teejaydee

Yes, similar to the one in NZ eight years ago:

Strike because doctors 'care about patients' - National - NZ Herald News

Kotare

Sorry I total disagree after a couple of interesting experiences with the NHS. I am sure the care you get once under the knife etc is first class, but the bureaucratic and administrative shambles to get to that point can be horrendous. Care is financially based, the lead times unacceptable in a first world country and the Gp system has nearly collapsed (10 days to get an appointment).

I have just spent 6 years using the French and the German systems which make the NHS look like a laughing stock (if it wasn't killing people).

Some of the problems like financial rationing apply to NZ but to date I have been impressed.

I have just logged onto Mycare which has all my NZ med records (incl todays results etc). When I got a print out of my NHS records when going overseas (at a £50 cost) they were a mishmash of total rubbish.

Peter

ps are you ex NHS?

Kotare

Well if you believe that about the UK strike you are gullible it is totally about money (for the Doctors).

MrsFychan

I really don't think the wait for an appointment is really a valid one. I never have had to wait that long, maybe a day or two, for an appointment in the UK and my kids always got appts the same day. Perhaps thats because I would not accept anything less.
The wait here can seem less, I believe, more to the lack of people able to afford to go just for a niggles and the smaller population.
I also have fallen foul of bad medical practice here that has lead to possible a life time of problems because of it, but I have also found a great female Dr for my daughters problem who I am very happy with. But thats personal choice, my GP in the UK was a good fit for me but MrF would not go and see him preferring another Dr in the practice.

Grayling

I think you are over egging the pudding just a little

Same day appointments are common here...in fact I got one last week.

Grayling

....And what was the narrowly avoided recent threat of strike in Auckland about?

BEVS

So . I do not get this at all. The ranty bit I mean.


You are in the Uk. You will use the NHS or some sort of private thing.

You are in NZ , you will use the public service or some sort of private thing.

I have personally experienced very good and very bad in both public systems.

Both have saved my life (NHS more than once but were results of an RTA and other internal crud. ) One time instant referral and instant treatment and one that nearly killed me.
NZ system - twice - mis-diagnosis Very BAD - very bluddy bad & a DHB apology

NHS system killed my Mum through mis-diagnosis over six weeks. Very rare brain tumour. Mind you . Unlikely they could have safely operated really given her RTA.
NHS gave my Dad best possible care you could wish for until the end of his days. Cancer and all manner of issues. 20 years. They even were able to have him die in his own home with me.

Erm. It is what it is.

What it is not. Is some sort of flaming well competition .

Kotare

Nope born in Bournemouth, raised in NZ, but a 40 year OE as an expat all over the world using different med systems.

Yes I believe the NZ system is miles better than the NHS (but based on a few years experience on and off here). Certainly I believe the NZ system will keep you alive longer if you have a moderate income. Not many rich in NZ and I am a poor pensioner .

Bo-Jangles

More recently the PSA Allied Health workforce (Radiologists, Lab Techs, Anaesthetists and the like) were on strike in NZ. I don't think anyone would stoop so low as to try to hold them up as an example for the shortcomings of the health service here.

It cost me $56 to see the quack for 30 seconds and unless an accident or something life threatening, you are most unlikely to be referred to the hospital or to a specialist. My own GP recently referred me to Dr Google, I was pretty stunned at that 'she'll be right' approach.

In my experience, you're more than likely to be left ot your own devices and / or be referred into the arms of the private sector where you will be relieved of plenty more of your hard earned cash.

Bo-Jangles

Besides anyway if it is a competition I think we win, it seems that 90% of the staff in my local hospital are imported from the NHS.

Kotare

Actually, I believe the short GP lead times here are because it costs, unlike UK where you can pop in for a chat with the harried GP.

Very surprised you could get an appointment that quick in uk. 10 days was my last attempt for something non terminal and that seem normal for my friends (Bicester/Oxford).

BEVS

What

LauraNotts

I woke up deaf one morning, thought it was ear wax and when it didn't clear up wandered down to my GP (got an appointment that day) much to my surprise they booted me straight up to the hospital for emergency audiology appointment where I was again seen that day and given a strong course of steroids which, I am told by the specialists there, saved my hearing. At my follow up they said they are planning on doing and MRI just to rule out anything sinister. I was pretty happy with the CDHB there.

Bo-Jangles

The NZ system is inferior on so many levels that you don't find out until you need some particular service and find it's not there or you can only access it if you have private insurance or the means to pay.

Some quite basic things like routine screening, such as bowel cancer screening which is an easy test and routinely offered in the UK nowadays, yet is only being piloted in one DHB in this whole country. Women have to pay for basic cervical screening and that in itself can be a huge barrier that puts people's lives at greater risk; as they'll likely not prioritise or have budget for such things.

I may be wrong but don't think there is any kind of program that calls guys up or prompts them to attend GPs or Clinics at a certain age for prostrate cancer either.

Some well known drugs that are standard elsewhere in the world are simply not funded or available here. People are forced to make some right shonky decisions where it comes to a question of available money versus health, like a friend of mine going to China to get treatment for skin cancer - what's that all about? Because no suitable treatment was offered publicly in NZ.

There's no shortage of people in the NZ papers every day with tales of woe with regards to manipulation of waiting lists, the time spent on or being bumped off waiting for elective surgeries, wrangles with getting funding from ACC, medical mishaps, having operations cancelled, being dished up slops for dinner etc.

The list goes on, so yes I would say it's a very, very long way from perfect.

Kotare

Agree its not perfect. You are wrong ref screening in one area at least, everyone over the age of 60 I think in Northland has just had free heart disease assessment incl a wide spectrum blood test covering kidney/liver/cholesterol/psa (men).... etc