This question is for Brits..how do you feel about your health care system?

Question

What would you do if your government wanted to change it to the way the U.S. health care works? Thank you for your replies.

Answer 1

The British people will not allow any government to mess with our National Health Service - otherwise simply known as the NHS.

If there is one thing the Brits have which is admired by ordinary Americans, it's our NHS. It truly is, of the people, for the people and by the people. We all pay into the NHS and anyone, rich or poor, can benefit from it when they are ill or need a doctor or whatever.

I have heard horror stories of Americans being ignored while bleeding to death waiting in ER with doctors stepping over them, just because they have no obvious medical insurance.

Something like 60% of all American have no health care insurance. This is a disgrace and in my oppinion goes entirely against the gloroious victory of the Revolution and all that it stands for and means.

Americans awake. It's your victory, it's your revolution. It's your democracy. Make it truly your own.

The Conservative Party [Tories for want of a better word] have been cast out into the wildeness by the British people for daring to attempt to privatize the NHS. Margaret Thatcher started doing just that. She got the chop not only from we the people, but also from her own party.

The National Health Service is our living memorial to our war dead of WW2. For it is that generation of victorious men and women, who elected a Labour government with a land slide victory in 1945, which threw Churchill and his gang out onto the cold streets. Thus began the creation in UK for the first time of our Welfare State.

Care for the people all of the time, from the cradle to the grave. Free healthcare at point of need, benefits for the unemployed, the sick and the old. A first useful national State Pension for all of our elders.

I so move and vote yea!

Answer 2

I know everyone complains about the NHS but I'd never want to end up with the health care system the US has.
There may be waiting times etc for routine problems but If you get run over by a bus the Paramedics take you to a hospital for treatment, no matter what race, sex, age you are, treatment is free at the point of need. No one has to stop and check if you have Health insurance, which then determines which facility you end up at!
We have the option to also get private health cover, so if you wish to and can afford it, you can get your tonsils out/ hip replaced/full medical the very next day.
If you are diagnosed with a life threatening illness you get the same treatment as anyone else, the first question you think of after a diagnosis is NOT Can I afford this? or what is the deductable?
I know it has it's fair share of problems, and is not run as efficiently as it could be. But It's still one of the best health care systems in the world where it matters. It's there when you truly need it without having to worry how much it's going to cost.

Answer 3

The NHS is still one of the best health care systems in the world. Recent changes, like the introduction of a ridiculous internal market, seem to be priming the NHS for privatisation and have moved us closer to the US style system. Very few people have spoken against it.

I am worried that a private system will be brought in piecemeal, with little or no dissent. By the time the majority of people in the UK notice, it will be a done deal.

Answer 4

It could do with some improvement but all in all we are very lucky to have it, no one is ever refused treatment rich or poor and all receive the same medical care. The nurse training here is said to be the best in the world. Free prescriptions for treatment of long term conditions is a god send. Even the prescription charges we do have to pay (even although we mump and moan about them on occasion) are nothing compared to some places. I think there would be a great outcry should the government attempt to Americanise our beloved health service.

Answer 5

If the Government took away the right to state sponsored health care for all I would leave the UK.

There is no way my partner and I could afford to pay health insurance on our low salaries.

The thought of people being denied the care they need because they are "too poor to pay for it" makes me sick. Its barbaric. How can you put a price on human life?

America is sick with capitalism.

I had my first baby last year and all my care was provide odn the NHS. I had a really really good standard of care and I am so thankful to Aneurin Bevan, the Great Welshman, for bringing in the NHS.

America can keep their capitalist healthcare system that puts price on human life, thanks. Its one reason I coukd never live there.

Answer 6

The Uk health system as a whole, i dont have a problem with. I do however, feel the current dental situation needs addressing, alot of people dont have access to much needed dental treatment because they dont have access to a dentist or they can not afford to pay the cost.
my family and i have private medical that we pay for each month, we done this to ensure if we needed certain medical treatments we would not have to join the "nhs waiting list"
As for changing to the USA system, I'm not "clued up" on the American Health care system, so dont feel i can make a judgement, perhaps if the government lowered our taxes people wouldn't have a problem with a change?

Answer 7

Excellent. Free at the point of delivery, no insurance companies determining what levels of treatment we are entitled to. and in the last few years many of the problems it used to have have been addressed. The National Health Service used to suffer from Waiting lists for treatment - not any more - waits are now on a par with that of private hospitals. NHS Dentists were all but destroyed by the last Conservative government, but new NHS Dentists are being trained and introduced, so even that service is starting to recover.

Answer 8

Although it has it's problems the UK system is far superior to that of the USA. No matter if you are penniless you can still get the highest standard of care and treatment.. No worrying about bills for complicated operations. There are certain procedures and medications not available because they have not shown to give value for money and which can be obtained from private health care at a cost.But basic good health care is available to all irrespective of income or status.As I understand it in America if one has no health insurance only the barest minimum of treatment is available at no cost. I might be wrong as I do not know the American system in detail.

Answer 9

Interference from government of the day helps to bog down our system on a daily basis. It is now so top heavy with admin staff all intent on keeping their own jobs that the actual nuts and bolts (nurses/cleaners/wards) of the NHS are in danger of becoming extinct.

And as for adopting the American medicare system all I can say Is that the reply Tony Benn MP gave in Michael Moore's latest film 'Sicko' sounds about right - "There would be a revolution".

Answer 10

It all feels a bit random at the moment. In Scotland and Wales they dont pay for their prescriptions, in England we do and the cost went up. With some tablets its all down to where in the country you live as to whether you get the best treatment or not. Its a bit of a post code lottery.

And... just yesterday my mum was taken off her tablets and put onto cheap ones because the doc says 'ive been told not to give these out anymore they are more expensive than these ones i'm going to give you now' nice eh?

unfair side - anyone can come into this country and have heath care for free even though they have made no contribution to the system

i like the idea of how it should work but as i say, its messed up. Not sure i'd like the American way tho lol

;-)