Dear Republicans, your e-mail asking for horror stories on the NHS reached me here in the UK. I'm not going to harangue you, because that's not how we do politics over here. I'd just like to point out a few things.
The US spends twice as much in GDP on healthcare than the UK, yet 20% of Americans aren't insured, whereas any person in Britain, citizen or not, can go to the doctor and receive whatever treatment they need without question.
Doctors here were extremely reluctant to accept the NHS in 1948: the minister for health admitted that he had to 'stuff their mouths with gold', yet now doctors vehemently support the NHS as largely efficient and completely fair.
Unlike the US, our senior citizens do not have to take coach trips to neighbouring countries to buy medication. Prescriptions are a fixed price (£6) whatever the true cost of the medication, except in Wales and Scotland, where senior citizens pay nothing.
British citizens and others (I am an Irish citizen) are rightfully very proud of the NHS. Yes, it has limitations and problems, but it works. It's large enough to commission medication and treatments from pharmaceutical companies and other providers at a fair price, and not a penny is spent running multiple bureaucracies or on shareholder profits. No departments are dedicated to finding policy loopholes or excluding potential patients from treatment.
I have had several experiences of the NHS. My grandfather developed a series of chronic illnesses. He spent the last ten years of his life receiving dialysis three times a week, using machines installed at the family home, and was frequently rushed to hospital on the verge of death. He faced no 'death panel': treatment was given unconditionally. My grandmother is 96 and has several cancers as well as senile dementia. Nobody has ever suggested that she shouldn't be treated. Her medication is changed frequently as doctors find new ways to improve her quality of life.
I too have recently required extended NHS care for a mysterious and troubling complaint. I saw a doctor the first day I noticed a lump, and then saw three senior consultants and underwent a CAT scan and an MRI scan within two weeks. Within 4 weeks, I'd undergone an exploratory operation and was given pragmatic and thoughtful advice, followed by aftercare which will continue for as long as I need it. All of this is, of course, completely without charge.
Is the NHS expensive? I don't think so. I pay tax at 0% on the first £5500, 20% on the next £35,000, and 40% on anything I earn over £40,000 (not very much). This compares favourably with the top rate of 80% under the Conservative Party in the early 1980s, a period in which they starved the NHS of funds. I very much appreciate the fact that the care a street cleaner receives would be just as good as the care I receive.
I am fully aware that the US is partially founded on Calvinist and social darwinist principles, leading to a situation in which individual effort is meant to be rewarded in all spheres. However, I cannot accept that health care is not already rationed according to income in the US, and that profit-making will inevitably lead to a 'race to the bottom' in healthcare provision. In the UK and Europe in general, governments are not considered to be the enemy. Instead, we have rationally decided that collectively, we are stronger, and that the health of one is of concern to all. Would you be happy to leave a patient with a contagious disease untreated because he couldn't afford treatment? Should the children of the poor go unvaccinated or untreated? Should the old be left to die because they invested their money in Enron? We don't think so.
Yours, Aidan Byrne
Dr Aidan Byrne Senior lecturer in English and Media, University of Wolverhampton
There is no reason to stand against Universal healthcare except greed. Pure and simple. The cost of a UK, Canada, France or even Switzerland style universal health insurance would be less than our current system by removing the for-profit companies and the ridiculous amount of administration required to manage our labyrinthine billing system.
Richard
· 4 months ago
I see you are deleting comments. Last time I looked the comments were overwhelmingly favourable to universal healthcare (including mine). Not happy with how it's going?
david148
· 4 months ago
I went to the Doctor's last month for a, well, downstairs problem. I was given an appointment for that day at 11.30. I got there with plenty of time to spare, but wasn't seen until 11.45. I was livid.
ruthroberts
· 4 months ago
As a UK citizen I had always taken free health care for granted, until I was pregnant with my second child and I befriended many american mums on a forum. I was stunned to learn of the primitive system that you have in the US. These mums were scared when there children got ill, not for the child's health but for the cost of doctor visits/medicines. They were equally stunned to learn that I could take my children to see the doctor for free. That I always had the children seen the same day, and that the medicines prescribed were also free. To me that is a real health care horror story.
James
· 4 months ago
Tell you what, sign up to my exclusive $300/month horror story insurance policy, and I'll make up *totally true* horror stories for you, as often or as seldom as you need.
So long as you don't have an pre-existing conditions (preventing you from appreciating my creative genius).
