To think we’re lucky to be in Britain?

[BooomShakeTheRoom]

• Temperate climate with distinct seasons, all the more important and enjoyable as we see other areas of the world suffer with annual fires, floods, hurricanes etc.
• Basic protection of human rights and freedom. Yes, politically we’re in a strange place globally and nationally (yes, looking at you Reform and Trump voters 😑) but - generally - you can be who you are with minimal risks. That really isn’t the case in many parts of the world still.
• NHS - again, yes it’s stretched and not perfect but it’s still far better provision than most other people have in the world. I have friends and neighbours who have moved back to the UK just for the healthcare.
• Fantastic school system. We have it VERY good compared to many countries. Again, some of my friends have moved back to the UK to access our free school system. I feel very lucky to be able to send my kids.
• Pretty decent benefits and state support system. A LOT of people are housed and fed by the system who would otherwise be destitute.
• World class maternity rights.
• Good life/work balance for most. 35-40hrs per week is a lot less than many other countries expect.
• Beautiful coastlines, national parks, vibrant cities, shops, parks, kids entertainment. Again, lots of communities around the world don’t have all of that accessible.

We hear a lot of doom and gloom, but for me at least, I feel very blessed to have won the postcode lottery to have been born here. Could things be better? Of course, certainly. And life can throw us problems regardless. But it could also be a whole lot worse and I’m really thankful for everything I have access to.

Just wanted to post this as media plays a big role in depressing people and I hope this post prompts people to think about what they do have, rather than what they don’t.

(I appreciate people feel differently, just wanted to see a positive post!)

Tbh NHS and schools are why we think of relocating. Cost of living another thing.
All around you are much more impressed than I am.

I agree apart from the NHS. There has always been this "envy of the world" bollocks surrounding the NHS, as if it's unique or special in the world. For a wealthy first world country it's not good enough.

We are lucky compared to living in say Afghanistan but that’s an insanely low bar. It’s not unreasonable to want what other countries offer and there’s a n interesting current thread of things available overseas that should be available in the UK for inspiration.

I agree with you OP. Things are far from perfect but we are free to say so, and there is so much that we all take for granted.

Vibrant cities - None near me , and most others are struggling .

I absolutely love living here and would never live anywhere else

But even I agree that Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands have better health and schools

I agree. Most scathing of the nhs wouldn’t be if they’d experienced not having it.

I would say the same about a lot of other European countries though .

There's pros and cons to all countries, and a lot of 'grass is greener on the other side of the fence' mentality.

On balance yanbu

Have you experienced NHS A&E in the past year? We have, several times (life-threatening each time). It was horrendous.

This is mumsnet so apparently the UK is the worst country in the world for everything
Irl though yes we are comparatively lucky compared to a lot of places
The NHS has many faults however it's free at the point of use ,my son was diagnosed with Diabetes two years ago and is insulin dependent he get all his medications for free, I'm on am American face book group for people with diabetes and loads of people can't really afford their insulin and using old out of date stuff.
Do for things like thst I'm very grateful to live in the UK.

I'm not in Britain. And you couldn't pay me enough to.move there, once was enough.

It's not the worst place, sure, but nobody is going to the UK for the schools or the healthcare.

It's not free. We pay tax.

People don't get the help the need from NHS. They die before they are treated or in ambulances lined up in front of the hospital. I would like to know the number.

I think compared to other European countries, we are not so lucky. Certainly not with the NHS.

Yes I know which is why I said free at the point of use.

Mist people take out more than they put in. It is free.

Certainly there are worse places to live!

Taxes fund the free services. If we stopped paying taxes what do you think would happen?

That’s just not true as I personally know a few who do.

You may not have liked living here, but I feel very lucky. Which utopia do you live in?

People don’t have to use the NHS, you can go private.

Every country works in a taxation basis - except we get our healthcare for free. In many others, they pay tax AND have to pay for health insurance. If you get a chronic health issue, this then takes a lot of your income to afford medications and treatments.

In many places, it costs at least £50 equivalent to see a GP. People don’t know how lucky we are imo.

Well, they shouldn't, because health tourism isn't ok.

Nice you feel lucky. I feel luckier

This .... plus high living costs ; people committing suicide as can't get a mental health appt, I am fighting to get my son a ehcp I think the U.K. is shocking at the moment and only gonna get what raw

I agree with nearly everything you say. Whilst I'm fine with our climate and thankful we don't have many extreme weather events, it is too often very grey and is usually not warm enough! I've been wearing a big winter coat for five months now and will continue to do so for another couple of months. That's not great. Today is the first sunny day we've had in weeks and it's amazing the effect it has on my mood. I have so much more energy. I would like more warmth and sunshine.
The NHS have been absolutely brilliant every time we've needed them. Five star service and I can't fault them. Our schools have been fantastic too. I'm very thankful for high quality, free school and health care.
Our maternity and worker rights are also excellent.
What worries me is the very obvious decline in the country in recent years and increasing poverty. I'm also very concerned about the rise in racism and bigotry.
However, there are far worse places to live and I'm grateful.