American Reacts to "How the NHS Works"

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[@midwestamericans3806]

Hey guys after reading the comments I wanted to clarify something. I was not trying to make excuses for the US health system. I was just trying to say how it is here and what my personal experience was. I know the US needs healthcare and support the idea. Again I was just trying to say how it is here, weather good or bad.

[@hazed1009]

I think the cost of "half in the uk" is refering to the cost to each person in comparison , (so regardless of size of poulation) So you would effectively pay half what the average person pays now in the USA and you would have free healthcare. Now its not faultless. There are delays and waiting lists. Its not the fastest system in the world I'm sure. But it does mean people aren't afraid to go to a hospital for fear of the cost. We can call an ambulance and go to accident and emergency, even get helicoptor ambulance if it's serious, you'll be fixed up etc and you will pay nothing. Zip. Nada! 😁 how can this be a bad thing? I've spent substantial amount of time in nhs hospitals due to having an accident when I was 18 and breaking my back. I've been confined to a wheelchair, had to have at least 10 major surgeries including two twelve hour operations. Some of these were for pain management, something I know from speaking to American wheelchair users who are over here for the paraolymics they have been told this is "non essential" and "not covered" etc by their insurance. Here (if you're prepared to wait) you WILL get help. I also get help toward cost of wheelchairs, housing etc and the cost, since I only worked for a few years before I had my accident was the tax I paid on my wages which was minimal and I would HAPPILY pay twice the national insurance fee imposed on your wages knowing what I know now about the nhs and what it's done for me If I had had that same accident in the US I can't imagine the cost considering the prices. As an example I have an electronic internal drug delivery system for a spinal morphine injection to try to ease the nerve pains. It costs £40,000 per device and they have to be replaced every 5 years. I have a very rare complication which is excessive root pains due to severe damage to the nerves in the spinal chord. I have only met 1 other person with the same problem and my surgeon has told me, there are less than 10 people in the UK with a similar device for pain. (they are usually used to deliver drugs to stop extreme muscle spasm) Can you imagine the cost over a lifetime for someone having to pay for this alone? I know you have medical aid for people with disability and veterans but there are problems with what things are "covered" and what aren't. Believe me, I havent got the energy to battle some insurance company or medical aid governing body in courts to argue any decision they might make and that wouldn't be because I wasn't passionate or determined to argue my case it would be because I simply can't overcome the pain and mental strain etc. This is what the problem can be for people who are disabled in the US and have some problem with their care coverage post accident etc. Plenty fall through the cracks. I've even met a guy in LA In a wheelchair whom I discovered to my amazement was homeless! Travelled everywhere in an rv. Said he couldn't afford to stay in one place. I don't know the full circumstances, maybe he was just determined not to be helped? But it appeared he was left to his own devices without help. I was truelly shocked this was even possible in the richest country in the world. Kinda scared me, a bit thinking what if I was in USA when I had my accident. Anyway just wanted to share my own example to make the point that the nhs is a superb system even with the flaws imo.

[@willienelsongonzalez4609]

Hey, no disrespect intended, yes the NHS does work well, but there are inherent problems with management that run various hospitals and trusts that in part led to incredibly questionable practices i.e. Mid Staffordshire inquiry (look up on Google). As with any system that’s reliant on human resources, mistakes do occur, yet those individuals are either used as a scapegoat as was seen in Bawa-Garba case, not given support or are completely crucified especially if it’s a systems problem. There is also an issue regarding covert racism in the NHS and the GMC (registration body for doctors) which the Dr Bass-Garba case sadly highlighted. I’m FOR the NHS, without it I would struggle and would be worse off, it does so much good work which isn’t celebrated. I’m fed up when doctors and nurses are not supported, aren’t paid properly and/or abused by the public for an unrealistic expectations. I’m also disgusted when governments, especially the tories, abuse it and sell off various parts of the NHS whilst also rewarding their cronies for scrupulous contracts. The tories also have a constant habit of underfunding the NHS. Let’s not forget, doctors went on strike under a tory government, when the tories (Jeremy Hunt, then minister for health - look him up on Google) unfairly changed their contracts which have left them worse off. There is a private healthcare system, but it is not as inclusive or as comprehensive as the NHS. If you become seriously unwell in a UK private hospital, that patient will need to be transferred to an NHS hospital as it will have better resources and access to various specialities in comparison to a private hospital. Generally, if folks use a private hospital it’s because they’re paying for a standard procedure which they require i.e. knee replacement, which they can get on the NHS but will have to wait for, or it’s something that is provided as a perk if you work for employer that provides it (but not all do or are obligated to do so because we have the NHS). In addition, if you want a cosmetic procedure done i.e. breast augmentation or rhinoplasty, then NHS won’t generally do this as it’s seen as a personal preference and not something that is an actual need. I’m not against private hospitals, but everything, and I mean everything, is priced and is accounted for i.e. tablets, dressings … bear in mind they’re set up to make a profit first. Those who can afford private healthcare will use it, but those individuals are also eligible to use the NHS if they wish without prejudice from the NHS. GPs (General Practitioners) are generally the first point of contact for a vast majority of patients. They will refer patients to various NHS services if it is indicated i.e. GI bleed to either acute medicine/GI medicine or general surgery. If something is beyond their expertise, skill set, knowledge and provision of care then they will refer onto a hospital based specialist in that field (provided it is not a dire emergency) i.e. suspected COPD to respiratory medicine, hypertension patient to cardiology, worsening psoriasis to dermatology. Hope that helps. The NHS is a great system, it provides so much and their are regional variations, but overall it does so much good work. It’s let down by certain governments (usually the tories). It’s also abused by certain folks who know it’s free from the point of delivery, and it’s not a bottomless pit. From the cradle to the grave, it will try and do its best to help you. Sadly, they way it’s being funded will have to change i.e. Canadian, Australian or Singaporean system.

[@theinsideouter6371]

Sorry I just replied to myself . In my fathers words not mine " i have just jumped the que please dont let me do it again" a lovely man and a lovely NHS. I do care what the USA do, but I know they let their people down by not looking after them, love Jeff

[@theinsideouter6371]

@@willienelsongonzalez4609 You can go on, where do you live

[@hazed1009]

@@willienelsongonzalez4609 couldn't agree more. You make a very valid point and you're certainly not telling any lies or misleading anyone (before someone comes on here saying otherwise! ) what you describe is exactly what's going on around us, and the nhs is under severe pressure. The nhs has been under attack by consrmervatives since it's foundation I think, but they are quick to revel in any praise the nhs recieved.(as in at the London olympic games 2012) They never promote their constant underfunding, attacks on staff wages and the selling off of the most lucrative practices and departments. The deliberate flood of beaurocratic middle management posts created I think to deliberately slow the entire system. The further mismanagement thereof. If the nhs was funded correctly and run properly and the government was determined to make it work, it would definately work and be a shining example to all. Obviously those making extortionate profits in private medicine and politicians invested in those companies involved do not want to see this happen. Personally I think the conservatives, at the very least on this subject, but quite frankly also many others, are dispicable human beings. I'll never vote for them that's for sure. Unfortunately there's pretty much no one in politics I trust to be any better once in power. Look how the liberal democrats behaved once they had their foot in the door of power. They didn't adhere to any of their post election ideals. It's a sad state of affairs. I am glad there are still some who work to protect what's left of the NHS though, for myself certainly, and for our country.

[@gweightman]

As the old saying goes, 'In the UK ,the first thing a doctor looks for, is a pulse, in the US, it is a wallet ' !!!

[@iconoclast673]

Can't be that old a saying!

[@alexspareone3872]

The first thing an NHS medic looks for is whether if they let you go untreated you have the means or relatives to seek justice.

[@gweightman]

@@alexspareone3872 Another old saying, is that Yanks don't get irony. As you have just proven, as 40m don't even have health cover.

[@brokeandtired]

I waited YEARS to get a shoulder fixed on the NHS...The only thing good about the NHS is emergency treatment..all else sucks. Plus its absolutely draining the economy dry and getting ever more expensive with every year that passes because its horrifically inefficient. Its not as good as it looks on paper and we simply pay via other means (taxation)....

[@ragnar97]

@@brokeandtired So why did you wait years instead of going to a private clinic? If you're so opposed to the idea I'm assuming you'd have the means to pay for healthcare some other way

[@AuthurFoxache]

As an American who grew up in Texas, has lived in Italy for 3 years, and lived in the UK for the last 16, there is no way in hell I would ever go back to the American system of healthcare.

[@paulavertz6012]

I grew up in Texas, lived in France and been in UK for 21 years now. Had my son here and went through my breast cancer treatment here too although fortunately private treatment. I feel the opposite. It might be “free” but I prefer to have a say in my treatment. Paediatric care is just about nothing. Pregnancy care is based on a post code. Basically your medical care is limited to what the government agrees is cost efficient for you to have.

[@blankblank3677]

@@paulavertz6012 Dont criticise the NHS if you’ve never tried it regarding oncology. They give you multiple options to choose from and in the end it’s YOUR decision on what option suits you best. Also don’t criticise the palliative care or the Paediatric wards either. They’re both brilliant and you’re technically criticising the more unfortunate areas regarding post codes for nothing. I live in a poverty area and the experiences my mother has had regarding paediatric and my older sister had after her life threatening car accident in paediatrics is impeccable. Not everyone has enough money to pay for treatment. No need to put down poverty stricken areas and no need to say that the hard working and dedicated NHS workers are useless for giving out FREE healthcare.

[@steveknight878]

@@paulavertz6012 So you didn't try the NHS? Just went private?

[@toadvs182]

@@paulavertz6012 - So you believe that having the CHOICE of free healthcare is a negative thing...?! Absolutely mindblowing.

[@eattherich9215]

@@toadvs182: the choices for treatment on the NHS are not limitless, but there is a pretty good spread. The choices you have in the US is based on your ability to pay.

[@MattWizo]

“Illness is neither an indulgence for which people have to pay, nor an offence for which they should be penalised, but a misfortune the cost of which should be shared by the community.” - Aneurin Bevan, NHS Founder.

[@RugbyWannabe]

One of the greatest Welshmen ever to live.

[@callumcrane]

But we do pay, we'll some do in inordinate amounts of tax for a service we rarely have access to.

[@jamesreynolds2867]

@@RugbyWannabe One of the greatest MEN ever.

[@MsPinkwolf]

Very true back in the 40s. Less so today when more than half of cancers and the most common health conditions are triggered by diet and lifestyle choices.

[@nuri2465]

@@MsPinkwolf Tell that to Flint residents...ukranisn residents living close to Chernobyl...

[@iloveyourgyatttt]

The NHS is the UK’s pride and joy. We are very proud and appreciative of it.

[@ihateunicorns867]

UK citizen here. Let me be clear: There are no problems with the NHS itself. The problems are from governments cutting funding to it and trying to sell bits of it off to private companies. A properly funded NHS works flawlessly. It's like having a car and then not putting enough petrol (gas) in it and then declaring the car is broken when it can't complete its journey.

[@ayisdec716]

legit man dumb

[@eruantien9932]

Word. I would say that there are some problems with the NHS (nothing's perfect) but most of those are due to us being an "early adopter". The fact that the NHS has been under attack by our governments almost since Atlee left office is a tragedy, it's one of our most wonderful institutions, and something we should be proud of and support. Alack, certain influential rich folk would rather profit off of it.

[@digiscream]

Not actually true - the NHS budget has been increased every year since 1959. Even in the last 10 years, it's been an average increase of 2.5% annually.