(The terms of this offer can be changed at any time, without notice, by me and me alone. )
healthreformnow
· 4 months ago
I have a single payer universal system in Taiwan, ahem, "Socialized" medicine. I had to see several specialists for a mysterious ailment and could walk in to see any specialist I wanted, no referrals needed, and same day appointments if I wanted, my MRI co-pay was $5, my meds are $4 per month. At no point was I denied a test or procedure. Now lets compare this to my $7000 a year health insurance in the States- at least a 15 day wait to see a doctor for an ailment that needed attention immediately, referrals and appointment with specialists with waits of over 3 months, fighting with the insurance companies for every measly test, and not getting tests I needed, which would have prevented many of the problems that the Taiwanese system took care of for me down the road. The US is not even a Third World country when it comes to health care, its a third rate one. Try and live somewhere else for a while, you'll notice really quick
Mike585
· 4 months ago
After being diagnosed with cancer and losing the job, my friend went through the treatment that the insurance company had to approve first, after this approval process, some treatments where not approved or covered because the premium was not met due to loss of job; my friend died of cancer, yet the day after, a letter of re-instatement arrived by mail.
lalla_ward
· 4 months ago
This is pure fail.
i honestly do not care a jot for the US Healthcare system but the malacious lies and scaremongering as done by the REPUBLICANS are so set to destroy your country by making you look like a bunch of people who give more of a damn about a buck than a life.
Bizarre.
Enjoy your medical apocalypse!
Yorgus
· 4 months ago
My personal healthcare horror story is allowing Republicans to prevent any kind of healthcare reform from actually taking place.
Republicans do not want a system which will ration health care. The current system rations healthcare. You get an ample share if you can afford insurance. You get none if you cannot afford insurance. What percentage of insurance company executives and pharmaceutical company executives are Republican?
Republicans need to get the fuck out of the way. The majority spoke at the last election.
Reggie
· 4 months ago
I once went to see a doctor because I accidentally sliced up my finger on a sharp carpet knife that wasn't properly stored. Not a big cut, but I needed stitches. I waited in the ER for about 6 hours on a Tuesday night where there were 3 people in front of me. I ended up paying 800 of the 1400 dollar hospital bill. Fortunately, the hopsital set up some financing options for me because the only job I could get at the time paid 50 cents above minwage. I wasn't able to save any money for 7 months, but I got that bill paid off!
131 other comments overwhelmingly in favour, I will also begin to archive this page.... Just in case something goes amiss!
Josh Bruno
· 3 months ago
It kind of irks me that everyone is, "Oh, Republicans are selfish and just in it for the financial gain". I don't know what political party I affiliate myself with, as I am a 19 yo sophomore in college still learning who I am and what is what for me. I will say that the healthcare reform that the obama admin. is pushing is terrible though. In the case of my sister, where she has a debilitating disease affecting her liver, she needs a transplant, which, under the obama healthcare plan, she would, most likely, never get, and die, and thus, I don't support a system where you have to wait longer than the time already in place for someone to get a transplant. I am also not saying that our healthcare plan in place now is perfect. I think a reform is needed, just not the universal plan that is trying to be *forced* upon us.
oldfred
· 3 months ago
I have been passing kidney stones for 1 1/2 years. Last January, a really big one started down. The urologist said that it probably wouldn't pass on its own so he booked me for lithotripsy with a wait time of three weeks. The time issue had me a bit worried but he said, if you have an attack of kidney stone pain, go to emerg. I'd already been that route for three other stones, so I knew that they would treat pain promptly, and when the attack was over, send me home to await the stone passing. But I knew this one wouldn't pass. The doctor explained that the stone was not causing any harm, and as long as I wasn't in pain, things were OK. If I was in pain, emerg would assess, and if there was potential for harm, I'd be treated right away.
In the end, I didn't have an attack, but my lithotripsy was postponed because others had emergency priority. It was six weeks before the lithotripsy which was done as day surgery and the remnants passed within a week.
The doctor was right. The system worked. The emergencies got first dibs and everybody was happy.
To you, this might sound like a horror story. To me it reaffirmed my faith in our system, that it works for everybody with a little understanding and a little patience.
oldfred
· 3 months ago
I forgot to mention... I live in Ontario, Canada
Jared
· 3 months ago
I can not believe that 13 of the 15 comments are pro-democrat. It amazes me how stupid people can be.
