I might sound stupid here but I thought some of your national insurance contributions from wages went towards healthcare?
They do but NI pays for other things as well, and with an aging population amongst other issues with an expanding more complicated society the current system isn't being sustained well as it is. Not that I know all the ins and outs at all lol, there's a lot of argument about the structure and management of the NHS as well. I love the NHS and think we are BLESSED to have it, but I really hope the politicians can get a grip on it soon, I'd love to know how other countries manage their universal healthcare because you hear such positive things from other European countries, I'd like to know what we do differently.
Well here you pay charges to see the doctor (about 13 euros a time, but after 3 times, or after 27 euros in some clinics, the rest of the visits are free) and 27 euros for specialists and 33 euros per day for hospital stays. A long hospital stay can get pretty expensive (though there's a yearly limit for all medical charges) but if you're on income support it gets paid for you so the poorest aren't put off going to the doctor. I think its pretty reasonable except for prescription costs can be pretty expensive.
Do you find it is a good service? I wouldn't be happy to pay £10 at the moment having to wait 2 weeks for a 10 min appointment to see a dr who won't remember my name, but if services improved, if they did home visits, opened on weekends, it would be worth the money!
I think its pretty good. I get same day appointments if I feel its an urgent issue, otherwise I might wait a week or so. Its open evenings and weekends as well (though its not the same everywhere, but here it is at least). Same day appointments are with the duty doctor though so you might get someone who doesn't know you. Don't have assigned GPs but I always request the same doctor if its not an urgent appointment so its basically the same as having your own GP.
This is pretty much what I have in my local clinic - free of charge of course. I can usually see the doctor of my choice within a 4 or 5 days and can always get an appt on the day with someone.
I actually called yesterday for a non urgent appt with a particular doctor, I asked for either Monday or Thursday between 10am and 10.45am (after DD2's nap, before I collect DD1 from nursery). I have an appt in less than three weeks, I think that's brilliant.
We have 11 permanent doctors, plus several nurses, health visitors, midwife, and many other specialists who work out of 3 of the local clinics (podiatrist, district nurses, macmillan nurse, speech therapist to name a few.). They have stop smoking clinics, baby clinics, alcohol/drug clinics, sexual health clinics, weight loss clinic, travel clinic and counselling. All this in a relatively small town. Oh and you can book appts online - great at 8pm when you have forgotten to ring!
I feel incredibly lucky to have the service we do here, however my sisters local clinic is so different. There is only two doctors, both Indian males. She has no problem with them not being British other than the fact that communication is terrible, she has had to leave appts before as they could not understand each other (and she is patient and speaks clearly- no strong accent). Also no opportunity to request a female and neither of them specialised in maternity/paediatrics so not a whole lot of use since she has two little ones.
I find it so strange that there can be such differences between clinics, there is no continuity at all. Obviously I don't want our services cut but I don't understand how we can get all that and yet other people have to wait weeks to see someone.
Back to the original point. I disagree with charging for appts but do agree with charging for missed appts. With the NHS under the pressure it is then you should be charged for wasting peoples time.
Maybe I'm missing something though!
