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Original poster

To hesitate to move back from US to UK because of terrible state of NHS

315 replies

Star555 · 26/10/2025 17:26

(Apologies for the double post; posted on Living Overseas board but realised it's probably better to post here to get the perspective of MNers who currently live in the UK rather than the US)

I'm a long-term expat (in my 30s) living in the US. My parents and I moved to the US many years ago when I was in school, and although I have always thought about moving back home as an adult (I love history and culture and easy access to Europe, which the US woefully lacks), my parents are settled in the US and don't want to move back because they think the UK is in a bad state (failing NHS, high taxes, older infrastructure, etc.) One parent had a major operation recently and is under ongoing treatment at a top hospital here in America, and they think they would not have had received timely care like this in the UK given the current state of the NHS.

I have been on the fence about whether moving back home would be a good choice or not, and am thinking about it more seriously now given the US government situation, although my parents are against the idea. I don't mind the lower salaries in the UK so much (I have a STEM postgraduate degree and would likely have a job at a company in/near London), but I am mainly concerned about the state of healthcare. I have heard so many horror stories about overflowing A&Es and huge waits for life-saving treatments in the UK. I am currently single and don't have any close family or friends in the UK that I could count on for support if I were to need major medical treatment (touch wood). I would be willing to pay (or my employer would pay) for private insurance, but am not sure how much it would truly help.

Has anyone else decided against moving back to the UK, or decided to move out of the UK, primarily because of the sorry state of the NHS? Is access to timely medical care really that bad in London and the South in general? On one hand, I want to return to my homeland and raise (future) children there because of the culture, etc. but on the other hand I want reliable, high-quality medical care for myself and any kids I might have.

OP posts:
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5
Freeme31 · 26/10/2025 18:10

Budget for private health care, you have never paid into the system ie National insurance what make you think your “entitled “ to it free ?

Nevereatcardboard · 26/10/2025 18:08

I suddenly developed a serious chronic health condition 15 years ago which meant I could no longer work. It’s the sort of thing that could happen to absolutely anyone, but nobody thinks it will ever happen to them. I’ve had many regular appointments, scans, blood tests, minor surgery and physio free of charge. My prescriptions are also free now that I’m in my 60s. The NHS is far from perfect, but it’s there for all of us if serious illness or injury happens. You might have to wait for non urgent appointments, but you will get seen eventually at no cost. If I lived in the US, I know I’d have been made bankrupt many years ago!

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 26/10/2025 18:08

Mustbethat · 26/10/2025 18:03

), but I am mainly concerned about the state of healthcare. I have heard so many horror stories about overflowing A&Es and huge waits for life-saving treatments in the UK

think about what you are saying here. You’re contradicting yourself.

if there were “huge waits” for life saving treatment, then the life saving treatment would n’t save lives because people would die waiting. Which would shorten the queue and the waits wouldn’t be long.

Plus considering out life expectancy is higher than the us then clearly this isn’t true.

don’t just believe everything you hear.

“overflowing a&e’s” tend to do so because people aren’t using it appropriately. If you can wait 10 hours to get seen chances are you could have gone to MI or your GP the next day. You are usually triaged straight away, seen immediately if you need to be. The ones waiting long hours do so because they can wait.

“overflowing a&e’s” tend to do so because people aren’t using it appropriately. If you can wait 10 hours to get seen chances are you could have gone to MI or your GP the next day. You are usually triaged straight away, seen immediately if you need to be. The ones waiting long hours do so because they can wait.

You couldn't be more wrong here. It's true that A&E gets used for ailments that ought to be monitored by a GP, but that's not likely to get better because there are no GP appointments.

And once you are triaged you still have to wait for hours, even with chest ppain and breathing dificulties.

SeaAndStars · 26/10/2025 18:07

It seems astonishing to me that a fit and healthy 30 year old should base their entire future around availability of health care for them and children they don't have and might never have.

