To think the NHS is bloody wonderful and that we're very, very lucky?

[ScaredyDog]

I know everyone will have had a bad experience (I know I have) but generally, I think we're so lucky.

I've been to one hospital today as an emergency and been referred elsewhere. I don't have to pay to see a doctor, the staff have been absolutely lovely (which I hope they will also be at the other hospital) and I was seen immediately. We even had a laugh about my ridiculously sized elephant foot :)

I know prescriptions can seem expensive, but really, that's the only bit we pay for upfront so to speak (and most people don't pay for their prescriptions, I'm told).

Hoping for another good experience at the next hospital anyway :) Yay for HCPs and the NHS.

bemybabe
As I said, I can not comment on your particular case and I wasnt arguing with your consultant. I was saying that it would be unfair to generalise to the who NHS based on one experience.

Strep b infections in pregnancy are a contentious issue and not all health care systems in general will test for them and indeed the recommended treatment of them can be difficult to agree. The infection can come and go, appear at any time and even if treated with anitibiotics can return after 48 hours. I am not arguing with your consultant but I am saying that an isolated incidence does not mean that the NHS does not perform any routine tests because they are too expensive.

To be honest I think its been pretty insensitive of your consultant to suggest that it has. From your story, they have admitted negligence. It would be the same if you had cervical cancer and your consultant said that screening everyone was too expensive ( we know this isn't true ). If he has admitted that this screening would have changed your babies outcome then he has admitted liability and negligence and you should pursue this legally so that no one else has to go through what you went through.

Systems in the NHS are not infallible but processes are available to challenge and change practice.
Again, it is understandable to know why you would be upset with the NHS, however this could have happened in ANY health system
To consider the Swedish system, not all mothers may be able to afford the 10% costs towards each antinatal visits. Prioritising the needs of their family over the needs of their health (I know I have been guilty of this with the dentist!)
So changing the principle of the NHS could make a problem like this worse. Using the current systems and processes of feedback the NHS has could make a difference

If the nhs is so shit hot why do people go private?
In my experience, the private hospitals are mostly used by the NHS to keep waiting lists down.

Again the experiences of private health care on this thread are hardly a shining example of wonderful treatment

How does your system work for those who can not afford ANY contribution?

PIMS are you a HCP?
Private hospitals are mainly used by those with insurance (huge numbers of people do) their use by the NHS is rel. recent

I guess in an insurance based system those without insurance don't get to go to the doc when they have a cold

yanbu, we really dont appreciate the nhs until you see it from another viewpoint. 5 years ago my dad had a heart attack whilst on holiday in portugal, whilst the travel insurance paid for all the treatment in the hospital my mum still had to sign the invoice when he was discharged. Final balance for a week in hospital and the drugs and the op was over £250,000. Imagine having to find that kind of money

If the nhs is so shit hot why do people go private?
Just because your canteen food in your office is good, provides good nutritional value balanced meals based on Jamie Olivers best recipes doesnt mean that you wouldnt go to a michelin star restaurant if you could afford it.
PRivate health care adds a degree of luxury to care it does not affect out come.
If I had the choice of knowing that no matter what my financial circumstances I would be treated with the best possible care OR if I could afford it I would be treated with the best possible care in a hotel like environment with crap artwork and a private chef.....
I know what I would choose.
If you can see the future and know that you are always going to be able to afford the care you currently receive, good for you. As I am not psychic, I am comfortable that will be cared for no matter what happens
THAT is an amazing principle that IS something to be proud of

I guess in an insurance based system those without insurance don't get to go to the doc when they have a cold
Of course!!! a cold is the worst that could happen to them. God forbid they develop and actual illness that needs treatment or cancer

You clearly cant see past the end of your nose to see that just because you can afford your care, the person you walk by in the street has not been so lucky

undertheduvet the point is surely that in an insurance based system you no more pay the 25k in Portugal than you do the 35k in London

Undertheduvet, I think giving invoices to users of the NHS might just open people's eyes to how much their treatment would have been had the NHS not picked up the bill. The bottom line could state, paid in full by NHS. Unfortunately, to do this would add another layer to admin along with associated costs so not feasible.

there isn't a section of people here without insurance. It is a legal requirement that you have it.
Ah so if the homeless and unemployed that cant afford it, they wont receive health care and will be dealt with by the legal system?? Amazing! Congratulations on defending such a fair equitable and caring system

PMSL Pims either you're my best friend you know me so well

or you feel very sure that you know everything there is to know about the subject

London does the insurance system only cover 'the basics' as it were do others have a more 'luxery' type system?

sorry london was to londonlottie

PIMS stop being so ridiculous. I did not say that "the NHS does not perform any routine tests because they are too expensive". They did not give me a test that would have saved my baby because giving it routinely would be too expensive. If they gave me a choice I would have happily paid for it myself.

I have no interest in legally pursuing the NHS. Do you know what negligence means? Lack of care and attention. If the NHS had a duty to test me than yes, negligent, but it did not, because testing for my infection is accepted as too expensive (as in expense vs the number of cases diagnosed). I was told my baby and I were "just too unlucky".

This is a form of the proverbial NHS lottery.

sounds nice ll
I think I'd like to move to Switzerland

out of interest can I?

londonlottie I'm a little confused, if Insurance is a legal requirement, what do people do if they can't afford it? Surely not everyone can afford it?

Londonlottie should you not change your name to switzerlandlottie?!

why so much hostility Katy???

Ah ok. I just know that with the NHS, everyone gets treated, I'm not sure how the really poor (eg. homeless) could possibly afford insurance.

But then, I can't imagine generous unemployment benefits, it's a bit of an alien concept over here.