[@ayisdec716]

@@digiscream has it tho? there understaffed so if it has been increased not enough

[@digiscream]

@@ayisdec716 - yes, it absolutely has, that's a matter of public record. The problem is that external costs and demands on the NHS have increased beyond that budget increase. It doesn't help that the PFI programmes that Blair's government expanded are becoming more of a drain on the budget as time goes by, so the general effect of all that is a squeeze. Understaffing isn't only related to cost; it's not that they can't afford extra staff, it's that they can't train enough of them quickly enough, and there's been a drain recently thanks to Brexit (ie European-born staff leaving). The NHS also has major problems in terms of its organisation, and wastes huge amounts of money thanks to organisational changes forced on it by successive governments. The point is, it's a really complex issue that you can't hang on one single cause.

[@davebarnes1742]

The NHS gives me freedom to change jobs and not worry about health care

[@Steventrafford]

That’s just one of the many benefits brother🍻

[@cenedra2143]

It gives me the freedom to trip over my own feet😳

[@Steventrafford]

@@cenedra2143 🤘👏🍻. Like your name handle? Eddings fan by chance?

[@cenedra2143]

@@Steventrafford definitely 😁

[@Steventrafford]

@@cenedra2143 my Son’s name is Geran❤️

[@andrewdonaghy1248]

And by "long waits" it means - if you need to see someone because you sometimes get a strange twinge, you'll be waiting. If you have chest pain you will be seen straight away.

[@midwestamericans3806]

Well that is good, thanks for clarifying.

[@murdershe......7378]

@@midwestamericans3806 There are maximum waiting times for different conditions so for example if they suspect you have cancer then you will be in and tested and have an MRI and see an oncologist within 2 weeks and you will then have access to anything you need to help treat you and will discuss your treatment plan. I have relatives who have been through cancer treatment in the UK and they spoke very highly of the care they received also due to their cancer they became disabled unable to work which made them eligible for PIP which is a payment made monthly by the Government to help cover any costs associated with their illness around $750 per month which really gave them peace of mind with paying bills whilst so ill, also if you receive a terminal diagnosis you receive PIP immediately at the highest rate around $1000 per month to help you with any costs or loss of earnings etc and when you die if you on certain benefits as my relative was then your spouse receives a one off payment of $5000 to cover funeral costs and a payment to the spouse for the first year to help them cover the loss of their partners earnings and give them time to sort their situation out. I don't think the UK Government could reasonably be expected to do anything more than they do. We are very very lucky to have the safety net there for us in times of need and to never have to worry about medical bills and very lucky to have the welfare system there for us in times of need. Nobody begrudges paying in to the communal pot because we know that we or somebody we love will have need of the services at some point. We see it as right and fair that if you earn a huge amount per year then you pay 40% tax and if you don't earn much then you pay zero tax, the average person pays around 20% tax but it covers everything so no unexpected expenses.

[@silkvelvet2616]

@@murdershe......7378 and don't for get the VAT that EVERYONE pays regardless of their income when they buy something.

[@paulavertz6012]

@@murdershe......7378 no not everything. Many drugs you can not get unless they are price efficient for the NHS. I had breast cancer but had private treatment in Uk. My friend had the NHS treatment and did not have half the drugs which made me able to go about my daily life. As an American who has been in the UK for 20 years now I pretty much steer clear of the NHS. There is no preventative healthcare and while it is great for an emergency it is not great for having a choice in what you want your treatment to be as drugs have to be approved for NHS use. Many drugs that extend cancer patients lives are not used as they are cost prohibitive. You can get them privately. As for the welfare payments I have never heard of what you are talking about.

[@madonemt]

thats funny cos my other half waited almost 2 years to get her severe back pain treated (that the nhs caused). she has now been waiting 3 months since a dentist referal to be seen for lumps growing in her mouth. another family member (her uncle) wasnt treated quickly for cancer and is now on his way out.

[@covya]

We don't have an "NHS tax" as part of our taxes, it's just one of the things our other taxes go towards.

[@sicfaciuntomnes5604]

Think you'll find if you look at your payslips you pay National Insurance, which goes to the NHS...

[@covya]

@@sicfaciuntomnes5604 I think you'll find it covers far more than just the NHS, so as I said, we don't have an "NHS tax"

[@cieratime389]

@@sicfaciuntomnes5604 national insurance also goes towards state pension and maternity leave

[@sicfaciuntomnes5604]

@@cieratime389 True.

[@24magiccarrot]

@@sicfaciuntomnes5604 National Insurance doesn't go toward the NHS it goes toward your pension, sick leave and maternity.

[@kayzitaylor6114]

I’ve had two major asthma attacks, I’m on two inhalers, I’ve had to have two Caesarean sections, I dread to think how I would have paid for that in the US. Long live the NHS. Healthcare for all😊

[@marydavis5234]

don't believe everything on the internet about the US or Americans, I pay $50.00 a month for my healthcare premium and it covers everything, people who pay more chose too pay that much every month

[@tomnotts1985]

@@marydavis5234 does that $50 cover you for 100% of treatment and medical bills or do you have an excess charge to pay? Would paying more for your health insurance reduce the excess charges to claim for treatment? For example my personal car insurance in the UK would charge me an excess fee to claim for a repair after a crash or if my car was stolen. But if I paid more for my car insurance,my compulsory excess charge would be far less or even £0. Just curious 😊

[@marydavis5234]

@@tomnotts1985 it covers 80% of the total bill, I am on Social Security Disability, so the state, I live in pays the other 20%,

[@marydavis5234]

it depend where in the US you live what the cost is

[@jamara3330]

Except it is not free healthcare for all. There is a budget, so I am refused essential meds and surgery

[@Kestrel1971]

I'm a Brit - the NHS literally saved my life and it didn't cost a penny. I'm living in Canada where Medicare is the Canadian equivalent to the NHS. Both are, "socialised medicine", and I, continually, find myself wondering why Americans resist these kinds of medical systems when they are, literally, the norm in the rest of the first-world. Americans really get hung up on "socialism" - I don't believe most understand the term, it's just a "bad" word that means "bad" things. The key point they miss is that the UK, Canada, Australia, Europe are all capitalist societies with social programs - none are truly socialist. It's not even like the concept of social programs is unfamiliar to Americans as you have a huge number of them yourselves: police, fire, coast guard, military, courts, garbage collection, parks, libraries, schools, sewage treatment, roadworks, etc. All those programs work because of a pooling of public funds collected through taxation. How many would be willing to have services such as police or fire work like the healthcare system in the US: A basic policy might cover major crime, but burglary, petty theft, minor assault is something you only get with a premium policy. You get the first week of investigation free but to go beyond that requires you pay out of pocket per officer per hour. Your house is burgled and you didn't have the premium policy? Too bad. There would, quite rightly, be an uproar. EDIT: I find it very hard to believe that I have to explain this to adults - I clearly make the point that the NHS and Medicare are paid for through the collection of taxes. When I said, “it didn’t cost a penny”, I meant that it cost absolutely nothing at the point of use, which is entirely the point of socialised medicine. I received no bill, I had no fear of bankruptcy or being hounded by collection agencies or even having to choose whether treatment was worth the financial hit, because there was none. My taxes go into the medical system regardless of whether or not I receive treatment, therefore, it literally does not cost me a penny -- those monies have already been collected and would be regardless. Clear enough now?

[@justsomebody79]

That reminds me of the Private Police episode of A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Hilarious but also really highlights your point.

[@Paul-hl8yg]

Expertly put Ian, i totally agree & i am sure everyone in Canada, Australia & the UK, do too! 👍🇬🇧

[@neilgayleard3842]

Being British you should know better. It doesn't come free.

[@Paul-hl8yg]

@@neilgayleard3842 Everyone who works, pays tax.. This covers many things, including the NHS. At point of treatment however, the public are treated for free. From visiting doctors, ambulances, operations (including child births), hospital stays.. All free at treatment level! .. Some of these treatments cost thousands of dollars in the USA, but are given at no added cost in the UK & other nations! 🇬🇧

[@lynnhamps7052]

@@neilgayleard3842 We know that for most folk it isn't 'free' (it just feels that way because we never have to worry about having cash put aside for any health issues) but paying taxes is no different to paying insurance as the Americans do, only thing is that when we call an ambulance or walk into a doctors office/hospital, have a baby or any kind of treatment/operation, we aren't presented with another bill on top. In addition to this, many citizens DO actually receive care for free, those who are unable to work, (or on a very low income) for whatever reason, be it disability/addiction/ or other circumstances...this means you are entitled to the same care whether you are homeless and living in a cardboard box or a multi-millionaire...of course the millionaire can 'jump the queue' and pay privately but if his required treatments are complex he is going to be referred to and treated by the NHS anyway...private hospitals are not set up with intensive care facilities...the fact the rich can pay privately for minor issues is a good thing as it frees up more spaces on the NHS. We are also not tied to an employer because of their healthcare package, giving us more freedom. My life has been saved three times by the NHS and I have had two children, those children were also taken care of during their births/childhoods through our taxes. Because of my illnesses I'm unable to work so no longer pay taxes, which means I get my prescriptions free too... no system is perfect but I, like most UK citizens would fight tooth and nail to keep our wonderful universal health care system. So, yes we know it's not 'free'...but it feels like it is, that's not a bad thing...after all, Americans who pay into insurance policies have to pay taxes too, theirs just go to the military etc and their government profits from the 'health care system' rather than supports their citizens...I know which I prefer.

[@gxyb766]

The NHS is a godsend. As a Brit who's lived in the US for almost 15 years now, I'm constantly shocked that the world's richest country doesn't guarantee healthcare for its citizens. It's really a massive failure on the part of the US, and seriously stifles people's abilities to change job, have a family, or care for their wellbeing, a massive curb on their freedoms.

[@neilgayleard3842]

It does. Even for Americans who visit.

[@garethwigglesworth8187]

The u.s is rich but you have hundreds of millions of people. Its like having a billion dollars and a billion friends who all need $1 each of your 1 billion

[@doma7956]

@@WreckItRolfe I mean... It does. And it's free at the point of service. Always. For everybody- even foreign visitors.

[@janani1826]

@@garethwigglesworth8187 yes but those billion friends are all contributing via tax. It is difficult but it's not an excuse

[@fanfeck2844]

@@WreckItRolfe , when have you been refused healthcare?

[@hooverguy6072]

in the UK wether you are rich or a homeless person, we all get the same level of care. All citizens are treated the same with no surprise bills. The private healthcare system have no Emergency Rooms. They are not set up for emergency care.

[@hevsreids6989]

Yes I think Americans gloss over this, its not like their private health care, its for specialised procedures that have to be booked in and arranged. An ambulance will take you to the closest A&E which is only run by NHS hospitals

[@jamara3330]

Rubbish, some of us are refused essential drugs and surgery

[@hooverguy6072]

@@jamara3330 I am not sure what you mean. I can say however the NHS is not a bottomless pit of money, in that if a drug costs £100,000 that extends your life by 6 months during the latter stages of cancer, then yes the drug may be refused, because each individual trust has to decide if that is worth the money. For the same money you could perform 10 hip replacements that helps all those people get up and out of a wheel chair. Keeping someone alive for another 6 months could be seen as pointless in that the patient is going to die anyway so the outcome is not changed and maybe the quality of the time is more important than the duration. You cannot put a price on life, so it is a difficult balancing act of which someone has to make that decision. In America you will find the insurance companies may not support paying for it in the first place because of the expense. Also in America it is known for insurance companies to interfere with medics decision in prolonging life and will encourage Drs to turn off life support machines because of the expense. Luckily we dont have that here.

