Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Almost every time I've been in a Spanish state hospital or clinic in recent years I've got the impression that they are under ever increasing pressure and being pushed very close to their limit.
Fortunately most of the staff appeared fairly dedicated to their jobs and somehow have always managed to get by.
However if the present drain on staff and resources continues it is to be hoped that the whole system isn't pushed over the edge.
If I was to be a permanent resident for the next few years I'd be more than a little concerned myself.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Amongst my acquaintance, one person attended Urgencias at our local hospital a couple of weeks ago (a Sunday evening in August, when hospitals in Spain always have reduced staffing and close a number of beds) following a fall. She has a tarjeta sanitaria, was triaged, saw the doctor, X-rayed and had the fracture plastered and was on her way out within an hour. The next day she received a phone call giving her the date of a follow-up appointment to check the alignment of the fracture which she has just been for, again no waiting around. Another person (a permanent resident with a tarjeta sanitaria) I know just had an operation last week as the early stages of breast cancer had been detected, acted upon very swiftly. I would not have any concerns at present if I was in the state system.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Certainly the number of unemployed nurses would suggest that they have either trained far, far to many for their needs, or have cut back drastically on the number employed. As for those knocking the NHS (and if certainly deserves it at times) whilst applauding the Spanish system which they seem to think is without fault, I did a quick google of cases of negligence in the Spanish system, and I got 95 pages of thirty of forty entries on each page. The money they have had to pay out is huge, people dying after being on waiting lists for nine months etc, like the NHS it's far from perfect. Despite what they tell us.;)

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Remember the recent train crash. The local state hospital could not take the injured as so many wards and operating theatres were closed. They had to be directed to a private clinic. There was also a report last week that a man in sevilla had his operation cancelled 3 times, once when he was actually under sedation and on a trolley...the reason, a shortage of nurses:blink: Don't forget the Spanish media are not as transparent as the UK. They collude to exclude negative news.

Best to keep reading the Daily Mail and you can say how great the Spanish health system is on the basis that someone you know was treated well:rofl:

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

You are quite correct aggy, M&S, John Lewis etc are able to recruit the cream of the crop. Why? because they are able t o offer their employees benefits and packages that the small employer just can't compete with. And the big plus for them is there not open at 1.00 am in the morning.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Give me the NHS every time.

I spend an almost equal time between the two countries and judging from my own experiences in my own areas I would put the NHS light years ahead at present.
Facilities in my own area of the UK seem to have made big strides in recent years whereas in Spain all I see is a system under ever increasing pressure with much needed new hospitals that were planned years ago now being put on the back burner indefinitely.

Naturally I can only speak of the areas I know, so it would be interesting to hear other views from those who also share their time equally between both countries.
On a side note, I wonder how many new hospitals could have been built on the money poured down the drain on the AVE white elephant ? ;)

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

I was in La Linea hospital the other day and was treated very well although after some delay. The hospital itself is old and seems to be struggling badly.

Although I'm sure the clinical areas are spotless and safe public areas - waiting rooms, loos and so on were absolutely dire.

There is a brand new hospital there complete with helicopter pad on top which remains unused although it has looked just about finished for a couple of years now.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

It's not just one thing or another. There's just a very different view of what is considered normal practice or behaviour. To apply British or German or any other values to the Spanish system - whatever aspect of it - is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. It's just not the same mindset. The Spanish are far more complacent (or perhaps a more appropriate word is apathetic).

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

I don't rely solely on the media for my opinion of the state of the NHS in some areas. Following on from the serious failings experienced in the care of both my parents, several years apart and in different hospitals, just a few weeks ago my nephew and his partner lost their first baby, at full term, due to the incompetence of a midwife. The midwife in question was dismissed instantly, which should give some idea of just how clear a case of culpability it was, as that is almost unheard of. It transpired that she had already been on a final written warning, which begs the question of why a person whose competence was already in question should have been entrusted with the care of an expectant mother who had already experienced many health problems during the pregnancy, including a severe kidney infection and pre-eclampsia. To the best of my knowledge the case hasn't appeared in the Daily Mail to date.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Unfortunately I've spent more time with the NHS than I would have wanted to, but to date I've had no major complaints, especially as none of the appointments, treatment etc have cost me a penny. As you say, all areas can vary enormously, so can only speak for where I live unlike some here that seem to be able to talk for the whole of UK.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Are you serious? :D

El Pais only has negative news stories about how useless Spain is. Who are they colluding with exactly?

When I worked in the PR sector I was reminded regularly that UK journalists are wined and dined and fed stories on a plate by politicians and private companies much more so than in other countries

In a UK newspaper most of the articles are written by PR guys working on behlaf of their clients. You are only reading what the companies and politicians want you to read. Articles in UK newspapers are either advertising for third parties or advertising by the newspaper itself to attract readers. There are very few "worthy" news stories or investigations that are reported.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

The idea that the British media is the most transparent and unbiased in the world is nothing but a myth.

The UK media usually deflects away from this countries own economic and corruption issues by purposely reporting on Spain, Greece and other EU countries with economic problems to make it seem as if they're the only nations that have problems.

For example, today in the Telegraph there is an article on licence fee evasion, and the claim that 12% of magistrate courts cases are dealing with Licence fee evaders. The whole tone of the article is written to make it seem as if the authorities are on top of TV licence evaders.

It is basically a fear piece written in favour of the BBC. There is nothing unbiased about it.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

The article was probably written by a PR exec on behalf of the BBC licensing department as a way of warning people that they can't get away with not paying the TV license

This then gets emailed around all the newspapers in the country and voila, we have a "news story"

It happens all the time, paid story insertions which are little more than propaganda to brainwash the masses

Then you have people at dinner parties or on internet forums swearing that they know the truth because they read it in the newspaper :blink:

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Which media would you say was the most transparent?

You believe that? :confused: You can't switch on the news without reading about all the UK problems, I think we are probably one of the worst for doing ourselves down. We have some of the best investigative journalist that have ripped our MP's, bankers to shreds, exposed all sorts of failings in business, our hospitals, the list is endless. Of course they tell us what is going on in other countries but I learn more about UK from reading the Spanish press, they seem to report all the negative stories. Do you seriously believe all the other countries are only saying good things about us, certainly in the Spanish press, it's nearly always the complete opposite.

Not sure what point you are trying to make here, yes, it says 12% of court cases are to do with with licence fee dodgers, but I never got the impression anywhere that it said, or even suggested they were on top of the dodgers. Where do you get that from?

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Meg, the warden was supposed to be there for the residents of a group of properties but was increasingly absent due to having the size of remit increased to keep costs down. The council didn't appear to have the money for the old people, spending too much on over qualified social workers who just wanted to get old people off their list by sending them home.:frown:

that is why my sister and I had the fob and telephone connected box installed privately.

subsequently the county installed a call centre system shared with a neighbouring county.

and it is 10 years since dad died, so technology will have moved on if cash strapped councils can afford to keep up with it.