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Original poster

Alternative to NHS?

113 replies

tex111 · 27/02/2006 18:18

OK, can someone educate me please. I'm American and I've been in the UK for 12 years. I've had my ups and downs with NHS during this time but now that I have children I'm finding it very difficult to put up with the long waiting lists for appointments, inability to get seen, overworked and often insensitive staff etc, etc. What are the alternatives?

We're fortunate enough to be able to afford private health and have a policy through DH's work but this only covers treatment. It does not cover 'investigation' or general healthcare. Is there such a thing as private A&E, private GPs, etc and how do I find them? What insurance companies provide such cover?

This has all come to a head after a very long day in A&E with 4 month old DD. She's been having blood in her nappy for ten days, this was my second trip to A&E and I've been disappointed in the treatment (or lack of it). What else can I do?

OP posts:
NHSjunkie · 01/03/2006 13:49

You can call me a socialist if you want but it is not enough just to provide health care for the educated, everyone deserves it and the poor and uneducated need it more because they are mpore likely to need it. Open your eyes and see past your comfort zone to the people who really need help and dont get it.

I say again medical prescriptions uin the us are autherised by drug compsnies not drs, this is not an improvement on our system!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have nothing new or convincing to bring to this argument you have lost my attention

uwila · 01/03/2006 13:49

Bundle, you have misjudged me again. What I said was here I'll give you my £20, and then someone else can benefit from the free appointment I'm not going to take up. Sounds like a win win situation to me. So please explain why it is not.

The reason I will do this is because it will cost me more to take the afternoon off of work. So, it's a better deal for me, it puts more money into the GP, and it frees an appointment for someone else. What am I missing? Why is this bad?

NHSjunkie · 01/03/2006 13:50

autherised by insurance companies, posted in hast as ds is needing attention!

NHSjunkie · 01/03/2006 13:52

uwila that is not the only thing you have said,you said and I quote
Tex, if you find a way to replicate the US medical system here in the UK, by all means let me know!

please find a leg and stand on it!

bundle · 01/03/2006 13:53

Uwila

at the risk of repeating myself

DOCTORS NEED TIME OFF

they are not just there for you, uwila.

and

THEY ARE NOT JUST INTERESTED IN MAKING MONEY

uwila · 01/03/2006 13:54

So, you think everyone deserves healthcare for free? What level of health care? What about waiting times? Are those acceptable?

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 01/03/2006 13:54

Uwila - The GP may prefer to work for £20 for 10 minutes and decide not to bother with non-paying cutsomers. Then those who can't afford it get an even poorer service.

Two tier is great for those that can afford it and bad for those that can't.

babyonboard · 01/03/2006 13:55

hmm...reminds m of a quote I heard recently..

'what kind of country is it where a paramedic will check a mans wallet before his pulse'

or words to that effect...

sorry your thread became a discussion tex! I hope you can dig out the useful posts...

uwila · 01/03/2006 13:57

Junkie, I have not faltered. I have maintained throuought this thread that I prefer the service offered in the US system. I miss it and would be prepared to pay for it what I paid for it in the US. But, private insurance is not on offer in this country for a comparable price. It's much more expensive here.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 01/03/2006 13:58

What happens in the US if you can't afford insurance?

uwila · 01/03/2006 13:59

Saagar- So the argument is that there won't be anyone working in the free service? I wasn't thinking that those hours would be optional.

NHSjunkie · 01/03/2006 14:01

Uwilla have you listened to any of the points Ive made. I have provided you with adequate reason why equality in health care is a good thin, I have also outlined why the NHS is failing and what we could considder other than private health care to improve this.
What more are you looking for???

I have never said the NHS is flawless but It is far better than the us system. You have given me no facts to quantify your argument other than "it works for the employed people you know" cpngratulations to them they've won a free angioplasty! what about the people who cant afford I shall we just leave them to die, survival of the fittest etc. I think you'll find that humanity would dissagree!

uwila · 01/03/2006 14:03

I think you still get basic medical attention. My sister had no money when she was pregnant, and she had maternity care and gave birth in a very nice hospital.... for free. If she had had insurance the birth would have been around $12000 (vaginal delivery, minimal complications).