[@goldfish2379]

@@jamara3330 In the UK? No we are not. You sound as if you want drugs or surgery that you don't need. Why not go to America, pay $1000 per month in insurance, plus $300 per prescription, $300 per doctor's appointment, 50% "copay", and then have to fight to get your insurance company to pay the other 50% then be dropped from your insurance company because you have a pre-existing condition?

[@fionagregory9376]

whether*

[@MkVenner1975]

People calling universal healthcare things like “socialist” or similar.... how are your military funded?

[@seandemhairr4572]

MkVenner if the us spent a fraction of what they spend on the military they could make healthcare cheaper or free

[@col8547]

@@seandemhairr4572 I always find it astonishing that a country, which I think I'm correct in saying has only actually been invaded once in its almost 250 year history by us Brits, (when admittedly we did burn their Capitol and Executive Mansion, quite traumatising I suppose) feels the need to spend as much on its Military as the rest of the world put together spends on theirs but then also spends twice as much per Capita as the UK on Healthcare for a system which is incapable of providing care based on need, free at the point of delivery, as the UK does!

[@generaLRager]

​@@col8547 You forget its the US that's currently protecting those "other countries" who don't spend from invasions by the Chinese and Russians, If the US didn't have the military power it does have Europe would have been conquered by now by either N.Korea/China or Russia as their military is similar to the US's, and vastly superior to Europe's combined military's. The mistake people make here is assuming that without a military the status quo would remain the same, it wouldn't and its because of that military power the US holds that we have the peace we have now. Dont ever forget that when you make silly statements like this. The US is also a country with 10 times the population of the UK and 20-50 times the population of all these other countries with "free" healthcare. Its easy to offer that type of a service when your countries population is the equivalent of a small family vs a family of 50. Lets also not forget the UK pays for people's healthcare who don't even live nor pay into the system they are taking out from, and people wonder why its so heavily underfunded. You cannot have a healthcare system free to all even those who don't pay taxes, because eventually you'll run into the problem of not having enough supply for the demand, and that's currently what the UK faces, waiting lists and operation times are vastly higher than in the US. All major medical breakthroughs and procedures are done in the US, all in part because of the funding they receive from their current model. No one says "lets go to the UK as they are leading in medical advancements", its always the US. Please educate yourself on the finer details of things before making blanket statements about how something is obviously better to do than something else, because when you actually look into the effects of what you are proposing it simply doesn't work, and all the issues the NHS currently faces, the US would suffer 10 fold.

[@OrganMusicYT]

​@@generaLRager Is it not a patriotic thing to do, to collectively pay into a system that is for the benefit of not just your own healthcare, but your fellow citizens health as well as your own, rather than just having the attitude of "who cares, it's all about me"? "It's easy to offer that type of a service when your countries population is the equivalent of a small family vs a family of 50." If we were to apply the population density of the UK as a whole to the US, You'd have a population of 2.75 billion people. If you were to have the population density of England, you'd have 4 times the population of China. If the UK had a population density of the US we'd have 8.6 million people, which is less than the population of London. It's down to perspective. As for healthcare, people do come to the UK for healthcare, people from all over the world come to the work in the UK and benefit from the NHS, or work in the NHS because they consider it an honour to do so. I have watched countless numbers of videos of people who have moved from the US to the UK and when they weigh the two systems up, the NHS always comes out on top.

[@theghostoftom]

@@jmack8767 True, there is a lot of crying while labeling things as socialism and communism with little comprehension of what those are. Education AND healthcare reform is needed 🙂

[@alfresco8442]

As a Brit, all the arguments I've heard against NHS-style healthcare in the US ...the fact that you're compelled to participate...the fact that you pay for something you may not need...the idea that everyone should just take responsibility for themselves and not indulge in a 'socialised' system, all equally apply to auto insurance. Yet nobody has any problem with that.

[@MsPinkwolf]

Or the police or fire service or any other thing paid for with taxes.

[@yellowsoy2475]

It’s kind of weird because everyone will need some form of healthcare in their life but not everyone will need car insurance because they will never drive a car.

[@eattherich9215]

@Al Fresco: those people have no idea what it would cost to treat a serious illness and how far short their insurance will fall in such circumstances.

[@smallfeet4581]

no one can say what will happen at any time and through no fault of your own , im sure americans pay for schooling via taxation that every child benefits from , nhs means docs can earn an excellent salary and pension and if they want more money they can do private but there are county hospitals in usa that treat people if they are not insured but its basic care , they dont leave an injured person on the street , so people do in effect pay via taxes for this im sure ,

[@barbarafranklin6886]

Education in the USA is funded by taxation so I don't know why they have such a problem with health care!

[@mrman991]

Neither Sanders nor Biden are "far left", they're barely even center. The NHS is the greatest thing the UK has ever done

[@caitlinwarren461]

Yeah, America's views of what is far left is scary... Makes our Tories look like the far left!

[@oswaldmosley4315]

Leftists views on what fascism is can be pretty funny being one my self I hate tories economically but for some reason they are called fash when are people gonna start using the phrase fascists for actual fascists 😥

[@mrman991]

@Adam Fisher you're going to have to explain how the millionaire who wants poor people to have health care and not to starve is a communist.

[@aidancampbell5644]

@Adam Fisher sorry buddy, you really need to learn a lot more about politics and what that word communist actually means. I will give you a hint - Karl Marx used to write fan mail to Abraham Lincoln about how the American Government was set up.

[@aidancampbell5644]

@@mrman991 communism is community based governance, with local communities sending representatives to regional and national governments. If that sounds familiar, it’s because communism was largely based on the things that worked in America. Karl Marx used to write Lincoln fan mail about it.

[@jodiev2399]

my grandad needed knee surgery, but the NHS wait times were really long, so the NHS paid for him to have surgery under private healthcare. they often work together!

[@louiseerbslisbjerg7854]

They do the same in Denmark. And I've discussed it with American's arguing "see it dos'nt work"... well... patients still dont pay anything themselves, the money just follow the patient.

[@mariacurtis9247]

My sister had a heart operation in a private hospital paid for by the nhs as there were no slots available in the nhs hospital

[@rgadave]

@@mariacurtis9247 My wife had hip joint replacement in the UK at a 'private' hospital paid for by the NHS...it took 3weeks between seeing the GP initially to having surgery. Great service

[@1rudgie]

As a normal 'poor' person the NHS has literally been the best thing in my life for every single person in my family. It has been there for everybody I know from the day we are born(even before then with pregnancy care) until the day we die. Never believe any lies that the average Joe doesn't love the NHS and owe their lives to it

[@joyridgway6398]

We don't like it, we bloody LOVE IT, long last our NHS. God help anyone who tries to prioritize it.

[@jamara3330]

I am poor and on disability benefits. I have to pay for medicine which they refuse and am having surgery in Lithuania because the bastards refuse to do it.

[@janevans5690]

I was an NHS Nurse for 38yrs and very proud to have been a part of it and long may the NHS continue, we are so lucky in the UK compared to a lot of countries Worldwide.

[@caitlinwarren461]

Thank you for your service to our people in need💖

[@mattw9966]

Thank you for your service Jan! Long Live The NHS!

[@786carrera]

The US has a healthcare “business” NOT a healthcare “system” The US is the world’s richest third world country!

[@andrewfrancis3591]

In the US billionaires collectivise all the time. Even to the extent of providing private hospitals for themselves that none of you pawns can afford. If you try to collectivise to bulk buy say hospital services or supply and test drugs you are a commie socialist enemy of the state.

[@786carrera]

@@andrewfrancis3591 Thankfully I’m from the UK, the greatest nation in the world!

[@danielwhyatt3278]

EST description of them really sadly.

[@london_james]

Does a system work better than a business (ps spolier alert they are both a business)

[@benjammin9471]

@@london_james It works better when you don't have to make the choice between dying or going broke

[@ABPhotography1]

My prescriptions are free with NHS Scotland. I had two ops in the last 18 years, all paid for on my taxes. NHS is amazing, god bless all NHS docs and nurses.

[@katrin896]

I moved to the UK in 2017 with my husband. In the summer of 2018, he was diagnosed with diabetes and now has to take medication on daily basis. We have not once, not ever had to spend so much as a penny for his medication nor any doctor's appointment he has had to have due to his disease. I love the NHS and I will happily pay my taxes, no matter how high, in order to keep the NHS going the way it is. It is literally the gift that keeps on giving.

[@williamcourquin9272]

It’s funny that in America police/military etc aren’t referred to socialised military or socialised fire service.

[@jonsonby]

Came here to say this. I’m glad someone else said this

[@demonic_myst4503]

they protect negative rights , bhs violates negative rights completly diferent philosophy on rights

[@williamcourquin9272]

@@demonic_myst4503 That’s the philosophy behind the use of specific forces by government. It’s still a socialised military system by definition if it’s a government run body paid for by the collective. Could go further to the right and have a completely privatised military and police force?

[@devilmanscott]

@@williamcourquin9272 To be fair none of it is socialised, if we actually use Socialist doctrine, but Americans aren't as knowledgeable as Europeans on politics. All "socialised" systems in the UK have boards, directors and so on, the general public has no say in how it's run, like in a Socialist system when the industry is supposed to be democratically controlled by the workers or voters. Also, Socialism is designed to remove hierarchy, the police and the army are the most hierarchical systems about.

[@baz1102]

@@devilmanscott you make a great point in saying that a “socialised” system is not the same as a “socialist” system. I think even most Americans who have been raised to fear and hate socialism could get behind the idea of “socialised” universal healthcare if only they knew the difference.

[@cathydavies3552]

I’m in UK, I’ve been type1 diabetic for 47 years with asthma and Rheumatoid arthritis. The NHS has and does really look after me so well all my life whether I’ve been in work or out of work. I have never had to ration my insulin or beg for help for my diabetes life saving meds. I have read so often of people needlessly dying in the US due to not being able to afford their meds, this is appalling. Xxx

[@silkvelvet2616]

my bro-in-law would be dead if he were in the US, he was diagnosed with type 1 about 10years ago, he lives in the NE and drives a cab, on his income, he could never have afforded health insurance for himself, never mind his family! We are all grateful for the NHS in our lot!

[@blotski]

My brother who's in his thirties has had epilepsy since he was eight. He takes quite a lot of medication and one of the tablets he needs is very expensive, as is his rescue medication that he needs when he has a cluster of seizures. He doesn't pay for his prescriptions as he is exempt because it's a long term condition. He is being investigated for the possibility of surgery. The idea of getting a bill for any of this doesn't even cross our minds. We're so lucky to have the NHS.

[@mkhiphop8540]

The 58% less is probably based off how much the NHS pays for the medication off of the supplier not the cost to the user. As we buy medication off pharmaceutical companies in bulk we are able to negotiate much better prices per pill as opposed to the American system that has each hospital securing its own contracts.

[@ralphvelthuis2359]

Same here in Canada. Since the government buys in bulk, they are able to get a much liwer cost price. This is why insulin is about 1/10 the price in Canada vs the US, and why many Americans close to the Canadian border and those close to the Mexican border would cross border shop for their medicines.

[@toast99bubbles]

Plus the end user pays nothing for the meds, so long as they don't live in England.

[@Revolución_Socialista]

"Americans" are all people who live in the American continent, not just in the United States.

