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-   -   Be grateful for the NHS! (https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/grateful-nhs-748704/)

sid50 Feb 16th 2012 5:50 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 

Originally Posted by fatbrit (Post 9905689)
I'd hope they would, especially if they have children.

the system is far too lucrative for them to be concerned and doctors can always get favours for their own family from colleagues so they are just fine :thumbsup:

Lola-Monmouth Feb 16th 2012 5:55 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 

Originally Posted by sid50 (Post 9905655)
it is free at the point of abuse *cough* should be use!

'they could take things easy and abuse the (sick) people it should be serving'

what on earth do you think the docs in the US are doing??!! As a doctor said to me the other day I dont see a patient when they walk through the door I just see $$$$ signs and it is my job to rinse as much as I can out of them lol

I am just not sure the troubles with the NHS are all to do with how it is used by patients. NHS workers themselves need to reassess their working practices. Too many can get away with just taking the money and doing the least work possible.
It would be difficult to decide which patient is *cough* abusing the system. Sometimes the quicker you get treatment for something minor the "cheaper" it will be in the long term. Prevention being the by word here.
I know quite a few doctors and not one of them would make such a comment as you say...but then they are mostly foreign.
As someone who avoids seeing a doctor in this country because of being viewed in term of profit I agree with the sentiment though.

Actually I think I may have mis-interpretted your intial post so sorry I am such a airhead before I have had my 2 cups of coffee on a morning:o

fatbrit Feb 16th 2012 5:57 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 

Originally Posted by sid50 (Post 9905693)
the system is far too lucrative for them to be concerned and doctors can always get favours for their own family from colleagues so they are just fine :thumbsup:

It's ridiculously short-sighted. How much of GDP do you think the economy can swallow before it all goes tits up? 20%, 30%, 40% or more?

I've met some vile doctors, too. And a few slightly more intelligent ones.

cluedweasel Feb 16th 2012 5:57 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 

Originally Posted by sid50 (Post 9905690)
however once the brit goes stateside they suddenly develop common sense and dont visit for any crap. why is that then?!

You mean like me, who suspected they were diabetic for 3 years but had to wait for insurance before confirming? I couldn't pay for myself to be diagnosed and treated because then it would have become a pr-existing condition.

Then there's my neighbour. She had bowel cancer a few years ago, but most of the treatment was covered by her husband's insurance. He lost his job and they can barely keep up house payments, let alone pay for insurance. She's been feeling out of breath and having occasional chest pains for a over a year. Her husband got a new job just before Christmas and the new insurance just kicked in. She went to see the doc and it turns out she now has lung cancer. How much better would her chances have been a year ago?

The NHS isn't perfect. I don't know anyone who would claim it is, but compared to the pile of shit that passes for a healthcare system here, it's a shining beacon.

Lola-Monmouth Feb 16th 2012 6:00 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 

Originally Posted by sid50 (Post 9905678)
you speak a lot of presumptious twaddle i never took a day off sick in england and if i did enjoy doing that thing then the States is the worst place to come for that kind of thing (sick leave etc). I left because of the patients rude, ungrateful 'i want everything but pay nothing attitude'

also the great thing about the states for doctors is that when annoying people like yourself walk in the door you are fare game for any clinician to fleece a few thousand bucks out of you without breaking sweat.

Were you a porter by any chance? Pot calling kettle there pet......

sid50 Feb 16th 2012 6:02 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 

Originally Posted by Lola-Monmouth (Post 9905713)
Were you a porter by any chance? Pot calling kettle there pet......


doubt would have got an EB-1 as a porter my dear :thumbup:

sid50 Feb 16th 2012 6:04 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 

Originally Posted by cluedweasel (Post 9905709)
You mean like me, who suspected they were diabetic for 3 years but had to wait for insurance before confirming? I couldn't pay for myself to be diagnosed and treated because then it would have become a pr-existing condition.

Then there's my neighbour. She had bowel cancer a few years ago, but most of the treatment was covered by her husband's insurance. He lost his job and they can barely keep up house payments, let alone pay for insurance. She's been feeling out of breath and having occasional chest pains for a over a year. Her husband got a new job just before Christmas and the new insurance just kicked in. She went to see the doc and it turns out she now has lung cancer. How much better would her chances have been a year ago?

The NHS isn't perfect. I don't know anyone who would claim it is, but compared to the pile of shit that passes for a healthcare system here, it's a shining beacon.


watch panorama i agree with the all the congress man on that stage who says why should others have to pay for your issues? totally agree.

If you dont like it then go back to england healthcare is a choice not a right and I agree with the majority of americans who feel u shld pay to see a doctor

ChocolateBabz Feb 16th 2012 6:13 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 

Originally Posted by Ozzidoc (Post 9905664)
It is NOT free. It's free at point of use.

And regarding the comment written by someone else about the price of inhalers in the US vs Scotland by someone else, just how much do you think such a drug costs? It's about the same in the UK, it's just that the payment for it doesn't come directly from your pocket at point of use.

This is not a personal attack, just trying to point out that many medications ARE very expensive, and that the users of such products genuinely have little idea of their true cost to the NHS/UK governments/tax payers.

