U.K. healthcare

[beej32]

Hi,

I am a nurse in the U.S. and I am doing a paper on Universal healthcare. I would love to hear from a nurse in the U.K. about what your system is like. All the articles I have found depict it as a system falling apart . I want to have a firsthand account from someone who knows and if I could use them in my paper and presentation. Anyone willing to tell me their story?

For instance, Are there long lines to be seen by an MD? Are people dying before they get to see a doctor. Are you going bancrupt do to taxes? Do you feel that your system is fair for all?

Let me know

Thanks

beej32

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

This is very dependent on where you live "postcode lottery" comes to mind. The trust where I worked, just prior to me leaving for Oz, had got the "choose and book" sysytem up and running and virtually everyone, whatever their referral speciality, were getting consultant appointments within 1 to 3 weeks. Any necessary surgery/treatment required following was offered within the 3 month target wait. So its really variable depending on whether or not you are lucky enough to be in an area where the NHS trust providing services is one of the better run ones.

Thats impessive Tanvi. Yes I agree it can be a bit of a lottery and I think Wales are behind a bit on the targets because the Welsh assemble never introduced fines as an incentive to meet the targets. but I do think that we are getting there even if it is slowley

[cariad]

the health care may be free at the point of care and you pay for it in your wages, but compared to here you are very lucky.

we have had some free point of care treatment, it cost $75 as a co-pay the day that dh was taken by ambulance after our car crash, since then the ambulance wanted $800 and after the insurance paid their part of the bill we have been left to pay $8,000. my day surgery had a $980 co-pay on the day that i had it and i am left to pay a third of a $20,000 bill. and we also pay social security payments in our wages and pay medical insurance payments.

i need physio on my arm and the insurance have refused to pay after 60 days as thats all it covers. so we are paying $600 a month and cant access what we need. the physio costs $450 a week.

[RGN1]

I think this discussion just goes to show that there's no really good solution. Personally I do think that a universal healthcare system in the ideal world is the best thing but because of abuse by patients, management & quite frankly government it is always going to struggle.

Rather than fine hospitals I think we should be able to fine the abusers :-). The head of the trust where I used to work who spent all that money on stupid glossy brochures should have had the cost of that deducted from his own over-inflated wage packet!!

Equally the hospitals here should be able to claim the costs of treating all the illegal immigrants from the governments of the country where they originated from! IMO of course:D