[@iamthecaptainofmysoul2293]

“Illness is neither an indulgence for which people have to pay, nor an offence for which they should be penalised, but a misfortune, the cost of which should be shared by the community.” Anuerin Bevan.

[@jerome1lm]

That's a nice one!

[@jeffheineken6709]

Except when your a very regular drug user and your in and out of ICU taking up beds that actual sick people could be in.. they (nhs icu staff) fix ‘em up and send ‘em out only for them to reappear weeks later... costing literally thousands of pounds every time.. and that’s after kicking, punching, spitting & screaming at the staff that try to help them.. if it was up to me...

[@jerome1lm]

@@jeffheineken6709 I think someone could easily argue that drug addiction is a disease that needs to be treated.

[@6rett]

@@jeffheineken6709 But that's a minute percentage of high dependancy bed use. Having worked front line for over 30 years, I have cared for only a few people who have 'made the wrong choice' through drug abuse or who have been aggressive towards me when I've tried to help. It's a small price to pay in order to provide the best care to those that need it the most.

[@matt0677]

@@jeffheineken6709 I was recently hospitalised as I was hallucinating due to alcohol withdrawal. I had called the police because I thought I saw something which never happened. When they arrived they immediately called for an ambulance. I said some nasty things to the staff in the hospital. I'm not sure what happened later but they treated me. Should I have been refused treatment?

[@jan6003]

The NHS was founded on the 5 July 1948.. And we never want it to change.

[@JasonLaneZardoz]

It already has, the NHS founded in 1948 bears little resemblance to it's 2021 version. In those days it was self sufficient.

[@jan6003]

@@JasonLaneZardoz yes.. very true unfortunately

[@lamsy1]

@@JasonLaneZardoz Aneurin Bevan from Cymru Wales was the founder of the NHS

[@JasonLaneZardoz]

@@lamsy1 I know. I'm a quarter Welsh. Cymru is Wales.

[@lamsy1]

diolch yn fawr

[@dazza9326]

What makes the NHS so special, even homeless and people on low income gets the same good care.

[@pinheirokde]

and by special you mean like most normal European countries

[@sampowell1649]

@@pinheirokde while I wouldn’t say that most European countries are like, it doesn’t negate the fact that the NHS is pretty cool

[@pinheirokde]

@@sampowell1649 its great one of the best, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_Health_Consumer_Index here an index that compares them all UK is nº 16º. But the point was about Universal healthcare and most European have countries have some form of it... aka you get sick you will be treated independent of your income taxation etc. A mostly complete list of countries with UHC en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_with_universal_health_care

[@williamdegrey]

Same in Sweden 😊

[@TyrannosavageRekt]

@@pinheirokde Also, I'm not sure if placing 16th in Europe can really be considered one of the best. I do think we put too much stock in our National Health Service sometimes, though the issue isn't that the NHS is bad (far from it, the staff are some of the hardest & most dedicated workers in the country), but rather that we need the government to increase its funding substantially.

[@samc299]

The NHS has saved my life, and my children’s life. And I didn’t have to worry about a bill after

[@humptydumpty9177]

The NHS is a service most Brits are very proud to have developed, rightly so.

[@jamieeveritt4722]

But sadly also abused by so many

[@humptydumpty9177]

@@jamieeveritt4722 Yes, having less than half the beds other comparable countries.

[@caocao2339]

Also costs a fortune definitely think refinement is needed. Cut through the useless middle management do nothings.

[@humptydumpty9177]

@@caocao2339 Less than half the cost of comparable nations, it's not that bad.

[@caocao2339]

@@humptydumpty9177 I agree it’s pretty good but there should be improvements definitely.

[@oracleoftruth]

Another less mentioned point is that if business makes money from healthcare then they have an incentive to make sure people are ill. If the nation collectively pays for healthcare then the nation has an incentive to keep the people healthy.

[@colinyoung3685]

The NHS only spends about 5% on prevention. They pay out to medical companies too, and a government contract is a license to print money. Consider the spending on painkillers where the NHS willingly spends £3.83 on a box of paracetamol that costs 25p in a supermarket (costing taxpayers £87m annually) To suggest there is no negative incentive towards providing cost efficiency in a government run enterprise is ignorant at best.

[@oracleoftruth]

@@colinyoung3685 Colin, policies like smoking bans, sugar taxes and minimum alcohol pricing is all government policy designed to improve health. If you think that spending billions on healthcare doesn't incentivise the government to take measures to improve health then you maybe need to think again. Of course the government could nationalise drug production and save money but there are ideological reasons they don't wish to do that. GPs regularly advise patients to buy paracetamol instead of prescribing it.

[@colinyoung3685]

@@oracleoftruth The government doesn't produce the money they spend, the taxpayer does. Being efficient is not a priority, the portion of health spending vs GDP is constantly rising whilst people simultaneously decry cuts. In a free market the incentive structures align to provide the good or service at a cost that people are happy with, and of a quality they find acceptable (else competition wins out).

[@oracleoftruth]

@@colinyoung3685 that is not borne out by the evidence. The NHS is more efficient than any market based healthcare system and people are calling out for increased funding for it. Private money all comes from collective wealth not the other way round. Tax is simply how the government ensures common good comes from private profit.

[@colinyoung3685]

@@oracleoftruth If lining the pockets of peers is for the common good then government is working well. Governments are akin to entropy in a closed system, corruption is an inevitable emergent phenomena. Why is it that younger nations chose not to emulate the NHS is if represents the pinnacle in healthcare?

[@lukescott1060]

The NHS is my favourite thing about my country :)

[@arrlocro1786]

You really need to be less eager to worship it. The idea is great but not sacrosanct

[@sarahfields288]

What about me? Lol joking

[@kanedNunable]

@@arrlocro1786 its not about worshipping. but since we created the social healthcare system its something to be proud of.

[@lukescott1060]

@@arrlocro1786 if you see a previous post where I break down the tax cost per year, per capita, you'll see that I value it as the literal best thing a country could do for it's citizens. Private healthcare is an option if you're so inclined, and you can mix and match, but I can live safe in the knowledge that I will NEVER have to pay for a medical bill in my life, save for the occasional prescription charge of £8 for some drugs. I've had operations, physiotherapy, appointments galore, vaccines, X rays.. the whole works.. since I was 1 minute old. I've never had a bill, and I've never worried about not getting healthcare. I would be terrified to live in America, purely based on its healthcare system... And I used to want to move there.

[@jameswebb2989]

@@lukescott1060 well said chap.

[@GiuseppeLeopizzi]

I don't understand how you still manage to confuse the two words "Social" and "Socialist"

[@fionagregory9376]

I know. American words are weird.

[@Brummiemartin]

How can a country complain about "socialised" healthcare when at the same time they spend TRILLIONS on a socialised war machine known as a "defence" programme? (not to mention socialised education, socialised law enforcement, etc)

[@kanedNunable]

and trillions to bail out banks, wallstreet, big biz. corporate socialism is fine for them it seems

[@FaithySch]

If they put money into healthcare, they’d have no more money to bail out their donors.. I mean banks, Wall Street etc! 😁

[@jamimacdougall8646]

They don't use the word "socialized" in America unless they're trying to scare people away from something, because far too many Americans have been conditioned to think socialism means communism

[@russellnewton6660]

I have said the same thing, they’ll pay tax to kill, but won’t pay tax to cure, very bizarre.

[@russellnewton6660]

@@jamimacdougall8646 100% 👍they don’t seem to grasp the difference.

[@izabelasiczek3547]

When I was a nurse worked for various care settings private and national health healthcare in NZ UK Australia but I must say I was never more proud to be a nurse as working as a nurse for NHS I just was so proud !

[@tonyhaynes9080]

In 2000, I was in the military, detached to Darwin Australia. I was invited on a liaison visit to an Australian Navy ship. Four of us crossing the gangway and it collapsed. Three of us fell 30 foot into the water and one on the boat. I suffered two broken ankles, the left Tibia and Fibia, a dislocated fracture to the head of the Femur as I put it through the hip socket, broke the pelvis in 5 places, broke two ribs, collapsed and punctured a lung. Along with various other bits and bobs, including a bone marrow embolism as they plated my leg together. Healthcare in Australia was brilliant. I had 9.5 weeks there before I had stabilised enough to be flown home. I owe so much to the paramedics who stabilised me on exiting the water, the nurses and doctors in ER, the surgical team who put me back together so well, the staff in the ICU who had to put up with me for so long, the staff in both the public and private side of the hospital. I also owe a huge debt of gratitude to the friends of the others in the accident who came in and saw me most days. But, 6 years later, when I walked into the Norwich and Norfolk hospital and the surgeon saw me walking without my crutches, but with a limp, the look on his face was worth everything. The smile just split his face in two.

[@charliesilverwood3608]

@@tonyhaynes9080 The problem is there is a great deal of waste in the NHS system. We just need to find a way to streamline the NHS so that the hardworking NHS staff can be paid a wage they deserve, get e tools they need and provide the quality treatment they want to provide. I often criticise the NHS but not the medical professionals whose treatment is unparalleled, but instead the management of the system which I think leaves alot to be desired.

[@CLIVETHE125]

Bless you ..x My wife ,son ,and daughter work for the NHS and feel proud too .

[@colinyoung3685]

@@charliesilverwood3608 Thank you for addressing the elephant in the room, as the view that the system is irreproachable is considerably off base. The portion of GDP it uses is ever increasing mostly to fund the ever expanding bureaucratic layer that siphons off the taxpayer without adding value.

[@alistairsanger3111]

National insurance is the part of the taxation that pays for the NHS. It pays for: the NHS the State Pension unemployment benefits sickness and disability allowances. The tax rate is 12% of your weekly earnings between £183 and £962 (2020-21) 2% of your weekly earnings above £962. The NHS gets much better deals from drug companies than the US. If they don't make the drugs cheap enough they don't get to supply any of the drug to the country. Huge market power having 67 million customers.

[@philiprowney]

The rates change every year, it's easier to say: Check the IRS for current rates. The taxation is also made more simple by using a week 1 or month 1 pay as you earn scheme for income. Very different to the USA.

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

N.I. was originally intended as the payment for social care. It does not cover those provisions so general taxes always have.

[@paulthomas8262]

NHS is paid for by income tax not NI. This is a common myth. NI is for state pension and benefits.

[@alimoe1970]

Wow your tax is so low

[@Hiforest]

Most drug companies have a cheaper rate they offer to countries with socialised medicine - it means there are a fair amount of American drug companies charging Americans more than countries in Europe and Canada etc.

[@justbob5009]

Private health care is just for jumping the queue in the UK. The vast majority of UK citizens would happily pay more taxes if the money went directly into the NHS. NHS is fabulous.

