“Socialised” medicine
November 2, 2007 by Ruthie
Rudolph Giuliani is happy to run down the UK National Health Service in his bid for the Presidency. Unfortunately us Brits are rather less tolerant of grandstanding by politicans and more questioning than the average US redneck; it seems that the statistics quoted by Mr. Guiliani are somewhat open to interpretation.
US medical provision has been thrown into the spotlight by the recent Michael Moore documentary “Sicko” which equally misrepresents British medical provision as a kind of universal utopia. Ruthie thinks it speaks volumes about so called “free speech” in the US that documentaries critical of the Government have to be made by independent film makers and are not screened on terrestrial TV (not only do we have the NHS we have Panorama, thank God.)
Ruthie knows there are a lot of US readers of this blog so let me assist you with my experience of the UK National Health Service. I have a local doctor with whom I can get a same day appoinment free on demand. I have always been referred to a specialist free when I have requested a referral, although on occassion I have chosen to pay to be seen by a specialist more quickly. The cost for an expedited appointment was about £150, well within the budget of a large chunk of the working population, so payment was a reasonable choice.
If I am away on business and need medical treatment I can attend a local doctor, again free of charge, or alternatively attend my local hospital emergency department and been seen, for free, by a doctor, usually within 4 hours.
Whilst private medical treatment is available, it tends to be used, by those who can afford it, or by those with insurance, for non-emergency medical treatment e.g. sports injuries, rehabilitation services. Most people, even the wealthy will use the NHS for complex medical procedures, since the standard is still generally well regarded. Us Brits, whilst we moan about the NHS fight to retain its services.
The NHS is available in an emergency to all comers, regardless of ability to pay. I am proud to live in a society where emergency medical treatment is available to all. I also enjoy living in a country which doesn’t have adverts for presecription drugs on television. Perhaps some of the money the US drug companies spend on advertising could be better spent on medical treatment for the disadvantaged.
And So Say All of Us!
we have socialised medicine here in Canada as well. It’s not a national program, but each province does provide publicly funded healthcare — as per the Canada Health Act, which is enforced by our Federal Parliament.
I once had to go to a Quebec hospital, and it was free for me.
The US is an interesting country to live next to.
Avoid hospitals - they are for ill people. I tend to operate on myself / treat myself wherever possible - and leave doctors for the tricky bits