.
This is part of one of my experiences here, I've had more, mostly poor.

What I particularly hate about the system here is that in order to get free treatment, a person is forced to lie or their GP is. I want an honest relationship with my GP & healthcare professionals, so the ACC system is fundamentally flawed IMHO.

There is good & bad in both systems. Much will depend on the state of the hospital & the health professionals that we come into contact with & how they treat us as people.

I do worry about my health in NZ & how I will cope in years to come. I've not been well since I got here.

BEVS

Luck of the draw I'd say. You get good and bad anywhere. Just my view from my personal experiences here and there.

Bev MK

I'd agree with this. I've had 2 babies overseas, not 3rd World, but a very small and simple system with no access to specialist care if anything were to go wrong and I got absolutely exemplary care there - possibly partly because the medical staff know that they have to think ahead and pre-empt problems and can't shove them off on a big hospital a few miles away. I knew the risks I took not coming home to give birth but I'd do it again in a heart beat as I got caring, individual, consistent and professional care in a clean hospital.

By contrast, several of my friends have had babies in the NHS in recent years. The overwhelming majority of them had appalling care for delivery. 17 births, 3 went OK. Two almost died, spent a fortnight in intensive care and have been left with lifelong health issues and no womb because the maternity units refused to talk to them or examine them when the mothers were telling them they had a problem - unfortunately too many staff seem to just patronise the mum without actually looking at her first to see if there could really be an issue. Swabs left in after a caesar. Appalling post-section infection rates. Friend discharged herself AMA within hours of her caesar as there were roaches in the bottle-making room and in her bed area. Just a sample. It varies a lot I think, depending on the infamous post-code lottery, which hospital and department you're dealing with, who's on staff that day, how many patients they have that day.....

I owe the NHS a lot, they saved my dad's life several times which meant I lost him in my 20s rather than at 11 yrs and for that I'll always be grateful. It contains some fabulous people. But there is and always will be room for improvement. Like most people in the UK (I think), I'd like to see more perm staff and fewer bank staff as I think we all do a better job in any work when you have a sense of belonging and ownership to the place.

My personal experience, not as the patient, but as the relative or friend accompanying is that A&E are usually superb and you get excellent treatment once you've reached that stage but too often, things become emergencies that wouldn't if you got better access to care and diagnosis earlier on.

I'm sure someone will shoot me down for that but I can only go on my own experience and I'm very happy for those of you that have received perfect treatment at every stage.

I'm also very proud of the fact that you get treatment regardless of income in the UK. Britain should be proud of that and protect it.

DennisBergkamp

I have a black mark against the NHS

My mum passed away this year in the UK. She went to the Gp's 3 times in the 2 weeks before she passed away and they didnt spot a blood clot in her lungs even though she said she had breathing problems. Or at least send her to the hospital. The doc said she had NOTHING to worry about. She was only 53.

So i have little respect left for the NHS

If i get PR in NZ i'll sign up for health insurance possibly. GP's have been fine to me in NZ on the 2 occassions i've been.

simonsi

I'm afraid that shows you have NO idea what passes for medical services in the "3rd world".

My wife certainly works in a modern NZ hospital using the same equipment she did in the UK with surgeons to the same standard (about 30% ARE from the UK).

Its a different system, possibly needs a bit more concious thought to negotiate - but then you should see the howlers that occur everyday in the NHS.

The trouble with comparing medical systems is that to properly compare it requires a viewpoint that most commentators can't possibly have.

BEVS

I'm very sorry to read you lost your Mum in this avoidable way. It was the GP that should have been taken to task though not the entire UK NHS service.

simonsi

x2