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

Or for a private room with better food (literally this is the main difference in inpatient care)

[@RedHeadForester]

I'm self employed. I haven't yet had a year where I've earned enough to pay tax (current threshold £12,500 after business expenses). Most years I pay about £160 in national insurance contributions. That's £160 for the entire year. That covers me for NHS treatment and state pension. I work in a statistically very dangerous industry, doing work that I love, and having the NHS means I don't have to worry about being financially crippled if I have an accident at work or elsewhere. From what I hear, I wouldn't even be able to afford insurance if I were in America earning the same numerical amount even if I spent every penny I earn on it. Some people opt for private healthcare, which is fine, and also not unbearably expensive. What annoys me is folks like a friend of mine, who absolutely hates the NHS, but can't afford private healthcare, and can barely afford to feed herself. If she falls ill, or breaks her leg or whatever, the NHS is there. No paying £9,000 for an ambulance ride. No paying £500 just to be seen by a doctor. Just phone 999 or walk into A&E, get treated for free, and get a prescription for somewhere in the region of £10. My Mum needs a literal cabin bag filled, and I mean filled, with medicine to keep her alive and healthy. All that medicine costs her basically nothing. The other year she had a hip replacement done privately on the insurance my Dad gets as a benefit from his employers and pays something like £500 a year extra to include my Mum and Sister on. My Mum actually felt a little guilty about going private for it since she knows a lot of her friends can't afford private, but the operation was still done at an NHS hospital, the main difference being that my Mum got a private room to herself rather than being on an open ward with other patients. Quite honestly the main reason I wouldn't move to the USA, aside from the emotional political atmosphere, is the lack of healthcare. The idea that if, for example, I got run down by a driver I would have a debt which I could literally never pay off just makes no sense and scares me. Every day I appreciate the NHS. When I got seen 3 weeks ago, for free, about an accidental 5mm deep 1.5 inch long gash on my ankle which got infected, I appreciated the NHS. When I broke my wrist 7 years ago and got it cast for free, I appreciated the NHS. When I badly injured my finger aged 6 and had it operated on for free, I appreciated the NHS. Every day when I speak to my severely asthmatic, arthritic, immunocompromised Mum who is still alive, well, and comfortable I appreciate the NHS. And I appreciate the NHS for being there during my 12+ hour extremely difficult birth when my Mum had more than half her blood volume transfused. The NHS is quite honestly the thing that makes me proudest to be British, over and above anything else. It is simply amazing.

[@hannahcallow6374]

I just had a 4 day stay for a discectomy, and spend £10 a month for all 6 of my med items. Shudder to think how much it would cost in USA. Only downside was the boomers with falls, asking if "They are short staffed or something" 😤

[@paulwallace4332]

Sadly that is why uninvited boatloads of visitors arrive on our shores daily and are looked after from antenatal to the coffin.

[@adamw6924]

You must be a magician hiding all that money from the tax man haha

[@louisegoldsmith1038]

See I don’t have to pay tax because I don’t earn enough

[@silkvelvet2616]

I'm on meds for life, and because of that, I have a Medical Exemption Certificate which I show any time I pick up a script so I don't have to pay for my scripts at all. Actually, I don't need to show it anymore because Boots have me on record and text me when the new lot are ready, they fill in the repeat prescription form and submit it to my doctors' surgery every 2 months, the doc signs off and job done. That's the beauty of the system, I don't have to worry about earning enough to cover my doc appointments, annual blood tests etc etc never mind the meds! The thought of visiting the US absolutely terrifies me because if I needed medical care while there..... insurance only covers so much and the system there is so darned greedy!

[@morganetches3749]

No one outside of America calls it socialised medicine. We call it nationalised medicine

[@srccde]

Humanised medicine would be even more fitting.

[@whwhwhhwhhhwhdldkjdsnsjsks6544]

Or universal healthcare

[@lonewanderer3456]

We call it a bloody scandal. The NHS isn't working...look at the disastrous response to 'the pandemic' alone, and the collateral damage to peoples health due to the second rate service the NHS barely provides.

[@whwhwhhwhhhwhdldkjdsnsjsks6544]

@@lonewanderer3456 that’s not the NHS’s response, that was the government’s response. It’s ultimately their fault that we got pretty much the most cases per capita in the world, which caused problems in the function of the NHS. The exact same thing would’ve happened with privatised healthcare, except you’d have to pay many thousands if you got ill...

[@c_n_b]

It's no-one's fault. This has never happened before.

[@roberthindle5146]

"Socialism is a touchy subject" I find this to be an odd evaluation. Socialism (which has *nothing* to do with communism) is simply the idea that government is constructed to look after society as a whole, rather than individuals. In Europe we are sometimes given the impression that Americans think it is a dirty word! It is illogical to think that socialism is somehow bad.

[@andreavoros-marky4203]

After reafing many stories and watching videos about the US, healthcare, work/paid holidays/sick leave, I found it more and more, that they are not a society but individuals who happen to live in the same country. ☹️ It is very sad.

[@radtech497]

Yet there is virtually no outcry in America against such socialist ideas as paying taxes for free public education, police and fire departments, or any of the myriad other government services (like the U.S. military) that are paid for with taxes.

[@loquayrocks]

@@radtech497 almost 800 billion dollars a year on the military. Wastage is unreal... but politicians say you can't afford healthcare...

[@roberthindle5146]

@David Smith If anyone views socialism as simply "I'm paying for someone else" then they haven't appreciated the principle, which is that we all look out for each other in a society because there is no pleasure (if you have a moral compass) in existing within a society where there is innate inequality and others around you are either poor or in bad health or living in sub-par conditions.

[@mollymoreton5243]

My granddad was one of the first baby’s born for “free” in England 😆

[@halebopp26]

The NHS is the single most amazing thing that exists anywhere in the world and no one can tell me different!

[@TheGlassman14]

So good that we had to go into lockdown to avoid sick people using it. The soul purpose of the NHS.

[@halebopp26]

@@TheGlassman14 You've misunderstood both the NHS and the lockdown in one sentence.

[@launchsquid]

I would disagree, not because the NHS isn't a great thing, but it isn't the single greatest thing. Many countries have similar state funded healthcare systems, they are all a great thing.

[@halebopp26]

@@launchsquid I'm not disputing free healthcare in other countries (it should be free everywhere!) but being British and that the NHS literally saved my dad's life twice, I am content on saying that it is the greatest thing.

[@emperorpicard6474]

The NHS budget doubled in real terms between 1995 and 2015 yet waiting times are longer then ever! Seems like serious mismanagement to me. Anyway, your attitude is not something to be proud of, it just shows me that you are irrational if you don't even entertain the idea that you could be wrong. It is ideological to the point of religious.

[@sole129]

I am a cancer patient in Denmark and I am very grateful for our danish NHS. I can live my life and enjoy it with my family without having to worry about money..

[@bannertv2063]

Stay strong m8 wish u the best

[@glizatron]

good luck mate hope all goes well

[@jeffkibby1678]

I was diagnosed with a blood cancer 12 years ago, I had a stem cell transplant in 2015 and I am now on a maintenance drug which costs £208 per tablet, I take 21 tablets a month and I am now on my 31st drug cycle. Thank goodness for the NHS.

[@sole129]

@@jeffkibby1678 Thank you for sharing:) I am starting on a maintenance drug in a few weeks, and your story gives me hope.. stay strong. And yes.. Thank goodness for our NHS

[@sole129]

@@glizatron I am sure it will:) Thank you

[@leah1633]

The NHS is one of the reasons I LOVE being a Brit ! ...I'm grateful and know how special it is..how lucky we are. My family have used the NHS in times of true need and have received amazing service...life saving service . We did not need private care ! I would love all the world to benefit from this kind of system 🙂❤

[@killslay]

I love the fact we have the NHS. While I was on benefits, I fell on ice and cut my leg deep on some broken glass. They even refunded me my bus ticket to hospital while I was getting it stitched up. I have no problems paying for it now out my paycheck because I know it's always going to be there if I need it even if I can't pay in future.

[@fionagregory9376]

paycheque*

[@robthornton6288]

@@fionagregory9376 Are you a spelling Police Officer?

[@jimhallissey8434]

I'm 62 and had a heart attack at the age of 60 I went in on the Saturday on the Tuesday I was watching them put 2 stents into my heart, I was back home on the Thursday with all my medication two weeks later I was in rehab each week for 6 weeks I am still receiving my medication and will do for the rest of my life. I have not paid a penny. The treatment was amazing and the greatest part of the U.K.

[@Philliben1991]

​@Jackie Hillson He paid taxes, he didn't pay for the treatment. There is a difference. The whole point is everyone supports each other to make sure an individual with a need can get a level of treatment and support they wouldn't be able to get otherwise. It's not about individualism and paying in and taking out. It's about a form of organised, national level altruism that guarantees health care.

[@2armylife]

@Jackie Hillson that treatment would of cost thousands upon thousands of pounds. We pay about £20 a month towards the NHS, (depending on your income, and not all tax goes to NHS). So yes, you pay, but not even a fraction of the price. So don’t see the need for you to even bring that up

[@smallfeet4581]

@@Philliben1991 there are ones who also join private health care systems if the want to , like bupa , some works do this for workers which means they can get seen quicker , the problem hitting nhs is thngs like increase in diabetes , dementia etc , so if you want you can have a private consultation and stiil have nhs treatment ,

[@pollyanne234]

When you need life saving surgery you really appreciate the NHS

[@clarewilliams5907]

My Hubs had a heart attack a couple of weeks ago - he had the operation for stents, etc, that same morning - no waiting - just a strange side effect of covid - straight into hospital and out less than 48 hours after a heart attack......-in the UK

[@tesfatucker6724]

I lived outside of the UK for most of my life, it's a shock the first time that you realize how good the NHS really is.

[@madonemt]

thats funny cos i found it worse. i was in europe though

[@matthew4107]

@@madonemt your either in the UK and experiencing the NHS, or your in Europe experiencing random countries editions of healthcare. please dont mistake the UK systems as being how the whole of Europe deals with things. i think alot of americans make thi mistake when they hear of the UK or of the NHS, they think thats Europe, no, its not Europe, we are Britain and Britain alone.

[@madonemt]

@@matthew4107 I am British and live in the uk but have lived in Europe. The big issue with the uk system is its a complete free for all for those whobdont contribute. Leads to massive abuses and not enough to go round. Even charging a simple £20 for those capable of working whether they do or not would cut lots of waste including wasted appts.

[@jamara3330]

It is absolute shit compared to other countries with a national health system. I was born in the UK and refused essential surgery and meds. Others wait years for surgery, my mates in Bulgaria got surgery within days under their system.

[@madonemt]

@@jamara3330 most pro NHS folk are either American or brits who haven't had healthcare on the continent. Miles better. Its why the NHS refuse to allow babies in desperate need to travel abroad as it shows how poor they are.

[@grahamlait1969]

I can still remember as a teenager (I'm now in my mid sixties) going to see a Doctor overseas with a minor ailment and at the end of our short consultation the doctor asked me for money to pay for it. He saw the look of utter mystification on my face, because it had never even occurred to me that you'd have to pay a Doctor. I felt sorry for the poor chap because he had to explain to me that there was no national health service in his country. Everybody had to pay the Doctor and he was clearly embarrassed to have to admit it. I, too, was embarrassed because of my own ignorance, but my main feeling was one of utter shock and disbelief, because this was not a rich country and I quickly realised that poor people simply wouldn't be able to pay for their health care at all and would undoubtedly suffer as a consequence. Such a situation had simply been beyond my comprehension; that it might exist had never even occurred to me. I realised that poor people in such countries would have to live constantly in terror of illness, because if you're poor and ill you can't earn enough or at all and can't pay for your healthcare... so you suffer, and your children suffer, and your dependents suffer and that's just the way it is. I've only been to the USA once, but you could almost see that terror etched into the faces of poorer people, or that's how it seemed to me. I can't understand why the citizens of one of the richest countries in the world can be content to live like that. I couldn't, as a reasonably comfortably off person, look my fellow man in the face if I knew he couldn't get a decent standard of health care for himself and his family and had to cope with living in constant terror of illness and disease as a consequence.

[@toughy1210]

My Nan was a midwife and refused to do any private work despite the salary hit because she said everyone should get the same care.

[@mypointofview1111]

Respect

[@christinamacpherson112]

We do have fantastic midwives here!