That's why I put the little apostrophes around the word 'free' :rolleyes:

Lola-Monmouth Feb 16th 2012 6:16 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 

Originally Posted by sid50 (Post 9905717)
watch panorama i agree with the all the congress man on that stage who says why should others have to pay for your issues? totally agree.

If you dont like it then go back to england healthcare is a choice not a right and I agree with the majority of americans who feel u shld pay to see a doctor

Because we live in a social group and social groups take care of the vulnerable, be they sick, elderly or young etc. We all pay for things which we don't use or particularly want via taxes, levies etc. I have no need for schools having no school age children and I have never used social services in my life but I don't resent my taxes going towards providing these services. If no one "paid" for other people's issues the dead would be lining the streets. Crime would be rife and anarchy would rule. if you want to live outside society and be responsible for nothing and no one go ahead. But don't make a claim on society when you are old, sick or infirm.

Lola-Monmouth Feb 16th 2012 6:18 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 
Actually I think you are taking the piss and not worth replying too. Told you I hadn't had my 2 cups of coffee.......

sid50 Feb 16th 2012 6:18 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 

Originally Posted by cluedweasel (Post 9905709)
You mean like me, who suspected they were diabetic for 3 years but had to wait for insurance before confirming? I couldn't pay for myself to be diagnosed and treated because then it would have become a pr-existing condition.

Then there's my neighbour. She had bowel cancer a few years ago, but most of the treatment was covered by her husband's insurance. He lost his job and they can barely keep up house payments, let alone pay for insurance. She's been feeling out of breath and having occasional chest pains for a over a year. Her husband got a new job just before Christmas and the new insurance just kicked in. She went to see the doc and it turns out she now has lung cancer. How much better would her chances have been a year ago?

The NHS isn't perfect. I don't know anyone who would claim it is, but compared to the pile of shit that passes for a healthcare system here, it's a shining beacon.

no personal offence to yourself but I dont get what you are complaining about. The services are there to use so pay for it! Reason America thrives is because of enterprise not through dealing with issues you raise. Most Americans agree why should they fund yr problems? I agree too.

Bomjeito Feb 16th 2012 6:18 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 
Crikey, the best health care we got in Scotland was via our private cover. And we were in a NHS post code lotto - more than enough docs for the people, but no specialists or 'beds' in hospital.

My father-in-law had a heart attack and needed some work done - NHS was a 18 month wait. Private? Next day. NHS simply waits for people to be only at their deathbed to do something, and if F-i-L waited, what kind of quality of life would have been those 18 months??

Medical care was a big part of our decision to move to the USA and even though we moan about the cost, the care has been top notch. A diagnosis unfound by NHS 'specialists' in Scotland was never found in 2 years, but here, a simple blood test and we found the problem in 1 hour. And treatment started the next day.

Same thing with hubby's knee. Tons of 'therapy' and specialists - for years - come here, top notch physical therapy and sent for MRI - SAME DAY - and SAME DAY found out which tear it was and NEXT DAY - outpatient surgery - fixed. We have decent health care insurance ($500 deductible) so worth every penny of deductible and more.

Its about quality of life and being healthy to have it. In USA, you can get care and have a wide range of choices from where and whom to get it.

All docs have been top notch, and we now wonder if for health reasons we really are going to retire in UK. We are starting to change our minds.

I spent one night in an NHS hospital for something that in the USA would have been a simply consult at Urgent Care - I was surprised how I was somewhat DEMANDED to go to hospital for observation. It reminded me of the hospitals from the Former Soviet Union (which I stayed in a few too!) - everything outdated. The beds, the linens, the obvious layers of thick paint over things (okay, I know, its a Victorian hospital...of course its going to look dated... but the diagnostic machines were like I saw in FSU, not USA.) Scary - I scared myself to NOT get sick in the UK.

Okay, the free prescriptions were really great, esp for folks like us who need one every few years but that ONE here in the USA is full cost until you get to your deductible (ours is $300 too) - but still the cost is worth NOT having proper care in the UK.

sid50 Feb 16th 2012 6:19 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 

Originally Posted by Lola-Monmouth (Post 9905733)
Because we live in a social group and social groups take care of the vulnerable, be they sick, elderly or young etc. We all pay for things which we don't use or particularly want via taxes, levies etc. I have no need for schools having no school age children and I have never used social services in my life but I don't resent my taxes going towards providing these services. If no one "paid" for other people's issues the dead would be lining the streets. Crime would be rife and anarchy would rule. if you want to live outside society and be responsible for nothing and no one go ahead. But don't make a claim on society when you are old, sick or infirm.


what you describe is a fair reflection of some portions of all the major cities here. but then you dont have to live in those areas do u!

fatbrit Feb 16th 2012 6:19 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 

Originally Posted by sid50 (Post 9905737)
no personal offence to yourself but I dont get what you are complaining about. The services are there to use so pay for it! Reason America thrives is because of enterprise not through dealing with issues you raise. Most Americans agree why should they fund yr problems? I agree too.

Well I'm American. And I think both you and your ideas are total puke.

Ozzidoc Feb 16th 2012 6:30 pm

Re: Be grateful for the NHS!
 
I'm outta here.


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