Flippo · 26/10/2025 18:07

If you want weekend gp appts you will want a private gp, probably easy to find in London, I’m in Scotland and there are a couple of in person ones available near me and I also use an online gp/nurse service with bupa

Arran2024 · 26/10/2025 18:06

FuzzyWolf · 26/10/2025 18:03

Private GPs are available online anywhere in the country.

My private healthcare allows me a telephone consultation 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. I can have a video consultation between 8am and 10pm, 7 days a week.

Show quote history

Yes, there is the online option. We have private GPs you can visit too - that's quite unusual, I think.

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 26/10/2025 18:05

For a lot of the "emergency" issues you describe you would go to a GP or your pharmacy not A&E. Think I've been to A&E 2 or 3 times in my lifet (late 50s) - it shouldn't be a regular event for every issue.

Benmac · 26/10/2025 18:04

Are you being serious? As other people have said you could get private health care cover.
The UK is many things but we still have free healthcare, state pension and support, strict gun laws. We have an incompetent government but we don't have a convicted felon setting himself up as a dictator.

cestlavielife · 26/10/2025 18:04

Weekend are emergency appts only usually. Likely not with your gp. Register for a gp with the e-consult you send in your issue on app and they triage and call you back same day if necessary

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 26/10/2025 18:04

OnlyOnAFriday · 26/10/2025 17:38

Hmmm, the nhs wouldn’t bother me too much. The terminal decline of the economy would be more of a worry.

But don't you think that if the economy gets fucked then the NHS will be as well?
I

Mustbethat · 26/10/2025 18:03

), but I am mainly concerned about the state of healthcare. I have heard so many horror stories about overflowing A&Es and huge waits for life-saving treatments in the UK

think about what you are saying here. You’re contradicting yourself.

if there were “huge waits” for life saving treatment, then the life saving treatment would n’t save lives because people would die waiting. Which would shorten the queue and the waits wouldn’t be long.

Plus considering out life expectancy is higher than the us then clearly this isn’t true.

don’t just believe everything you hear.

“overflowing a&e’s” tend to do so because people aren’t using it appropriately. If you can wait 10 hours to get seen chances are you could have gone to MI or your GP the next day. You are usually triaged straight away, seen immediately if you need to be. The ones waiting long hours do so because they can wait.

Bambamhoohoo · 26/10/2025 18:03

Star555 · 26/10/2025 18:01

This is very reassuring to hear! Can you get same-day appointments even at weekends? Are you located in London / Southeast (if you don't mind sharing an approximate location)?

Show quote history

I’ve randomly just remembered that I had to take DH to a&e in NYC in 2023 for a perforated ear drum. We were in there 9 hours, and people were ordering take out to a&e whilst they waited.

surely that’s not an unusual experience I’ve had?

FuzzyWolf · 26/10/2025 18:03

Arran2024 · 26/10/2025 17:58

Some places do have private GPs but it's not that prevalent. But I have an NHS GP and don't struggle to get appointments- it really varies.

Everyone uses A& E, even with private cover, but it makes you part of a bigger system, where you know that everyone will be treated. I think that's worth something.

Private GPs are available online anywhere in the country.

My private healthcare allows me a telephone consultation 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. I can have a video consultation between 8am and 10pm, 7 days a week.

mamagogo1 · 26/10/2025 18:03

At least you won’t go bankrupt in the uk because you or your family get a treatable disease, I have two friends in the USA who lost their houses because their children got cancer and they had to pay 10% of the enormous medical bills on top of having to rent a flat near a children’s hospital

edwinbear · 26/10/2025 18:02

Private medical insurance is often paid for by your employer. Mine cover me as a benefit and I pay an extra £60pm to add DC to my policy. Private medical care is fast and excellent. I’m not in A&E regularly, just twice in the last 4-5 years, once with DD when she had appendicitis earlier this year - she was in a bed in a ward within about 3 hours and operated on the following day. Once with DH with a bad cut to his head - again, he was seen within about 45mins (tbf it was a bad cut and he’d passed out a couple of times).

