Health Care in the UK

MandaAnda · Jun 12, 2008

Maybe I will. When I start as a staff nurse in September, I wouldn't even mind that being my specialty (everyone on the unit I'll be working on has their own "thing," like development, nutrition, etc.)! The Home Office certainly wasn't concerned about my liberties or human rights when they denied me a visa on special grounds (long story), but I got it after going through tribunal with them. If they were happy to get rid of a hard working, tax paying, training-to-be-a-nurse girl like me, I'm sure they'd love to hear about people exploiting the healthcare system. Something to think about for me, I suppose.

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2008

As an American living in the UK (and contributing to and benefiting from the NHS), I think the NHS is great that it's free at the point of care. We pay into it, and we usually get a wonderful service out of it.
I think overseas patients on wards are monitored well - just yesterday, the Overseas Office rang the ward I'm placed on to query information about a patient. I was glad it was being followed up. But in other areas of the NHS, there seems to be nothing in place, so the NHS just leaks money. For instance, all around a couple of A&Es I've worked in or near, there are signs that say something to the effect of, "Visiting the UK? Do you know that you may not be entitled to free treatment?" but not once have I ever seen anyone be questioned. When I first registered with a GP in the UK, no one asked to see my visa (granted, the only regular medication I'm on is the Pill).

NHS policy is that emergency dept treatment is free - any prescription issued from the EDas a take home would be chargable ... most EDs i'm aware of try to actively manage those who misuse the ED as primary care

While I think it's great that the NHS is free, it needs to be free to those entitled to it - and that needs to start being enforced. We should all have a NHS card, but no one asks to look at it. I think it should be made into a credit card size and must be shown at any point of care (like an insurance card would be in America). If it cannot be produced, the patient should be flagged up so that whoever is dealing with finances in the area (Trust or PCT) can chase it up. I think this would prevent the "health tourists" and save us a lot of money, which would benefit those who are genuinely entitled.

the problem as usual is with enforcing it as it'squite a big change in duties for existing staff to e dealing with this with the consequent knock ons for AFC scores etc...

BlueRidgeHomeRN · Jun 12, 2008

can anyone in the uk explain why dental care isn't covered?

have visited the uk a few times and watch a lot of bbc, and it seems that many or most residents of the uk have terrible teeth! (in person and on the "telly").

not a pot-shot, just really curious..especially since dental health affects overall health!

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2008

routine ental care should be available on the NHS at subsidised raes but many dentists won't take adult NHS patients...

hospital based orthodontic and maxillofacial stauff is just the same as anyother hospital specality...

BlueRidgeHomeRN · Jun 12, 2008

routine ental care should be available on the nhs at subsidised raes but many dentists won't take adult nhs patients...
hospital based orthodontic and maxillofacial stauff is just the same as anyother hospital specality...

let me make sure i have this straight..

......most dentists do not accept the nhs reduced rate patients.

.....oral surgery is covered.

but i'm not clear on orthodontic coverage. many adults seem to have severe misalignments. are children given orthodontic care? is there a fee? can adults get care with (what we call) braces??

orthodontic care is not usually covered by private dental insurance in the us, but kids get braces as early as age eight or nine (it's pricey!) in the us at least, poor dental care = low education/socioeconomic level. it can be the kiss of death socially and in finding a good job.

appreciate the education. again, not knocking anyone, especially since i'm a fair part irish and welsh.

allnurses Guide · Jun 12, 2008

let me make sure i have this straight..
......most dentists do not accept the nhs reduced rate patients.
.....oral surgery is covered.
but i'm not clear on orthodontic coverage. many adults seem to have severe misalignments. are children given orthodontic care? is there a fee? can adults get care with (what we call) braces??
orthodontic care is not usually covered by private dental insurance in the us, but kids get braces as early as age eight or nine (it's pricey!) in the us at least, poor dental care = low education/socioeconomic level. it can be the kiss of death socially and in finding a good job.
appreciate the education. again, not knocking anyone, especially since i'm a fair part irish and welsh.

the problem with dental care is there is a lack of nhs dentists, this is because it is financially better for them personally to provide private dental care as the deals offered by the nhs are not as well paid.

children get free orthodonal care, i am not sure if there is a fee for braces but i think they are covered for kids

oral surgery is covered usually because it takes place in hospital clincs / wards. i am lucky, i work near to a nhs training dental hospital so i have access to free dental care because i am prepared for students to practice on me, i figure they have to learn somewhere and they are well supervised.

yes adults can get orthodontist care but it is pricey so most don't bother.

