Comments on: someone please take care of us

By: christy

christy — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:36:19 +0000

hello jen. i am an american nurse who has worked as a nurse in London. I am returning to work. I feel I have very much of an insider’s view on this. I haven’t seen the movie, but here’s my thoughts. There’s good & bad about both systems. The QUALITY of care in the UK is appalling compared to the US. If I got sick/injured there, I would want to be shipped back home asap. The UK doesn’t understand the concept of prevention. You have symptoms, you feel ill, you go to the doc. This is why the cancer survival rate in the UK is so poor (30%). Yes, it’s expensive in the US. But, I have worked at state-funded teaching hospitals who cannot deny anyone, whether they can pay or not….including state prisoners, bums, drug-addicts, etc. The quality does NOT vary & I as a nurse never knew who was “paying” or had insurance or not. Everyone there was given the same care. Also, because hospitals are seen more as a “business” in the US, that creates competition…everyone wants to be the best….which drives the research, the strive to be the #1 hospital in the respective city. The UK lacks the intensity. There’s no reason to strive to be better, other than find ways to save money. And, on that note, the NHS is BROKE. It feels like a time-warp, right back to the 1950’s in a UK hospital. The equipment is rusting, the staff are overloaded with work, etc. But, as I mentioned, there is good & bad about both! I love working within both systems & wrangling these thoughts in my head. Great to have these discussions! Christy

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:59:50 +0000

ditto-

I didn’t have insurance for two years in my 20’s and I was so lucky nothing happened.

Is one one the major reasons I will never go back

By: noble savage

noble savage — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:01:48 +0000

yeah, i can’t imagine going back to the us health care system. it leaves much to be desired. i was uninsured for years and was lucky enough to never need medical care in that time. as many faults as the nhs has, it takes care of its citizens and that means more than perfection.

By: Miss Welby

Miss Welby — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:41:47 +0000

hello Jen, I’m an Italian expat living in London, so my blog is a mix of English and Italian. I’d love to exchange links with yours and I already did. Visit me and HNY! ciao

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:55:19 +0000

It is sick that capital rules healthcare, and that life or death decisions are made on the basis of much an operation will cost. I have lived in England, and appreciated the NHS. I now have state medical aid in Germany (it’s possible to have private) and have never been less than impressed by the quality of care that my family receives. Over the years, my kids have had three stays in hospital and we have paid Not One Cent above our monthly payment.