For things like antibiotics etc you will be waiting for hours at A&E because it’s really not set up for those sorts of things, but there are walk in urgent care centres that can deal with those sorts of things. It’s very difficult to get a standard GP appointment when you need one, bit I use a private GP via medical insurance for those now. I worry about what would happen if I needed an ambulance, they do seem like a bit of a lottery.

cityanalyst678 · 26/10/2025 18:02

The U.S. salaries are way higher and the taxation is lower. Your stock market has been booming and you are pretty much self reliant. I certainly wouldn’t worry about the NHS, because unless you have a chronic illness, you shouldn’t need it that much. Positives are that state schools are of a higher standards, our culture and history is way superior, but at the moment I would say stay there. You are more American than British and I think you would struggle. House prices are ridiculous here. People are fed up. Give it a couple of years and see how things are going here. Hopefully better!

Original poster
Star555 · 26/10/2025 18:01

Babyboomtastic · 26/10/2025 17:47

Like many things in life, you hear more about the bad than the good. I'm not going to pretend the NHS is perfect, or that I haven't been frustrated with them on many occasions. But personally, when it's been needed, it's been amazing.

In my area of the UK, I can always see a GP same day, guaranteed. With the A&E, The longest anyone in my family's had to wait was 4 hours, and that was waiting, x-ray, seeing a doctor, interim treatment and coming up with a plan. A few months ago, a parent required an ambulance - it wasn't immediately life threatening, but reasonably urgent, category two to three. Within 3 hours of calling 111 for advice, they'd had a call back from the doctor, ambulance called, arrived taken to hospital, in a bed, tests taken and some interim treatments started.

A child of mine has a serious health condition, and is under about 9 different departments. I have niggles about efficiencies, but from past experience I'm confident that if I need to speak to a doctor about something that cropped up urgently, I could do so immediately, and have done on many locations.

If you years ago tests were conducted so quickly for my mother, that we all assumed she was under the suspected cancer pathway. Nope, they turnaround time was just very quick. Equally my sister sent a message to the GP to get on a waiting list for a test last week, expecting it to be months. She's got a date for a few days time.

When you look at the statistics, most people think that everyone's waiting for 12 hours plus an A&E, but 75% are treated, admitted or discharged within 4 hours, and only 7% 12 hours plus. That's 7% too many, but it's not some epic trip for most people. But because we only hear about bad and not the good, people don't realise this.

This is very reassuring to hear! Can you get same-day appointments even at weekends? Are you located in London / Southeast (if you don't mind sharing an approximate location)?

OP posts:
hkathy · 26/10/2025 18:01

do you envisage needing a&e often?

EasternStandard · 26/10/2025 18:00

If you’re not concerned about school shootings then stay where you are?

What things would attract you to the U.K.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 26/10/2025 18:00

Swiftie1878 · 26/10/2025 17:31

In the U.S. you have health insurance to get great treatment. You can do the same in the UK.
To even consider the NHS as a reason NOT to move here from the US is laughable!

No, she can't.

There are no A&E in the private hospitals.

Newname000 · 26/10/2025 18:00

Two months ago I went to my GP for what I thought was a routine appointment and 20 minutes later was in an ambulance, rushed straight through A&E into resus where a team of heart specialists worked on me for 24 hours. I was then moved onto a ward where I again received excellent care. Since discharge I have had further tests, investigations and my first appointment with an excellent cardiologist to discuss my long term treatment options. You'll see many people complaining and A&E is problematic in many areas but if it's serious, once you're in the system, things do seem to work well.

Nonameagain31 · 26/10/2025 17:59

Oh yes! The good old US where having cancer could literally bankrupt your family!

I broke my arm in America, the bones were sticking out and they wouldn’t take me to hospital until I proved insurance…

Yerdug · 26/10/2025 17:59

Least of my worries if I was leaving a country thats criminalised abortion and loves firearms.

cestlavielife · 26/10/2025 17:58

Check ypur rights to access nhs as you have not been resident in uk

But if you do reside here nhs is free at point of access you do not get that in usa

GRCP · 26/10/2025 17:58

On the other hand if you raise kids in the US they might get shot at school. Literally.
I don’t get the conundrum honestly.