British Healthcare?

Repat · Jul 9, 2004

Destinystar, where have you been?! Not in my America, where 40 million people are not insured, where I just cared for a patient who is now severely and permanently disabled because the patient was unable to afford the medications necessary to control blood pressure, where many retired people have to choose between food or prescriptions. Also, I believe that uk_nurse was saying her hospital likes foreign travellers, probably because of the extra revenue their insurance payments bring in. I lived in the UK for 15 years, and I have said and will say again that the healthcare I received there was more accessible, and humane, than any I have encountered here (and I have medical and dental insurance, so money doesn't always talk!).

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Jul 9, 2004

Countries where there is socialized medicine have very high taxes because somebody has to pay for medical care, and in those countries, it isn't the for-profit insurance companies, it's the people themselves.

Who are we to complain if they expect us to pay for our own care, rather than to get a free ride from them, at their expense?

I'm proud to be an American too, and I'll think of that last post from Destinystar the next time I see another news article or editorial complaining that immigrants have come to the US for medical care but without funds, and because we provide the care and they cannot pay, the American people will be footing the bill again.

It's the very same deal. If you need it, you will get it. But one way or another, it will have to be paid for.

Everytime I do battle with my insurance company for nonpayment, or with my PCP because they want to refer me off for some unnecessary test or study, so their colleague can get another fee (it is big business, afterall), I wish we had socialized medicine too.

Except then the government would be handling our medical money, and they're not doing such a hot job with tax dollars as it is.

Good for you, United Kingdom and Canada, and whoever else has figured out a way for people to get the care they need. In fact, the only thing I find embarrassing about being an American is the perception that others have of us that we expect to get it all, for nothing.....

(Can I come live with you? :rotfl: )

CSLee3, ASN, BSN, LVN, EMT-P · Jul 9, 2004

Chris..............well put! Thanks so much for everyone's input. I feel good about him going to the UK. Sometimes we do take our old broken down system for granted but it is still better than a lot of places, just unfortunante that politics and money play such a big role in healthcare.

Peaceinyourhood...............Chuck

karenG · Jul 9, 2004

when i read your thread it made me so proud to be an american. in america we treat everyone the same and anyone can come to the door of any of our hospitals and get treated the same whether they are an american or not, legal or illegal, rich or poor. people can say what ever they want to about americans but i believe we have the best human rights policies in the world. a thousand wild horses couldnt take me out of this country. i was sad to here that the uk would have that attitude towards americans. :o

interesting perception............. thats not how we percieve health care in the states!!! we are under the impression that without good insurance - no health care. after all - you have to pay for such basics as the contraceptive pill!

i think as long as you have insurance- there is no problem. we have a real problem with health care tourists- particulary from poorer countries. so hospitals are being careful, no one is ever refused treatment, our problem is recouping the cost of the treatment. a gentleman from an african country has just recently cost the nhs a vast sum of money- it has been written off as a bad debt. it was such a large sum of money- about £100,000 i think, that it was reported in the press. sadly the nhs is not a bottomless pit of money and we do need to be sensible about how we spend the money. paying for people from 3rd world countries to have infertility treatment is not it!!

oh medical care here is free at the point of treatment. its a tenent the nhs is proud of. we pay for it though our taxes. no one gets billed for anything. we pay for drugs- well some of us do! all contraceptive drugs are free.

karen

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2004

Bottom line is that someone somewhere has to pay. Think of it as the fact that every society has to put x amount toward health care. Now that x amount could be from individuals paying tax or corporations paying insurance and passing it on to buyers of their products or it could be from people buying their own but someone somewhere has to pay.

Farkinott, RN · Jul 10, 2004

Destinystar, where have you been?! Not in my America, where 40 million people are not insured, where I just cared for a patient who is now severely and permanently disabled because the patient was unable to afford the medications necessary to control blood pressure, where many retired people have to choose between food or prescriptions. Also, I believe that uk_nurse was saying her hospital likes foreign travellers, probably because of the extra revenue their insurance payments bring in. I lived in the UK for 15 years, and I have said and will say again that the healthcare I received there was more accessible, and humane, than any I have encountered here (and I have medical and dental insurance, so money doesn't always talk!).

Thankfully most vital medications in Oz come under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme which is subsidised by the Federal Govt. At least here medication doesn't cost the earth (unless of course you need more than a couple a month, then there is a $700 safety net). Once you've spent $700 on meds then you can purchase them at $3.70 an item.

uk_nurse · Jul 10, 2004

I don't think the post you responded to meant to imply that tourists received bad care in the UK. I think the poster was just saying that foreign patients are responsible for paying for their care through whatever insurance they carry.
Thankyou, i did not say we treat Americans badly.But as i read other post i'm glad you all see what i'm saying.As Karen G said UK does have problems with foreign health care and yes too true the NHS is not a bottomless pit.As most of you said someone does have to pay for it,and it is us who do.
DESTINYSTAR one question, have you ever been to the UK and had to have medical treatment?
Just interested on your views if you have.

StNeotser, ASN, RN · Jul 10, 2004

when i read your thread it made me so proud to be an american. in america we treat everyone the same and anyone can come to the door of any of our hospitals and get treated the same whether they are an american or not, legal or illegal, rich or poor. people can say what ever they want to about americans but i believe we have the best human rights policies in the world. a thousand wild horses couldnt take me out of this country. i was sad to here that the uk would have that attitude towards americans. :o

oh dear. i wonder if america is proud of you.

:uhoh3: