Had a really interesting conversation with a friend she's American and moved here when she got married. She did not have a good birth experience recently, she was so angry saying next time she would have a birth in the US as the midwives were not nice to her, her bed was under the stair case she was not allowed to be discharged etc.
Another friend who was listening to the conversation and is not American or British, but is studying in America said that in America everything looks shiny and polished, but they were very inefficient when dealing with his health issue, he had to insist on the medication and the check up that he knew he needed, otherwise he was fobbed off several times with inadequate meds (which didn't work) and paid for the privilege each time.
I think the NHS needs a lot more investing in it, and it is a bit of a lottery when it comes to natal care, If the wards are full when you have your baby you're likely to get a bed under the staircase and wont get discharged till the paed has had a chance to check the baby to leave.
But I would not swap for the US alternative, I reminded the friend (after she kept going on about how much better the US system was), how when she was out of work she was googling how to treat her ailments and how very ill she did end up. She had no response to that.
The NHS is a life saver (literally) for many, yes it has flaws and could be better, but given the amount of childhood illnesses my eldest DC has had, it is essential.