[@preciousstarsvlogs]

A few comments that might help with some of your questions in the video: We've had free universal healthcare since 1948 Yes it costs less of our total GDP than America because the tax payer only has to pay for the cost of the treatment, not any profit margin the hospital might add on top, like in the US. This means the money goes further. Prescription fees are only paid in England (Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales prescriptions are free). The prescription fee is £9.15 (roughly $12 USD), this is for all prescriptions. There are a number of people who don't have to pay though, including: under 18's, over 60's, people with long term conditions with a medical exemption certificate, people on low incomes etc... Contraception is also free in all countries. We don't pay a specific tax for our NHS. Most people pay 20% tax on their salary (higher if they have a higher salary), and then the government decides how much it is going to spend on the NHS from the whole tax pot. There are also other taxes such as VAT and NI. Yes we still have private health care options for those who can afford it, the waiting times are much shorter. You can also pay for health insurance too, you just don't HAVE to, as you can be treated on the NHS. The thing Boris Johnson is holding up on the Brexit bus is called a Cornish pasty, they come from Cornwall in England. Generally people do really love the NHS and it's something we are incredibly proud of. Yes it has it's issues, but we never have to worry about if we can afford treatment or an ambulance. You just get it when you need it, and walk out without any bill.

[@jennywatts3962]

Precious Stars Vlogs I’d be screwed without the NHS, I don’t know how I’d afford my meds and the amount of appointments I have without it. I’m so thankful for it!

[@VintageLeisure]

@@jennywatts3962 ditto....I have lifelong conditions and the prescription payment plan is fantastic for those on controlled meds and many meds per month....we are very lucky indeed!

[@andreapierce976]

Just to add to your brilliant comments, we also pay National Insurance contributions alongside income tax and VAT.

[@andyhopkins4901]

We pay national insurance for the NHS

[@alganhar1]

@@andyhopkins4901 Nope, we do not, the National Insurance is primarily for your State Pension.

[@Crazychihuahualady]

NHS saved my life twice when I had sepsis I was in intensive care they saved my bowel my leg and I had one to one care for 4 weeks. They are absolutely amazing and a god send!

[@ajc9941]

I was extremely surprised by some of the things this dude didn’t know. Like, idk, it gives me a better idea of the misconceptions facing those of us who want a single payer system here in the USA .

[@dek123]

You may care to look at our PAYE tax system. That’s “pay as you earn” virtually everyone employed in the UK, never have to fill in any forms, their tax is taken from your wage before you get it. You don’t have too keep receipts for a year etc.

[@Andreas4696]

Pretty much every country has that, it's called withholding in the US. The keeping receipts part is only necessary for tax deductions, which you're not required to use. One thing that is uniquely American is the ridiculous tax forms they have to fill every year.

[@daviddavies3637]

@@Andreas4696 Not the only thing. There's also the ridiculous number of tax brackets, which helps nobody but accountants. There's around THIRTY federal tax brackets alone. Many states also have just as many. Most European nations get by with just five or six at most. The UK has four.

[@Captain_Yorkie1]

@@daviddavies3637 How small is the bracket differences? Like £1k to £5k?

[@ceebs23]

​@@Captain_Yorkie1 up to £12,500 (tax free) £12501-£50000 20% £50,001 to £150,000 40% and above £150,001 45%

[@dek123]

@John Milton durr, I said “employed”

[@brettpatrick6582]

Honestly, the thought of not having the NHS in the future is genuinely scary. I would happily accept a tax called 'National Health Tax' or something just so we can make sure that the NHS doesn't buckle under the pressure of lack of funds

[@mattymaclean621]

This would be bullshit. We already pay this tax. Govt needs to stop letting the upper classes get away with tax evasion.

[@ronrichardson3103]

We already pay NI which is National Insurance taken of your wages. Plus we pay expensive for petrol and diesel and we pay vat on purchases. So we are heavily taxed .

[@smallfeet4581]

@@mattymaclean621 well yes we d pay tax and yes they should pay their taxes , but you have to admit the rise in things ike dementia diabetes etc hasnt helped unfortunate as it is and theft which i read was around a billion ,

[@Gnashercide]

@@mattymaclean621 your health your problem...

[@todbaner3385]

@@Gnashercide well yeah unless you get hit by a car in the US and don't have the money to pay for an ambulance.

[@vwbeetleb0b]

The NHS saved my Wife's life twice. Once with cancer and the other with major complications when in labour with our first child. Everything I have in this world is thanks to the NHS and the amazing people that work there. Im truly grateful to have such an amazing thing in my country.

[@hettyscetty9785]

I love the NHS. It's really comforting to me as a student to know that if I got hurt it wouldn't cost me everything to see a doctor. That security that feeling of comfort is worth paying a little extra tax for something that can save my life.

[@RRaZoreDD]

To answer your question to what Boris was holding: It was a Cornish Pasty.

[@robertgibson9619]

Was it though?... Lol... I'm just joking.... I once Read about it's only a Cornish pasty if it's made in Cornwall. So that just might be a pasty 😁

[@darthbob8428]

@@robertgibson9619 no it is a Cornish pasty. Like a sausage roll, or anything else. It is its name, so that is what it is called

[@robertgibson9619]

@@darthbob8428 how do you know that wasn't a chicken pasty? Since we are being pedantic... About my clear joke...I even specifically told you I'm joking. Just because it true I did read that, don't mean I'm serious at all.

[@robertgibson9619]

@@darthbob8428 btw...cornish means from Cornwall...! Words Mean things! Pluss tell me what a sausage roll is? Description. Because you may be talking about two separate things. And that's Cornwalls point.

[@peterbrown1012]

He is holding it because EU law says you can only call it a Cornish pastie if it's made in Cornwall.

[@ianneale9353]

"socialism" Most Americans for some reason do not understand what the word actually means. They have been deliberately dumbed down with regard to this word.

[@paul1979uk2000]

It's not so much they don't understand even thought I'm sure most don't, it's the Russians with the Cold War, it really did a number on Americans that they see things in black and white when it comes to capitalism, socialism and communism, it's that mind set in the US that is holding them back on social projects, hence why they are the only modern country that doesn't get to enjoy a lot of social projects that the rest do and that isn't going to change unless the mindset in the US changes.

[@TyrannosavageRekt]

Not quite. That's exactly what socialism is. The NHS is a socialist program. The problem is the propaganda that promotes the idea of Socialism being some sort of all-consuming evil, which it isn't. Every country in the world has socialist programmes, INCLUDING the ol' mighty US of A.

[@paul1979uk2000]

@@TyrannosavageRekt True but that's because of the Cold War, at least in the US, it's far less of an issue in Europe and much of the world, socialism isn't a bad system in the right hands but in any case, Europe is mostly a mixed capitalist and socialist system and it seems to be working really well looking at the benefits the citizens get from it. The main difference from the US to the EU is that the EU countries have a lot more socialist programs compared to the US.

[@silkvelvet2616]

@@paul1979uk2000 actually, you're partly right. The companies that profit from the medical insurance system have no interest in this 'socialist' system because they would see thier profits tank, so they are stridently keeping the 'evil socialism' narrative alive. They really do not like dealing with the NHS because the it bargains them right down with the bulk orders it makes every year. The hospitals in the US would no longer be able to pad their bills to patients and insurance companies with unnecessary treatments and procedures, or for the housekeeping, such as loo roll. It is not in the interest of the parasitic system designed to feed off it's patients to see real meaningful change in the health 'care' system.

[@paul1979uk2000]

@@silkvelvet2616 True and it's not going to change unless the public starts to wake up and see that, it's crazy to see that American companies that sell drugs and other stuff, sell them a lot cheaper to Europe than they do the US because of the collective bargaining. Truth be told, it's not going to change in the US unless you have a government that pushed hard on that and even then it would likely take years but as I said before, the people need to want that change for it to really happen and that isn't likely any time soon. At the end of the day, I think it's only a matter of time before the US changes on this because almost every other modern country has an universal health care, the US is being left behind on that and it's clear that even developing countries are following the European social system in a lot of areas, that in time will likely put pressure on the US to follow.

[@megbarber635]

Hi, I'm a med student in the UK so have a little bit of a different viewpoint. The NHS is simply amazing. The private sector is really very small and the vast majority will never come into contact with it. The private sector only employs fully trained doctor's and other healthcare professionals, so all training will be done through the NHS (for a doctor this means that they essentially have to work for the NHS for about 10 years minimum). The private sector also only deals with elective care (elective surgery like joint replacements, paediatrics and dermatology are the most common) so all emergency care is through the NHS. I was quite surprised by the statistic about the price of prescription medicines as in the UK all children (under 18) and older people (over 65) never pay for prescriptions. If you have a chronic illness where a prescription is required then you get that for free as well. The only times you really pay for a prescription would be if you needed antibiotics or pain relief for an infection. Generally, most people who work in the NHS love it, but it definitely has its issues. The most recent one that I can think of was the junior doctors strike in 2017. Pay is very low for doctors here in comparison to the US and that can be frustrating but at the end of the day you shouldn't be a doctor for the money!

[@coldcomfortfarm8557]

Bless you, I worked for years for the Private Sector - corporate insurance and we always praised the NHS to the patients advising them that THEY are the centre of excellence.

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

You don’t pay for prescriptions in England once you’re over 60, not 65, as well as those in full time education under 18, or on low income. In Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland prescriptions are still free for all.

[@gailisaacs2]

Not all chronic illnesses qualify for free prescriptions either

[@megbarber635]

Apologies for my info not being perfect, was just trying to get the gist across!

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

@@gailisaacs2 good example is asthma, yet diabetes, needing insulin, needles, pump etc is entirely free. Both can kill you but with asthma you pay. Go figure.

[@jadehlouise]

I'm British and I'm so grateful for the NHS. It isn't perfect by any stretch of imagination, but nobody should ever be denied medical care because they can't afford it.

[@cockneyse]

Agreed it's not perfect but as another comment says it's about a lack of funding not the system... As mentioned in the video the US pays out twice as much and still gets a poorer system for most... If only the UK split the difference and paid 3/4 instead of half as much for instance!

[@EdDueim]

The private health sector lets you pay to jump the queue for non-urgent, low-risk treatment, get a fancier room and fancier food. If a problem develops you are sent to an NhS hospital. It tends to leech of the NHS by not spending on research or training.

[@originalkk882]

Except many of the consultants who also work for the NHS would leave the country if they weren't able to do highly paid private work on the side.

[@malarkey2217]

I get the impression that in the US, when someone mentions the word 'socialised' in connection with anything really, what they hear is 'communist'. Anyone else get that impression?

[@daranphilipson1025]

That’s not just an impression that’s exactly what they hear.

[@mandyrobinson8929]

Oh mmost definitely, when I was in Boston last year my cousins and I were talking and asked why the word socialism scared them. They think socialism is communism which is Russia.

[@secret5070]

Have to appreciate what we have here in the U.K. unfortunately a lot don’t. I believe every person in the world should benefit from a system like this. 🇬🇧

[@kevintwine2315]

Completely agree,it's a shame that so many take our incredible NHS for granted

[@zaftra]

So why don't they copy it?

[@grandtheftmanualv945]

@@zaftra too many doctors and others higher up stand to lose too much money if they can no longer set the price. Corruption and greed are ALWAYS the root behind why ordinary people don't get to benefit from good ideas.

[@stevo728822]

But who's paying for it? You only want it as long as someone else pays for it.

