Oh boy we're lucky in the UK

[TigerTailz]

Fully agree. I've recently had a huge, lifesaving operation (called a Tpait) on the NHS. I have a friend in the US with the same diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis that I had prior to surgery. She can't even afford the insurance to see one of the specialists that I was sent to, let alone an operation that costs hundreds of thousands and leaves the patient diabetic afterwards. That's before the cost of the Dieticians, Pain Management, medications to enable us to eat and live... but the NHS is in great danger. Prior to my op I worked for the NHS, and have seen first hand how contracts are being awarded to private contractors for the last 12 years - money being funnelled out for profits, not reinvested into staff, equipment, training and services. As diabetics, we get free insulin, prescriptions and tests - we are indeed very lucky. Doctors, Nurses and NHS staff are not allowed to publicly criticise what is going on, or they will lose their jobs. They are paid way below what private healthcare staff are paid - meaning many are leaving the NHS, so they can afford to simply live. Can you imagine what the cost of keeping wards warm this winter will do? The cash will probably have to come from patient care budgets. We need to fight for our beloved NHS - which is probably the last piece of the social contract that was put into place to support working class people, after our grandparents great sacrifices in WW2.

 

[Ken P]

I think in the states u have to be insured.
Btw i have an question.

In the UK, do u have to be on employed to access the nhs?

If you are not an employed, do u still have access to the NHS?

In the U>S> or Canada just mention Diabetes and the private insurers either don't want to talk to you or the insurance cost they quote will break you financially and you still have to contribute to the cost of medicine, iny case it was an 80/20 contribution and the premium was $950.00/mth., I live in Canada and I am 67 yrs old so now Health Benefits in Ontario cover my medicine costs with a small yearly deductible, the U. S. however only covers a minimum at best and sadly some people do die from treatable illness.

 

[NicoleC1971]

I should think it is a bit of a worry when the start of this thread talks about how bad it is in America and the UK goverment wants to bring in American health companies into the NHS, is it good or bad I don't know

This a left wing idea - that evil Tories wish to sell NHS contracts to private healthcare companies. I feel that at present, the fact that many people who have medical insurance via their jobs, or middle class people who can afford to do so are going to opt out of NHS care. Just look at the numbers of private GPs services enabled by the lock down and then think where they are going to get their staff from? If you are a hospital doctor or a GP might you prefer better salaries and more favourable conditions in the private sector? So that leaves a service with threadbare and burnt out staff that you wouldn't want to go to unless you were desperate. No evil policy needed just the healthcare market stepping in to fill a gap.
Yes I am grateful to have my insulin, pump and bits all funded and tis now my job not to get hospitalised for preventable complications. Some parts of the NHS are excellent e.g. acute care but I just don't think they are geared up for treatment of chronic disease.
America is always the Straw Man here and it does seem to be a bit of a stitch up between the hospital business, big pharma and the insurance companies resulting in over treatment and under performance , but but there are other state medical insurance options that work well for similar expenditure e.g. Canada, France, Germany. However we keep worshipping the NHS and no mainstream politician will stand on a major reform platform or be honest about the problems.

 

[david4503]

^In the U.S., private insurers need competition from taxpayer-funded healthcare like traditional Medicare in order to improve care and the cost-benefit ratio. Meanwhile, in the UK, it seems like the NHS might need some competition from private insurers for the same reasons. Healthcare systems that are working better, whether it’s Japan, France or Switzerland, should be mined for good ideas. Unfortunately, the NIH (Not Invented Here) problem is universal and so there is usually lots of resistance to foreign ideas,

It’s hard for me to say what exactly is motivating the NHS to work with American companies and award contracts but I wouldn’t doubt that it comes down to mainly money.

 

[Diane fluteplayer]

I should think it is a bit of a worry when the start of this thread talks about how bad it is in America and the UK goverment wants to bring in American health companies into the NHS, is it good or bad I don't know

Speaking for me, I’m definitely worried!