scrubbedexpat097

Good to know. Hope yer ok matey

Sally Redux

Thanks

morayeel

my life is not as good as if I were in the U.K mostly because I don't have vacation, medical, dental, sick pay, vision etc. I like it here ok but on a low paying job and living n a rural area with no public transportation it makes it difficult. If I had a college degree and a job that were in demand, maybe it would be better as in my opinion the weather is better than the U.K but apart from that in a nutshell hindsight is 20/20 and if I had to do it all over again I would have stayed put in the U.K but I was a 19 year old young bride!!

jeepster

yup, If people are nice to each other you don't have a class system.

LondonSquirrel

I agree with Sally about NHS waits. My aunt broke her hip a fortnight ago and she had it replaced the same day.

I think maybe sometimes people judge you by indicators of class than actual class, such as accent and, in the case of the US, for example, the state of your teeth. I would be alright with the first but not the second as my teeth aren't quite straight due to a bad dentist doing the straightening as a teen.

On that subject, our late friend who was a penpal at the same time as DH, totally failed to understand me smiling without showing my teeth at SIL's wedding. Even though I have never smiled with teeth even in primary school photos before my teeth got crooked. She absolutely insisted I must show my teeth. So I did but I hate those photos.

Oh and OT but at SIL's second wedding I was the only lady wearing a fascinator or hat. Americans don't seem to do headwear at weddings.

dunroving

You should have shown her the finger.

LondonSquirrel

Lol

Sally Redux

My original point was that "I'm doing great" is not the same as " there is no class system".

LondonSquirrel

See this is the funny thing. I would love that because I adore animals. Yet we live in a flat in London and I couldn't be happier.

My mum is coming next weekend and we're going to an exhibition at the V&A, 'Wedding Dresses From 1774.' In March DH and I are going to see the new musical 'Once' with Ronan Keating. In April we are going on a break to Iceland. In June we have booked a long weekend in Southend. In July we are off on a break to Jersey. And though not booked yet my mum has said she'll take us to Lille for a long weekend in September or October. None of this has cost very much money.

So see some people could be happy with various different scenarios for their lives. Some may even experience many in their time and be happy with all (or miserable with all lol ).

lansbury

It isn't the same all over.

My younger son was admitted to hospital, October I believe, finally diagnosed with gall bladder stones after a week in hospital. Sent home to await an appointment with a specialist to arrange to have gall bladder removed. He had that last Friday. Just sent him a text to see what happened.

Between first trip to hospital and waiting to see the specialist, he has had to call the paramedics 5 times because the pain was so bad. Each time taken to hospital given strong pain killers and sent home.

If that had been in the US gall bladder would have been removed before he was discharged the first time. His treatment in the hands of the NHS has been nothing short of pathetic.

Hotscot

Postcode lottery?

Sally Redux

I am going to bow out gracefully because these threads are always the same and personal experience of something positive about the UK is not wanted.

petitefrancaise

Yet here in the USA -----
Despite seeing 2 GPs and an orthopedic specialist, multiple xrays, prescriptions for v high levels of ibuprofen, sleeping tabs, steroid tablets and a steroid injection - I kept telling them that my shoulder hurt during the night enough to wake me, keep me awake and make me cry. 4 months in and I go to see a chiropractor and after 2 sessions tells me I need an MRI because he thinks the damage is not going to get better on its own. He's right.. I have the surgery asap but it's still been 5 months of pain.

When I ask the orthopedic surgeon why he didn't send me for an mri straight away his reply was that the insurance companies usually insist on other therapies before they'll pay for the mri. And I have good insurance.

Gimme French healthcare over the NHS or USA anyday.....

scrubbedexpat097

Don't bow out, you are our man on the frontline

I always say there are plus and minus points for Healthcare in both countries. It is great to hear that you got your appointment quickly. I hear the same from my sister about my bil's appointments. But my niece, in a different area has had lots of problems with treatment for what is probably gall bladder. Like Lansbury son, she has been back and forth and there has been no decision on surgery yet and she has been sick for months now.

Is it funding in certain areas?

Pulaski

Some people have no time for anything positive about the US.