[@grandtheftmanualv945]

@@stevo728822 pay attention mate. Every single taxpayer pays for it. It is just like any other public service dude. Tax pays for it and the government or local authority provide the services. It's not rocket science.

[@warmhorizon]

I love the NHS. I was diagnosed with a really nasty type of cancer and was still recovering when the pandemic hit so in all it took around 3 years from diagnosis to being told it's in remission. In that time I had 6 months of fortnightly (every 2 weeks) chemo, two major surgeries, 7 days in wards, specialist nurses coming to my house as long as I needed the support, and so many other things I can't even think to list here, and the only thing I ever had to pay for was parking. BUT, because of the pandemic my second surgery was given to me through a 'free private slot', meaning I got private healthcare for my last surgery. I had the same surgeon and it was done in the same Hospital, the only difference was I got my own room and chef-cooked meals and a private bathroom and stuff. Private healthcare is just 'bells and whistles' as we say in the UK, it's all ancilliary stuff you don't need. Frankly I preferred my time in the wards because it was less lonely. Also I was off my tits on morphine for much of it. One radiotherapy nurse put it best: "Private, NHS, doesn't matter, the treatment's exactly the same. Private patients just get a different waiting room"

[@michaels640]

We don’t recognise the term Socialised Medicine. It’s more like paying for Defence. National Defence isn’t Socialised Defence. And what protects people most. Defending their country? Or looking after their health?

[@RonpaMr]

Excellent comment, Americans call it socialised healthcare, we just call it healthcare. The American system is healthcare for profit from those who can afford it.

[@donewiththis-2012]

Brilliant comparison. Does the US Defense budget only protect those paying into it, or does it protect the interests of the nation? If it's the latter, which it is, you could easily smear it as socialised defense. Or police, firefighters etc. Socialised emergency services. Those systems already exist, yet they're not attacked for being socialist in nature because almost everybody understands that the nation as a whole runs better with those services. The UK just adds one extra step. The health of the nation and it's workers is vital for the country to succeed. I think the USAs biggest issue is things like contraception and abortion. The "why should I pay for someone else's life choices, especially when they go against my beliefs?" attitude.

[@bernardthedisappointedowl6938]

Perfectly correct - and well put - it is (and this is clearer with Covid more than ever) it's a defence for the country - it's also far cheaper at 7.2% of GDP, ^oo^ (not 9.8% - that includes private healthcare)

[@donewiththis-2012]

@moobs moomin why so should we pay for the education of the children of people too stupid to afford to pay for it? To be honest I'm sure some people do think this, not realising again an educated healthy populace makes a productive populace.

[@FakeSchrodingersCat]

@moobs moomin Some Americans do talk about socialized education at least in terms of public education, that is why charter schools are always endorsed by politicians there.

[@firestorm517]

ASBOLUTELY LOVE THE NHS!!

[@claregale9011]

Try working in it 😩

[@firestorm517]

@@claregale9011 If you work in the NHS and have a bad experience with it I'm very sorry to hear that. You're all heroes in my book.

[@ehall9149]

The NHS is one of the best institutions of the U.K. and most people want the government to pay NHS staff more money! They deserve it. I would not be alive today if it wasn’t for the NHS.

[@joehicks1906]

It’s really not. There are far more efficient and better quality healthcare systems in the world. For some reason people only believe there are two choices, the NHS or the US healthcare system. Many countries around the world use a mixture of public and private are much better quality than the NHS.

[@paulwalker2401]

Our NHS is absolutely amazing 🇬🇧

[@sarahbizzell8676]

In Wales we don’t pay for our prescriptions. Our amazing NHS has saved brother’s life twice from cancer. If we were in the US our family would have been in a huge amount of debt. I’ll be eternally grateful to the NHS ❤️

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

Yep and like the Scottish NHS it initially comes from Westminster Money being given to the Welsh Assembly to distribute, Yet in England unless you are of a certain age you have to pay for prescriptions.

[@DAILARNER]

@@peterwilliamallen1063 Thats the point of devolution, the right for the nations to choose their own priorities

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

@@DAILARNER No it was Tony Blair's Labour Parties silly idea, the idea of devolution is nothing to do with what the people want, it was set up so that jumped up super councils called devolved Governments receive money from Westminster and use accordingly to improve services such as Police, Ambulance, Fire services, Transport, Health, hospitals, Schools and Education, Commerce etc etc, but not waste tax payers money on Independence. The NHS was set up for free Health and Hospital care for the whole of the UK, so in England we get all health on the NHS free except certain prescriptions, where as my tax money is being used to give every thing free to people in Wales and Scotland and Foreigners coming here.

[@DAILARNER]

@@peterwilliamallen1063 It was what people wanted - they voted for it! Remember the referenda? If there wasn't a popular demand for it it would not have been implemented. Tough, you'll just have to live with it

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

@@DAILARNER Do know where the point of devolution came into a debate on the NHS, but if thats what you want, The vast majority of protestant Northern Irelanders wish to stay a part of the UK, Wales due to it's position more than likely wish to stay in the UK due to cash hand outs from the UK Government and in the last once in a life time vote for independence a few years ago the people of Scotland voted a majority of 55% to stay in the UK and 45% to leave because of UK handouts, and yes it was the will of the people and you will have to live with it. My comment was, why should the vast majority of people in England have to pay for prescriptions and Hospital Car Parking when the ungrateful government of Scotland and Wales get it free, plus Covid Vaccination's off the UK Government, plus I do not have to live with Foreigner's coming to the UK having an accident and getting free NHS treatment at no cost or having to have health insurance, when then I have to take out expensive Health Insurance to cover any health accidents when I am abroad, So no there is nothing I have to live with Referenda or not it has nothing to do with our NHS.

[@PhilSaint100]

This pandemic I feel has secured the NHS position and proved just how valuable it really is. It really is time that the NHS is protected by legislation.

[@destinationmobileone5476]

It's only valuable if your are able to use it. If you can't use something it's useless. I would bet private health care is doing very well at the moment

[@PhilSaint100]

@@destinationmobileone5476 why can't you use it? My wife still goes to work at the hospital everyday... Most doctors/consultants/surgeons that work for private do it on their time away from NHS.

[@jimwest7107]

NHS hasn't proven anything to me. It's done it's job this time which it tends to in urgent care situations but is awful long-term. I had great NHS emergency care but have had to pay privately for further treatment. 4 years to get a follow up Cardiology appointment on NHS, a joke. Private I was done in 2 days.

[@lukeyoung6479]

@@destinationmobileone5476 let's hope if you pay private, you dont get a serious illness, because if you do, you will be shipped off back to the NHS, and also hope you dont go into cardiac arrest, private dont run crash teams

[@PhilSaint100]

@@jimwest7107 must say my experience has been very different. I had persistent nerve pain for two years after a shrapnel injury. Private kept say it was phantom pain. It took an NHS consultant 4 minutes to identify that scar tissue was pressing on a nerve. He subsequently fixed the issue with surgery.

[@Mark-mu4pj]

God bless our NHS.

[@royw-g3120]

The drug pricing is because of the power the NHS has as a buyer, and firms cannot set their prices freely they are negotiated with the government. That ce hiking that happens in the US would be impossible here.

[@sandersson2813]

The NHS still wastes tons of money in procuring drugs.

[@sandersson2813]

@Ardyn Also Yanks get prescribed drugs because they pay the doctors to dish them out. In the civilised world you get medicine when you need it only.

[@dominadors4795]

@Ardyn this is a full blown lie. Drug costs in the US are massively inflated. They STILL make a profit on the drugs sold to the UK, they just don't make obscene profit that they are able to in the US.

[@ChrisSmith-dv7je]

@Ardyn i see how the drug companies might lead you to believe that but in reality your drug manufacturers are not as regulated so they charge what they want when they want and because there is not a will from your people to change it your politicians dont change it.

[@stevenrickett4333]

Arden. Why would they sell at a loss? No one is forcing them to sell if they don't want to.

[@mattw9966]

Being born a Brit is a true blessing. I’ve travelled and seen healthcare around the world. I’ve seen the NHS save my father’s life. When I was in a RTA I received fantastic care. Unlike my US friends I don’t even think about healthcare or the costs. If I get sick and need to get well I know the NHS is there for me and my family, it’s wonderful and I am very grateful

[@jambolynn]

NHS is an absolute godsend!

[@mattbelcher4604]

I’m a orthopaedic doctor in London , many people abuse the nhs , but it is loved and whenever I’ve finished looking after a patient , 95% are super thankful about what me and all the other NHS staff are doing

[@mattw9966]

Thank you for your service Doc!

[@mattbelcher4604]

@@mattw9966 no problem I will continue to do my best ❤️

[@jamara3330]

It is up to you Drs to stop them, then maybe I can get the surgery and meds which I have been refused

[@mattbelcher4604]

@@jamara3330 what meds and surgery are you having , i can look into it maybe

[@g4viscon]

Any UK prime minister that attempts to privatise the NHS will never even get to finish their term. The NHS is beloved in the UK. There has been back door privatisation of non key services such as non emergency patient transport and some back office functions however private companies are always sub standard. The current government are rumoured to be passing legislation to end private involvement in the NHS. During this pandemic we all realise just how important our healthcare system is. The thought of having to pay for an ambulance or treatment is shocking to most Brits. A lot of people assume that every developed nation has free healthcare. We always get surprised when people talk about medical bills or medical insurance. We do also have private healthcare in the UK which is paid for in the form of insurance to providers such as BUPA. You wouldn't use this for emergency care as the NHS are very good with any critical care needs but there can be long waiting lists for minor operations or treatment on the NHS so a small portion of people will use the private sector for health treatment.

[@kevinbarnbrook4728]

The guy for Heritage is wrong, in fact Johnson is now trying to reverse some of the private sector contracts brought in during the David Cameron government.

[@destinationmobileone5476]

And Tony Blair, government, both parties

[@InquisitiveBaldMan]

His bout of covid changed his opinion.

[@MadnessQuotient]

Ah the plastic Brit with the midatlantic accent rolled out by the far right think tank?

[@neoone3719]

didn't he also claim there would be 350 million a week for the NHS?

[@iangoldsworthy2056]

Your very ill educated, It was Gordon Brown and Tory Blair who introduced privatized management structure for such a way to get it through the back door. Cameron couldn't do Alot because of the recession At least Boris is trying to cull them. God forbid Starmer being prime minister he would continue the Brown and Blair crusade.

[@candytoo3729]

I live in Canada with a universal healthcare system. I have also lived in the UK and Finland and France. ALL UNIVERSAL healthcare. No Politician in Canada will ever touch what the people want on healthcare. It is death! We love our system.

[@32446]

Our NHS is amazing. It’s not perfect, but we’re so lucky to have it.

[@bilocca1642]

Most GPs have a system where if you ring first thing in the morning you can be seen that day, but if it can wait a few days then make an appointment for later in the week.

[@derekdelboytrotter8881]

My GP is totally useless, due to an accident I had 3 years ago I now have a metal plate and 9 screws holding my elbow together, during the last couple of lockdowns I have tried to see my GP multiple times because I'm in constant pain but according them I'm not urgent enough to see a doctor. The way they are working it during the whole Covid mess is that you have phone them and then the doctor phones you back and decides if you should be seen or not. What I really want to know is if the pain I am in is from the metal work and would having it removed relieve that pain. I can't go to A&E about it and my doctor wont see me so I have no idea what I am supposed to do other than just suffer with the agony.

