Angela and Brett

I really don't have any sympathy for doctors as Doctors are some of the biggest problems in the health care crisis. They will charge you an arm and a leg just to speak to them. Some of them earning well over $1,000,000 a year.

I don't mind them being paid, but surely someone should pay them what they are worth. Even the worst doctors make small fortunes. Some make large fortunes.

I did actually mean we as in the US Mint. I am afraid my Epson is no match with the US Mint.

I mean you can go to jail for anything in the states
which means I am def gonna be a jailbird!

ugacrew

You couldn't be further from the truth. It's all about the insurance companies and malpractice insurance. The doctors hate the health care system as we know it. My aunt who is a doctor hates fighting with insurance companies. She also hates paying the high premium for malpractice insurance. If she had it her way she's most likely scrap the system. That's the general consensus that I get anyway from the doctors that I work with at my current job.

surly

That's to cover the cost of those that don't pay.
You should be glad to pay those prices so an illegal immigrate can get treatment.
Where's your compassion when you have to bear the cost?

geeandtee

Yup, what Ugacrew said.
It's the Insurance Companies who have the health care system by the bollocks.

Michael

£120,000 isn't too shabby for the average UK GP.

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article5058.html

The following article describes why US health care costs so much. Salaries aren't even mentioned as a reason.

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/h...are_costs.html

scrubbedexpat097

Yeah.........lets get rid of all the doctors then, that will really solve the healthcare problem.


They earn fortunes, eh?

What about the high paid football/baseball/basketball stars. They really really deserve to be paid millions don't they...you know they get paid "what they are worth"

.........and then there is all the big Movie Stars, the Paris/Britney/Lindsay talent that are so worth the money they are paid...........

scrubbedexpat099

You got there before me!

Angela and Brett

I don't know where you thought I don't think immigrants should not be treated.

I don't care if you are illegal or otherwise. And it's not charging you $30 for some jello and sludge on a plate for dinner paying for them. Well at least not completely, I have watched many documentaries on corrupt hospital officials taking bribes and signing agreements for certain companies to supply them with persihable items at ridiculous rates.

I have also seen where these companies are also in cahoots with the insurance companies. I mean you never see the insurance company talk about billion dollar losses. Thanks Nixon for really screwing up the country.

There are also alot of state and federally programs that do pay for treatments just like I know someone who hired some illegals for their flower shop in NYC and these illegals took them to court as they didn't feel they were paid enough or treated fairly (even though they were), the US tax payers footed the entire bill and their lawyer, and then funded a lawyer to keep them from being deported, the tax payer paid for the entire case and in the end the employer also lost his case.

With regards to healthcare tho I think everyone should be treated no matter what. Frankly I don't care who pays what I think its shocking people can be deported for not being able to pay. Some doctors are good and fair but alot aren't and exploit the system. They get swayed by the drug company reps who come around with the free gifts and cash incentives, as I said not all but alot do.

Not every NHS doctor makes £120,000 a year, most make around £60,000.

And poor nurses are lucky if they can find affordable housing on their salaries.

I couldn't possibly compare doctors to entertainers like sports or celebs, at the end of the day they take an oath to help people, I don't hold a celeb to very high moral standards.

Here is a snippet of their oath. Maybe I missed the bit where you have to pay now or don't let the door hit you on the way out.

I remember on the movie Sicko, a man in the U.S. chopped off 2 fingers I think it was, but could only afford 1 reattached. That to me is the lowest of the low. I bet if he was an illegal immigrant he wouldn't have been able to have any re attached. Its a real shame.

Michael

Obviously you didn't read the article. According to the article, £120,000 is the average for a GP. Specialists make more.

Angela and Brett

Hi Michael,
No I didn't miss the article, I just didn't think the website looked that reliable.sorry.

I don't always believe what I read online or in the newspapers. ESPECIALLY UK newspapers, my hubby is always pointing out how the media here can be so false just to sell some papers.

There was a big thing here in all the papers about Dentist shortages so bad people resorting to DYI dentistry.

I got a bit worried, then I had a major tooth problem and I got into an emergency dentist which was state of the art, got an old filling replaced, xrays and a follow up visit for somewhere between £20-£40 total(1st tier) (can't remember but it was cheap), they then gave me a list of dentists to register with. Which I found one people I worked with recommended and they said yes we will accept you.

I have seen many times on the news here Doctors talking about the low wages which is why they are emigrating elsewhere, which is why lots of doctors and nurses come to the UK, get trained and then bugger off elsewhere for better pay.

With reference again to the thread topic, I remember when I first moved here, I got a horrific Brit bug for like 6 weeks I was deathly ill as my immune system couldn't cope with all the new flus and things flying around so I got them all at once.

I was just visiting my then fiance, but I got to go to some Doctors on call place, and I was amazed, I was seen to, my status in the country wasn't even questioned, they gave me a couple prescriptions which I only paid like £6.80 I think it was at the time per prescription, No co pays like in the states. It was great.

Now they treated me and for all they knew I could have been an illegal immigrant, and it's not overcharging for things like a doctors visit, tongue depressers..... thats why I think it should be easily enough done then in the states. People will always moan about where the money comes but thats life so I wouldn't care.

fatbrit

Tracy doesn't believe you.

Michael

This is from a medical publication.

The Treasury report cites an average salary for GPs in the UK in 2003-4 of £82 000. The latest figures, for 2004-5, show that the average income of GPs, net of expenses, was £106 000, a rise of 30% in one year. For dispensing GPs the figure is even higher: they earned an average of £128 000 after expenses, a 31% rise.

In January the Independent newspaper reported that GPs' average earnings soared again last year (2005-6) to £118 000, according to estimates of the Association of Independent Specialist Medical Accountants. So in the three years from 2002-3, when NHS Information Centre data showed that GPs earnt on average £72 000, their earnings rose by a remarkable 63%.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/334/7587/236?fmr

And this is from the BBC.

The NHS Information Centre data revealed 46% of GPs earned more than £100,000 in 2004-5 - the first year of their new contract.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6902463.stm

Michael

These are US doctors salaries for 2006.

http://www.allied-physicians.com/sal...n-salaries.htm

The following is equivalent to a GP.

FP (with OB)
Years 1-2 $182,000
Years 3 $204,000
Max Salary $241,000

Doctors average pay has fallen over an 8 year period in the US according to the following articles.

The average reported net income for a primary care physician in 2003 was $146,405, according to the study, after expenses like malpractice insurance but before taxes. The highest-paid doctors were surgeons who specialize in areas like orthopedics, who had an average net income of $271,652, nearly double what the primary care doctors said they earned.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/22/bu...22doctors.html
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7557/11?rss=1

I don't know why the first survey has so much higher salaries than the second survey. Three years difference shouldn't make that big of a difference.

Ozzidoc

There are about 8,000 of us starting on £22K this week....£6 per hour net.

Salaried GPs get about £55-60K.

Michael

That appears to be about the same salary as in the US for an intern. How many years of internship/residency will you be doing before you can get your license? You must be calculating your hourly pay on an 80 hour week which I guess is pretty normal for an intern. I don't begrudge any doctor making a very good salary after at least 11 years school and internship/residency and probably $250,000 or more worth of student loans.