LiverpoolJane · Jun 12, 2008

recently changes in the way the nhs paid dentists for treating nhs patients resulted in many of them being unhappy with the new payment plan and many decided not to treat nhs patients any more.

orthodontics is also free for children and certain others - i had braces as a teen and again in my early twenties - all free of charge - first because i was under 16 then because i was on a low income.

as a child i heard that us parents would get their children braces as it would be a sign of social status because it was so expensive - i think in the uk maybe we take this all for granted - or maybe uk dentists aren't as proactive in referring on for teeth straightening??? i really don't know but the uk don't start so early with the braces - it would normally be in your teens before that is suggested - just when you really don't want braces. some kids when i was at school refused to wear their brace as they were embarassed. i don't think we in the uk have been as proud of having nice teeth as you in the us are, although cosmetic dentistry seems to be becoming more popular.

let me make sure i have this straight..
......most dentists do not accept the nhs reduced rate patients.
.....oral surgery is covered.
but i'm not clear on orthodontic coverage. many adults seem to have severe misalignments. are children given orthodontic care? is there a fee? can adults get care with (what we call) braces??
orthodontic care is not usually covered by private dental insurance in the us, but kids get braces as early as age eight or nine (it's pricey!) in the us at least, poor dental care = low education/socioeconomic level. it can be the kiss of death socially and in finding a good job.
appreciate the education. again, not knocking anyone, especially since i'm a fair part irish and welsh.

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2008

AIUI UK dentists have criteria to refer for orthodontic treatment and it's to do with poor bite rather than for cosmetic reasons ....

they also realise

1. patient complaince will be an issue with many children

2. there's a strong chance that all their hard work will be undone on the soccer, rugby, hockey or lacrosse field!!!!

allnurses Guide · Jun 12, 2008

AIUI UK dentists have criteria to refer for orthodontic treatment and it's to do with poor bite rather than for cosmetic reasons ....
they also realise
1. patient complaince will be an issue with many children
2. there's a strong chance that all their hard work will be undone on the soccer, rugby, hockey or lacrosse field!!!!

It was Hocky that was my downfall

cariad · Jun 13, 2008

my children had orthodontic work and it didnt cost anything. both had braces one for longer than the other, we always had good dental treatment in the uk, but dont think that when i was young apart from fillings and cleaning not much else was done.

[color=#483d8b]i find that many patients in the us, who come here have apalling teeth,obviously from not having enough insurance or none at all, many young people have missing and cracked teeth without ever going to a dentist, but there are many from families who do have insurance and their teeth are perfect and of course white.

karenG · Jun 13, 2008

the NHS works well most of the time; you can get the care you need when you need it.

BUT my biggest gripe working in general practice is peoples expectations of what they are and are not allowed. we have the little old dears who are so glad to have anything, and never ask for anything... and we have the young people who 'know' their rights. I had a girl asking for deodrant last week- because she is on 'on the social and so should get it'. we get people who want prescriptions for paracetemol because they dont pay for prescriptions.. but can smoke 40 a day (how much is paracetemol again?). I am fed up with health tourists.. we have asian women who live in India who come here to have their babies.. we have people wanting cosmetic surgery for silly stuff.. the list goes on.

I wish we could check peoples entitlement to health care, a card would be great.. in general practice, its one of our bugbears. we have patients who we know should pay, but they have somehow got an nhs number and so we can do nothing! :angryfire:angryfire

off soap box..

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jun 13, 2008

Where my dad lives in what I would call a small town they had their first NHS dentist open up (all others went private over 10 years ago) a couple of weeks ago, I asked him if there had been mile long queues like we had seen on the news in other places