[@redf7209]

There are lots of walk in centres too , COVID is turning the system upside down though as it is for many countries

[@johnmunro4952]

My GP does an email appointment system at the moment because of Covid. It actually works really well. It's quite easy to get phone appointments too. If you are in serious danger then it's A&E. If it's non life threatening you can (usually) use the walk in 8to8 and see see a nurse practitioner. I'd rate our NHS provision as 8.5 out of 10.

[@redf7209]

@@johnmunro4952 you can do video appointments too, if you are one of the IT savvy types, dont forget the NHS helpline service as well, although i find they are a bit limited in depth of questioning and if there is anything really wrong with you they refer you elsewhere or even to pharmacist. I don't know if the US compels drug stores to have qualified pharmacists available.

[@joshydarroch]

@@derekdelboytrotter8881 I'm from Scotland and I broke my arm in Summer of 2020 and had to receive and operation for plates and screws and it was very prompt. I'm sorry mate

[@petervenkman69]

Boris Johnson was holding a "Cornish Pasty" - A pastry filled with meat, potatos and veg, a traditional food of the South West of the UK.... so he was playing up on the pride of the region.

[@whwhwhhwhhhwhdldkjdsnsjsks6544]

Ngl Cornish pasties are really nice

[@ellenorjenns3035]

As someone who has relied on the NHS my whole life for a multitude of reasons, I am so grateful. I was born with a rare condition that even I can't really spell, where my body produces new bones inbetween and on top of others. I've had 5 surgeries from the age of 9 to 16, and without the amazing care of NHS doctors and nurses, I likely would have suffered chronic pain far more severe than I ever have - although I've never paid into the NHS thus far through taxes (I'm a first year university student), I understand that the work they do bridges a gap between the lowest income families all the way to the middle class and millionares. I'm so grateful that I live in a country that has this system, and I truly hope that nobody, not even Boris Johnson takes it away or sells it off. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it's that there is a lot of room for funding to be contributed to keep things working smoother. After all, well-funded NHS is when it works at its best :)

[@andreaf8660]

As an American living in London for over a dozen years, I can say the NHS is great. I had to spend 5 days in hospital after having my daughter and paid only like $300 because I wanted a private room.

[@alexxox3425]

“is that a loaf of bread” no- that would be a pasty 😂😂

[@stephenderry9488]

A bit more context - it's a Cornish pasty, from Cornwall, a British food that (according to the Leave Campaign) was supposedly threatened by EU regulations relating to food standards and labelling.

[@gemchenley6909]

@@stephenderry9488 also it was used by the coal miners to put in there pockets to keep there legs warm and have something to eat for lunch :) there usually stuffed with veg and beef chunks and gravy

[@darkfable1468]

@@gemchenley6909 It also had the large crust on it so they could eat it without having to wash their hands coz obviously that wasnt possible at the time, the thick crust was like a handle

[@glastonbury4304]

Problem is Americans get mixed up with words and miss the meanings, Americans think socialism is communism 🙈🤣

[@sugoruyo]

Well, communism does require socialism but, you can have socialism without communism. And you can have universal healthcare without socialism...

[@glastonbury4304]

@@sugoruyo well said 👍

[@kayx1340]

Medication for retired people, those on low income and those with a chronic illness is free. My mother couldn’t afford her medication if she had to pay.

[@meganrush9236]

I'm a 23 year old Brit and I have used an NHS hospital twice in my life. Once when I broke my arm as a kid, and once a few years ago where I had a bad car accident. The care I received both times was amazing. I couldn't count the number of times I've seen a GP free of charge and while I've not always liked the care I've received that's to do with the GP not the NHS. Also worth noting that to go to A&E (same as the ER), I don't think that exists privately in the UK (I might be wrong). The problems currently come from huge wait times to get inside the door at a&e (if taken in my ambulance), let alone the time it then takes to see a doctor. A lot of people go to a&e because they don't want to wait 4 weeks to see their GP (GPs are running differently now but this is at least how long some people would have to wait pre covid). I don't blame people for then using a&e instead but it's putting a lot of pressure on hospitals. Covid has worsened this a lot as hospitals are running out of beds but this was also a common occurrence pre covid, especially with winter pressures. The increasing elderly population is a lot of what the NHS deals with as unfortunately some people go into hospital and can't go home again and need a care home. It's not as simple as ringing the nearest care home for these people to move into however as they're also under a lot of demand and a lot are full. This is called bed blocking because this person no longer needs hospital care but there is no where else for them to go. I can't really comment much on using the hospital as an outpatient but depending on what specialists you need to see within the hospital you can be waiting from weeks to months for consolations/scans/operations. This is due demand being higher than the resources and why the NHS gives money to the private sector to take some of the workload you could say. Funny thing is the doctor you will see privately is probably the same one you would see in the NHS because they tend to do a bit of work for both but get paid more from their private work. Pay is a massive issue in the NHS. Nurses and junior doctors (newly graduated doctors) in particular are known for having poor wages and are overworked. Also want to add that prescriptions, dentists and opticians are free to children, the elderly and people with low income. Certain medications are also free even if you aren't in that category like birth control and I think diabetes medication. There is a lot of work needed to go into the NHS to make it better but I'd hate to think where we'd be without it. I can't wait to graduate as a paramedic next year and I feel incredibly proud that I will get to work in the NHS 😊

[@BigBadLoneWolf]

Megan Rush. 90% of the costs incurred for your healthcare, will be when you retire it is an investment in the nation, that we know we will need in our later years

[@meganrush9236]

@@BigBadLoneWolf Very true. Even if I don't use it when I'm older I still see it as worthy for the fact that it means anybody can get the healthcare that they deserve!

[@neilscutt]

“Pay is a massive issue ...poor wages and overworked”. What isn’t said is that many of the medical professionals are paid well for overtime and many offer to do long or unsociable hours. Since the doctors had renegotiated contracts they are contracted to do less unsociable hours like weekends and that work has been outsourced to expensive private healthcare providers whom the same doctors will work for on more favourable rates. Not always as simple as it seems.

[@benberkovic]

I was diagnosed with skin cancer last year (melanoma), and within 1 week of being diagnosed I was admitted to hospital, operated on three times by top surgeons, and stayed in hospital for 2 weeks all together. They ran a million tests on me, and the operations were successful, and they got it all out. I am cancer free now. I PAID NOTHING for the entire process, the hospital stay, the surgeries, the tests, the check-ups, etc. I had no health insurance, and was unemployed back then. I dread to think what that would have cost me if I was uninsured in America.

[@SoB413]

Hey Bro! I'm from Germany and we have a comparative system, we pay 7,3% of our wages into healtcare funds and are covered 100% for all costs except dental care and days in a hospital! (a day in a hospital will cost you 10 euros per day!)

[@srccde]

The costs (like the 10€/day) are all capped though. The caps usually depend on your income so that someone with a lower wage only has to pay for like 2 weeks whereas someone richer might have to pay for months.

[@SoB413]

@@srccde 100% 👌

[@ghengisthegreat6133]

You pay to spend a day in hospital :o why do you put up with that? A homeless person in the UK who has never worked and never paid taxes could spend years in a hospital bed and never pay a penny. And no one really cares that he didn't pay into it, because in Britain, we care for those who need it, when they need it

[@srccde]

@@ghengisthegreat6133 Dude why don't you read what people wrote?! I clearly said that what you pay depends on your income. If you still can't afford that, you're gonna be helped anyway. It's just that people who CAN pay, also ought to do that so that others who cannot may still receive treatment.

[@Ruth-wq7lr]

I feel so fortunate to have been born in the UK and have access to the NHS. I was a premature baby and spent the first three months of my life in hospital. Total cost to my parents: nothing. I would happily pay more tax to ensure the survival of this vital service.

[@frankzappa8880]

The NHS saved me if taxes are raised in moderation and the public knows where the spending is going to I think most people would not mind paying a little extra after all we all end up in hospital 🏥

[@doyoumind9356]

I love the albums you made with the Mothers of Invention. But a lot of your post Mothers work is brilliant as well, e.g. Chunga's Revenge.

[@ekimrolyat3474]

Frank... good to see you're still alive! Resurrection?.. all in a day's work for the NHS.

[@mike12345429]

taxes are raised continuously and more is thrown into it every year it is a financial black hole until you actually regulate the expenses and let people who actually pay towards the service only use it.

[@frankzappa8880]

@@ekimrolyat3474 they’re good

[@WolfKenneth]

"some people abuse it" and it's fine really it's better to let few people abuse it than let one person die because they couldn't afford healthcare.

[@roberthall7830]

I think when they talk about about prescription drugs cost it's the amount that the NHS pays the pharmaceutical companies. this is because it's one purchase point for 70m instead of lots of insurance companies with 10-100s of thousands.

[@debbiewhitelock1552]

I live in the UK. I work in my local ED Department and for the past 16 years have been a cancer patient. I am on permanent chemo to keep me alive and tbh have never pyed for any of it upfront. If it was not for the NHS I would not be here. Proud to work for the NHS especially in these very difficult times

[@colinyoung3685]

Didn't know it had it's own department. Someone should let Pele know.

[@crazycatlover1885]

Children get all stuff free like dental, eye etc. When children get glasses they get the lenses free but have to pay for the frames.

[@kasiewasie7198]

Children get basic frames free too, only more expensive/designer frames have to be paid for.

[@emilys9371]

Children who require glasses are entitled to an NHS voucher with a set value that depends on their prescription, the lowest being £39.10. This can be used towards frame and lenses. Most optician practices will offer a range of frames that will be covered completely by the basic voucher value, including lenses. Parents do have the choice to upgrade, such as choosing a designer frame or stronger lenses, and they would simply pay the cost minus that voucher value.

[@Beautycomesoutofashes]

Love my country Scotland. Love the NHS. We have free prescriptions too and we respect our doctors and nurses.

[@timothymartin5538]

So, the NHS is far from perfect, but it is an undoubtedly beloved institution, most people don't view it as a way of making their lives easier, not having to pay, but to provide a backstop for those with poor or changing circumstances. This has largely resulted in most people not thinking about money and health in the same breath, which is good, I doubt people would argue with that. We do have some problems with it though, mismanagement for one, funding for another, also how the NHS has interacted with the EU open border policy, especially where the migrant crisis is concerned. Personally I don't use the NHS, except in absolute emergency situations, infact the only time I've attended NHS facilities in recent years is to give blood or assist an elderly relative, but is good to know it will be there when I need it.

[@jaybenton7716]

Knowing I can just walk into a doctors office, or A&E without having to pay is a massive peace of mind for anyone. I wouldn't have it any other way. Oh and Boris was holding a pastie.

[@toast99bubbles]

Pasty is the singular. A pastie is an entirely different thing.

[@andrewcoates8906]

Boris was holding a Cornish pasty.

[@TheThezenith]

I've been on prescription drugs for a few years, they were £8 a month and when I was classified as disabled they became free

[@JonInCanada1]

Same here in Canada. Once I got put on my Disability Pension due to severe injury, my drug plan covered everything.

[@Belladonna313]

In Scotland it’s all free no matter what

[@First_Sea_Lord_Ford]

@@Belladonna313 scotland's got to love those english tax payers. Free university and free nhs prescriptions

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

As an asthmatic I have been on prescription drugs since early child hood. When prescription charges came in I chose the pre payment option as this caped my costs. Now I am over 60 I pay nothing.

[@fanfeck2844]

@@First_Sea_Lord_Ford , most drugs for regular users are free in England too. I get my thyroid drugs free

[@DanCassidyGB]

Id happily pay more tax if it meant keeping the NHS funded.