But, I must admit she is theonly person I know who doesn't have medical insurance.

bundle · 01/03/2006 14:03

it's not free, we pay taxes to maintain it uwila

saggar, she couldn't give a toss about people who cannot afford to pay insurance in the states

NHSjunkie · 01/03/2006 14:04

think is not a good enough argument it is ignorant of the people who cant afford it and wrong!

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 01/03/2006 14:06

What if her child (like mine) had been born with a chronic congenital disease - how would her child fare. Would it get the best available treament despite her having no insurance and no money?

uwila · 01/03/2006 14:07

Junkie, I've read all of your points. I find them neither compelling nor thorough. The only solution you have proposed is to raise taxes. But I feel that with the huge cost of living in this country that that is not really a viable optio. (see threads on outrageous cost of childcare which usually cascades to cost of living, morgages, etc.) So I don't think higher taxes are the answer to the NHS.

And BTW Bundle, I am willing to work on Saturdays is they are willing to pay me my usual hourly rate for it.

NHSjunkie · 01/03/2006 14:11

no the tax rise was not what i suggested uwilla, what I was suggesting was that we focused our effeorts on preventative rather than interventive medicine. Maintaining health standards rather than trying to 'fix i when it is gone'. People need to realise that health is something they have, not something the state should provide. Healthy living would greatly reduce the strain on the NHS.

TAke the NZ system. GP's are mostly private with hospitals run by the state, if that was to happen in this country a and e would implode with an excessive demand from non private patients, but it works in NZ as they generally live a health life style.

uwila · 01/03/2006 14:11

Bundle, please stop putting words in my mouth. I did not say what the state of poor in the Us either is or should be. I've been very honest in saying I really don't know.

I personally have had better care in the US than I have on the NHS. Is it better for all? I don't know. And from the sounds of it, neither of you have enough experience of the US system to make that call either.

Junkie, your getting a bit emotional. Calling names isn't appropriate. Can we just have a civilised debate?

NHSjunkie · 01/03/2006 14:13

AM having difficult other than asking if you were margaret thature finding where I called you names, I did say that to make assumptions based on your thought is ignorant, this would be true. you have an ignorance of the way the poor are treated in america, this is not name calling last time I checked.

uwila · 01/03/2006 14:15

"People need to realise that health is something they have, not something the state should provide. "

If that is true than there is no role at all for the NHS.

Besides, when you made this pointearlier about people taking more control of their own health, I agreed with it. But, do you think that the NHS offers a culture of preventative medicine? I get the impression that it is crises that they do well (emergency caesarean, a and e, etc.). But when I say hey my cholesterol is off the scale, they say "So?????".

bundle · 01/03/2006 14:16

uwila the fact that you would happily spend saturday away from your family - for money - shows that your motivations aren't the same as everyone else's, mine included.

bundle · 01/03/2006 14:17

uwila i have no direct experience of it but from talking to health economists, the model seen in europe, particularly scandinavia where care is good but taxes are high, are rated as the best.

uwila · 01/03/2006 14:18

That is a cheap shot Bundle and you can stick you head where the sun don't shine. My commitment to struggle through and TRY to pay my bills does not mean I value time with my children any less than you value time with yours.

NHSjunkie · 01/03/2006 14:18

Its great that you got good care, but I would sleep better at night knowing that the elderly person who falls in the middle of the night, has no money and no relatives whill be seen treated and cared for. Does this not bother you? If not then your right, an american system would suit you. I find it unequal and unfair and to re-iterate once more, DOES NOT NECESSARILY GIVE BETTER CARE. When you take medical desicions away from the drs and give them to the accountants you are not always going to have a good result.