But one thing that bothers us about private surgery is that if anything goes horribly wrong, the hospital won't be able to deal with it (as most of them don't have intensive care units) and we'd have to be transferred to an NHS hospital. Which was easy enough a few years ago before the ambulance crisis, but now you may have to wait several hours for an ambulance, by which time you could be dead or much more seriously ill.
As we're both in fairly good physical health and have no problematic medical conditions, we assume that the chances of an unexpected medical emergency are pretty small, but even supposedly routine operations can lead to unforeseen mistakes and catastrophes.
Literally tens of thousands of people are dying because they're not getting prompt medical attention from the NHS. Ambulances are overwhelmed, A&E departments are overwhelmed, hospital wards are overwhelmed. We don't want to end up as another delayed-treatment statistic.
If either of us need urgent surgery, goodness knows what decision we'll make. All I know is that more and more people are going private because of the huge NHS waiting lists. They're willing to take risks in order to end chronic pain and get a normal life back.
That sounds scary. What is the root cause of the crisis?
ReplyDeleteSeveral causes: (1) years of underfunding by the British government (2) foreign nationals no longer wanting to work in GB because of Brexit restrictions (3) hundreds of beds taken up by patients ready to be discharged but no care package arranged by social services (4) increasing number of people with medical conditions due to unhealthy lifestyles. And many other reasons.
DeleteThat is really disturbing. Like Bijoux, I wonder why it is this way?
ReplyDeleteColette: See my reply to Bijoux. Also a general tendency by politicians not to treat the NHS crisis as an emergency. Most cabinet ministers are wealthy enough to go private whatever the cost. The Health Minister has a net worth of around £4 million.
DeleteWait, what's the risk in choosing private treatment?
ReplyDeleteKylie: If some unexpected medical emergency arises, you'll have to be transferred to an NHS hospital, and with long waits for an ambulance (possibly all day), you could be dead or more seriously ill in the meantime.
DeleteFriends in the U.K. tell me that there is a collapse of primary care, resulting in more direct access to A and E with the consequence that ambulances are backed up, waiting to offload their patients and thus unavailable for those in need.
ReplyDeleteHere, as in the U.K., if it goes wrong in the private hospital only the public hospitals can deal with it and one experience with private care here was enough to make us glad we have the CAJA - NHS equivalent. Treatment as good or better than in France...the buildings can be shabby, but the treatment is not. Ambulances are run by the Red Cross and our experience has been good....the CAJA just runs transport for appointments.
Helen: Yes, primary care is also overwhelmed, with many people saying they can't see a doctor for several weeks. Good to know your health system is pretty good. And interesting that your ambulances are run by the Red Cross.
DeleteAnd jolly good they are with full equipment and well trained crews. Their funding is voluntary, but you can pay bills at their stations for which they get a tiny commission.
DeletePerhaps we should ask the Red Cross to run the NHS? They might do a better job than the government.
Delete
DeleteGet rid of the trusts, run it centrally and you might stand a chance.
Helen: I think it always used to be run centrally, until the politicians started tinkering about with it.
DeleteIt looks like Americans (and Australians) don't know what to make of our British health system. But then, Brits don't know what to make of the US health system that can bankrupt people overnight.
ReplyDeleteMary says "Oh my goodness, that is terrible. I cannot even fathom that."
ReplyDeleteMary: It's an absolutely insane situation. It'll take years to put the NHS right again.
DeleteI learned quite a bit about the NHS and private hospitals in this post, and the replies, Nick. Thankfully, like you and Jenny we are both in relatively good health for our ages with no chronic medical issues. In addition to the government Medicare program we also have a supplement program, which is fairly costly, but we figure that if something really bad were to happen we would be covered and no we do not wish that to happen to get our money's worth as they say.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice: Yes, I'd heard of Medicare. I imagine it works quite well, unlike care for British oldies, who can languish in hospital until care arrangements for discharge are made. And once home again, they may have to cope with a shortage of care workers.
DeleteAt one time in the States, people who incurred huge medical debt were encouraged to file bankruptcy after the storm or bulk of the debt was created. Hospitals had to accept whatever payment people gave. As long as they were making some sort of payment, the hospital had to just wait.
ReplyDeletePersonally, we were all insured. Just a middle class family that was careful.
Before Obamacare, people would be trapped in jobs because the job provided insurance for a medically fragile person in the home. If they quit, that person (usually a child) would not have insurance coverage because almost all insurance would not accept someone with a pre-existing condition.
It is all a racket wherever you live. I could write more about insurance in the United States but meh, who wants to read that. I'll close with writing that Life is a lot of Luck. I have good health too. Some due to lifestyle but mostly from winning a genetic lotter.
Ann: It's crazy the way medical insurance was tied to jobs so if someone left a job their medical insurance was cancelled. I'm glad Obamacare has made things a bit easier. And yes, the insurance business is such a racket. Motor insurance premiums in the UK are rocketing up to ridiculous levels.
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