NHS best health service in the world

marky · 24-07-2005, 21:55

People whinge about the NHS but My brother recently returned from florida whilst over there one side of his face swelled up,
he had to go to hospital (he had full medical insurance by the travel operator)
had to pay by credit card over $1500 for treatment, given a letter and was told to make a claim when he got home.
would this happen to visitors to this country

**Damien** · 24-07-2005, 22:04

It so weird to think of a health service that isnt free at point of use.

Roy MM · 24-07-2005, 22:10

Any human or animal should by law recieve medical care free.

handyman · 24-07-2005, 22:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by markymoan

People whinge about the NHS but My brother recently returned from florida whilst over there one side of his face swelled up,
he had to go to hospital (he had full medical insurance by the travel operator)
had to pay by credit card over $1500 for treatment, given a letter and was told to make a claim when he got home.
would this happen to visitors to this country

So what would have happened to me if I had the same thing over there, I would not have been able to pay?

marky · 24-07-2005, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by handyman

So what would have happened to me if I had the same thing over there, I would not have been able to pay?

my point exact we give free healthcare but everybody is moaning all the time

Angua · 24-07-2005, 22:22

I may be wrong about this but I think the US spends more on their free service than the UK does on the NHS.

I find the whole thing morally reprehensible that at the point of need you are charged. It is also sad that we are poaching doctors and nurses from needy countries. AFAIK they do at least benefit their own countries with the training they get here.

marky · 24-07-2005, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angua

I may be wrong about this but I think the US spends more on their free service than the UK does on the NHS.

I find the whole thing morally reprehensible that at the point of need you are charged. It is also sad that we are poaching doctors and nurses from needy countries. AFAIK they do benefit their own countries with the training they get here.

is that per head of population
and if a guy from us came over here would they get billed at the hospital

handyman · 24-07-2005, 22:32

Hold on a second, I have found something that us britains dont get stung for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by department of health

the more fragmented commissioning of healthcare becomes, themore prices would be likely to rise. In the USA, for example, pharmaceutical prices are on average 75% higher than in Britain. This is at least in part due to the fragmentation of healthcare purchasing

Taken from here

Though I do agree that we need some reform in the nhs. We certainly have a large investment in it but it does need re focusing and we need investment in nurses and doctors.

punky · 24-07-2005, 22:55

Our NHS isn't free either, and for a long time, my family's health insurance bill was a lot less than what their NI contributions would be. It varies depending on what insurance policy you have, but most, if not virtually all health insurances pay up front. If you are truely destitute enough that you can't afford health care, they won't jsut let you die on their doorstep. There are community hospitals, and social security plans like Mediaid for poor people, or Medicare for old people.

Go round a British hospital, then go around an American one. Look at the British waiting list, then look at the American one. I know which one i'd rather have.

It wasn't nice that your friend had to pay up front, I guess he went to a walk-in centre, but I sounds like his travel insurance policy was s**t. People should check the small print on their insurance policies, like the Direct Line advert shows.

**Stuart** · 24-07-2005, 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

Go round a British hospital, then go around an American one. Look at the British waiting list, then look at the American one. I know which one i'd rather have.

Then try and claim on your insurance if you get something go wrong in the same part of your body twice in your lifetime..

Can't comment on other private medical insurance, but I know from experience that BUPA will not cover you for further operations in the same area.

punky · 24-07-2005, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Then try and claim on your insurance if you get something go wrong in the same part of your body twice in your lifetime..

That isn't a problem AFAIK.

But imagine, being a non-smoker/fit person and paying less for using the system less.

**Stuart** · 24-07-2005, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by markymoan

People whinge about the NHS but My brother recently returned from florida whilst over there one side of his face swelled up,
he had to go to hospital (he had full medical insurance by the travel operator)
had to pay by credit card over $1500 for treatment, given a letter and was told to make a claim when he got home.
would this happen to visitors to this country

Well, if the NHS follows it's own rules (which, in my experience, they don't), then exactly the same.

**Stuart** · 24-07-2005, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Then try and claim on your insurance if you get something go wrong in the same part of your body twice in your lifetime..

That isn't a problem AFAIK.

But imagine, being a non-smoker/fit person and paying less for using the system less.

AFAIK, it is still a problem in this country. Because of her back surgery ten years ago, my sister still cannot get medical insurance.

Don't quite buy the line about non-smokers/fit people as IIRC, the amount of tax payed by smokers is greater than the cost of the NHS..

Millay · 24-07-2005, 23:08

The NHS has a lot of problems, many of which have been building up ffor many years. But I have used NHS more than most people in the past.. and It is brilliant, there is nothing in the world that can compare to this, and our private service aint to bad either (used that a lot to).

Its not just money the NHS needs, its pride as well..

punky · 24-07-2005, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Don't quite buy the line about non-smokers/fit people as IIRC, the amount of tax payed by smokers is greater than the cost of the NHS..

But that tax money wasn't being channelled into the NHS recently. It still isn't now adequately, AFAIK. Like Road Tax, since when has that ever been spent on roads?