NHS Rant (UK)

[7by7]

On ‎21‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 11:25 AM, homeseeker said:

A major problem is  that the UK allows thousands of poor people mainly immigrants etc into the place who can get unlimited health care without paying for it; then the locals who have paid into the system all their lives are pushed to the back of the queue.

 

 

Wrong.

 

It is true that no UK A&E department will ever turn anyone away; but any treatment other than initial care in A&E, with a few exceptions, given to a person who is not legally living in the UK is charged for at 150% of cost. If they leave the UK without paying then they will be banned from entering the UK again until they have paid.

 

Non EEA nationals entering the UK long term, to settle, study or work, have to pay a health surcharge when they apply for their visa and later leave to remain. This is on top of any taxes they or their partner will be paying in the UK.

 

EEA nationals, whether visiting or living in the UK, are entitled to NHS treatment, providing they have an EHIC card; exactly the same as British nationals are entitled to use the state health service in other EEA states under the same terms as citizens of that state.

[Bonobojt]

7 hours ago, al007 said:

 

Well you are 25 yrs old, or young

 

You may have a lot still to learn, and patience is a requirement

 

In England you will not be left to die, even as a foreigner, go to A&E and tell them you are in so much pain

 

They will asses you, if your problem were in the head, they might put you in a nut house

 

I have the feeling you have spent a lot of time traveling

 

Many good UK companies will give you health benefits 

 

Maybe you need to settle, if by chance you are a teacher go work (if that be an acceptable concept) at a private school and get free healthcare

 

I have a feeling you need to look at many problems not just health

 

In any case good luck, also the TV forum is the wrong place for bitching about the UK system

my symptoms are not as bad as they were then, well they are still bad but the peeing every 5 minutes and feeling the need to pee all the time have mostly gone, now its just discomfort and pain, tingling testicles and perineum, muscle spasms,  yeah I am thinking of going to A&E but I need an MRI, doubt they'll give me that, but any safe test I'll take.

 

not sure they'll consider my case an emergency though, A&E is mainly for the seriously injured or people with serious illnesses 

[GinBoy2]

I always read these threads (I'm really sorry for all your problems by the way, and I sincerely hope everything works out) but as f#$%ked up as the US medical insurance world is, this 'semi religious' obsession Brits have with your NHS is baffling.

 

I think most Americans know our system is a little crazy, but at least we have that discussion For you guys any criticism or discussion of the overall system is tantamount to pissing on the Pope

[cheapskatesam]

The NHS was fine when our population was homogeneous with British people. Now we're swamped with millions and millions of welfare scrounging foreign parasites our services cannot cope.

 

 

[Bonobojt]

Overpopulation, Immigration, stupid drunk people, I watched NHS A&E videos last night, they get loads of drunk people that had fights or have drank too much and get injured or they keep throwing up...  bloody annoying young drunk idiots 

 

I'm gonna go to A&E and see what happens today, although as its winter here its normally very busy, but I've never been in need of going to A&E so I don't know what to expect, I guess I should go as early as possible.

[MahasarakhamMitch]

My experience with the NHS is pretty good.
Kidney stones on 3 separate occasions. I had an ambulance blue light me 3 times, straight into A and E, pain relief (damn kidney stones hurt) and looked after really well.
Operation on back - done brilliantly and cannot fault the surgeon or care.
Operation on hand - day surgery - done quite quickly.
Blood clot - possible DVT - rushed to heart unit and operated on immediately, in hospital for 4 days.
If it's an emergency they will whip you in pretty quick, if it's less urgent then sadly you have to wait. If you don't want to wait (which is fair enough) then you can go private but it could be pricey. For example: my wife found a lump in her breast 2 days before flying to Thailand on holiday. I spoke with the GP and he said it would be about 4 days to get her seen by a specialist. I decided that we couldn't wait and wanted her to be seen immediately. I got her seen the same day at a Private Hospital in London and it cost £900. Yes it cost a few quid but we got her checked over and the all clear and went on holiday knowing all was ok.
The NHS is a pain and I wish it was easier to get stronger medications from the chemist sometimes but that's the way it is unfortunately. I do sympathise with your niggles but I also think the NHS is brilliant. The last thing I want is to have an illness and then be presented a bill for £100,000. This happens frequently in the United States. My mate had a heart attack and run up a $300,000 bill in 2 weeks and his medical insurance knocked his claim. He had to sell his house to pay the bill!

[sotonowl]

On 20/10/2016 at 10:37 AM, chickenslegs said:

 

 

You can get all of those things in the UK too, just have to pay for it - as you do here in Thailand.

it really is that simple