All Comments
your e-mail asking for horror stories on the NHS reached me here in the UK. I'm not going to harangue you, because that's not how we do politics over here. I'd just like to point out a few things.
The US spends twice as much in GDP on healthcare than the UK, yet 20% of Americans aren't insured, whereas any person in Britain, citizen or not, can go to the doctor and receive whatever treatment they need without question.
Doctors here were extremely reluctant to accept the NHS in 1948: the minister for health admitted that he had to 'stuff their mouths with gold', yet now doctors vehemently support the NHS as largely efficient and completely fair.
Unlike the US, our senior citizens do not have to take coach trips to neighbouring countries to buy medication. Prescriptions are a fixed price (£6) whatever the true cost of the medication, except in Wales and Scotland, where senior citizens pay nothing.
British citizens and others (I am an Irish citizen) are rightfully very proud of the NHS. Yes, it has limitations and problems, but it works. It's large enough to commission medication and treatments from pharmaceutical companies and other providers at a fair price, and not a penny is spent running multiple bureaucracies or on shareholder profits. No departments are dedicated to finding policy loopholes or excluding potential patients from treatment.
I have had several experiences of the NHS. My grandfather developed a series of chronic illnesses. He spent the last ten years of his life receiving dialysis three times a week, using machines installed at the family home, and was frequently rushed to hospital on the verge of death. He faced no 'death panel': treatment was given unconditionally. My grandmother is 96 and has several cancers as well as senile dementia. Nobody has ever suggested that she shouldn't be treated. Her medication is changed frequently as doctors find new ways to improve her quality of life.
I too have recently required extended NHS care for a mysterious and troubling complaint. I saw a doctor the first day I noticed a lump, and then saw three senior consultants and underwent a CAT scan and an MRI scan within two weeks. Within 4 weeks, I'd undergone an exploratory operation and was given pragmatic and thoughtful advice, followed by aftercare which will continue for as long as I need it. All of this is, of course, completely without charge.
Is the NHS expensive? I don't think so. I pay tax at 0% on the first £5500, 20% on the next £35,000, and 40% on anything I earn over £40,000 (not very much). This compares favourably with the top rate of 80% under the Conservative Party in the early 1980s, a period in which they starved the NHS of funds. I very much appreciate the fact that the care a street cleaner receives would be just as good as the care I receive.
I am fully aware that the US is partially founded on Calvinist and social darwinist principles, leading to a situation in which individual effort is meant to be rewarded in all spheres. However, I cannot accept that health care is not already rationed according to income in the US, and that profit-making will inevitably lead to a 'race to the bottom' in healthcare provision. In the UK and Europe in general, governments are not considered to be the enemy. Instead, we have rationally decided that collectively, we are stronger, and that the health of one is of concern to all. Would you be happy to leave a patient with a contagious disease untreated because he couldn't afford treatment? Should the children of the poor go unvaccinated or untreated? Should the old be left to die because they invested their money in Enron? We don't think so.
Yours,
Aidan Byrne
Dr Aidan Byrne
Senior lecturer in English and Media, University of Wolverhampton
www.plashingvole.blogspot.com
To me that is a real health care horror story.
So long as you don't have an pre-existing conditions (preventing you from appreciating my creative genius).
(The terms of this offer can be changed at any time, without notice, by me and me alone. )
i honestly do not care a jot for the US Healthcare system but the malacious lies and scaremongering as done by the REPUBLICANS are so set to destroy your country by making you look like a bunch of people who give more of a damn about a buck than a life.
Bizarre.
Enjoy your medical apocalypse!
Republicans do not want a system which will ration health care. The current system rations healthcare. You get an ample share if you can afford insurance. You get none if you cannot afford insurance. What percentage of insurance company executives and pharmaceutical company executives are Republican?
Republicans need to get the fuck out of the way. The majority spoke at the last election.
I'm from Iowa.
131 other comments overwhelmingly in favour, I will also begin to archive this page.... Just in case something goes amiss!
In the end, I didn't have an attack, but my lithotripsy was postponed because others had emergency priority. It was six weeks before the lithotripsy which was done as day surgery and the remnants passed within a week.
The doctor was right. The system worked. The emergencies got first dibs and everybody was happy.
To you, this might sound like a horror story. To me it reaffirmed my faith in our system, that it works for everybody with a little understanding and a little patience.
It amazes me how stupid people can be.