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A recent spell in hospital in the UK got me thinking about the different levels of the social safety net.?

A recent short period of hospitalisation in the UK brought home to me some of the key differences beween the UK and the US in terms of their respective systems of medical and social care. I was taken by ambulance to my local Primary Care NHS (National Health Service)hospital (a regional hospital with specialist care for major traumas etc) and provided treatment and advice from 3 different levels of doctor. First in A&E (I was seen within 45 minutes), then after being transferred to a short term care ward (up to 5 days expected stay) was seen a more senior doctor specialiseing in my condition, given approprate treatment and then subsequently seen by a senior consultant. My treatment and progress was monitored throughout by a network of doctors and other specialists including a physiotherapist and I was given advice on what I needed to do to complete my recovery. When I had recovered sufficiently I was discharged with a prescription of a months worth of medication to support my recovery. I was also given advice on the nutrition and excercise requirements to aid my recovery. I would imagine that the level of medical care provided was similar to the US for people with full medical insurance. The main difference is that under the NHS it is free to any person in the country including citizens from other EU countries. I have no medical insurance because I do not need it. People in the UK who can afford it have medical insurance to receive essentially the same medical treatment in more comfortable and private surroundings and to get quicker treatment for some non-urgent procedures for which there is a waiting list in the NHS. Of course they still have access to the NHS for more urgent treatment. After discharge I was passed into the care of my local GP (local community doctor) and local social services who took an active part in ensuring I had the support I needed in my recovery and in any other areas visiting me in my home to discuss these areas with me Many of the staff of the NHS are provided by second generation Afro-Carribian immigrants or more recent immigrants from the accession states of the EU (Poland, Hungry, Czech republic etc) and from countries such as the Philipines showing one of the great benefits of a massive influx of highly educated and trained immigrants from countries with excellent education and training systems but who currently are at a lower level of economic development than the leading economic powers like the US, established EU states, Japan etc. The NHS is not perfect by any means but it is going through a massive process of re-engineering itself with large regional hospitals becoming self governing NHS Trusts and outsourcing non-medical services to outside private sector bidders on a competitive bidding system and the whole system monitiored by performance indicators with mechanisms to correct poor performance Great efforts are being made to cater better to the needs of people who because of poor English language skills (another by product of mass immigration), lack of knowledge of the system or lack of basic life skills, including those with mental disabities, who may therefore have difficulty getting full access to to the facilities and help available. The NHS and other bodies are also actively pursueing ways of improving care and support for people in the community particularly to support them through the recovery phase. There is also an initiartive to give people access to self diagnoses and advice on nutrition, excercise etc and specific areas such as problem drinking or the whole range of medical conditions. This is targeted at low income groups who do not have access to the internet at home and may have poor IT skills.This is being done by using the internet facilities that already exist in public libraries and by training library staff in supporting the people concerned with advice on using the system. Medically trained staff will come into the library regurlarly to provide further support in face to face consultation. This is in addition to the services of the GP network. Again all these services are free to any member of the public including of course all new immigrants and any EU citizen. For key public sector workers including NHS staff and others on low income or suffering financial hardship through, for instance, marriage breakup a system exists for the provision of low cost home ownership. A system to provide shared ownership of houses and apartments is provided by government funded Housing Associations who provide newly built or second hand properties on the basis of an initial capital contribution funded out of capital. This will be either a from a mortgage or cash, often from the proceeds of the sale of a previuos home as a result of divorce with the usual 50/50 split of the proceeds of the sale of the matrimonial home, or from savings. This capital contribution can be as low as 30 % of the full market value and can range up to 70% or Question too long & cut off by system. Any suggestions. Question at the end was how people thought the UK system compared with the US. Two countries of similar per capita income. In US you pay for very expensive medical insurance or risk having no access to medical care at all. In the UK good quality medical care is available free for all (inc EU citizens).

Public Comments

1. Interesting, but looks unfinished and what was the question?
2. This is a question and answer forum - so what are you asking?
3. Your experience was a good one with the NHS but i could tell you a completely different story and some of my friends as well if they were still alive to tell the tale
4. I've been through the NHS system and have always had good treatment. the only thing I have with it is that the foreign staff do good work but is this at the expense of the healthcare in their own nations.? Is it right that the NHS takes medical staff from poorer countries where the people there need it as well as we do.?
5. Thank u for the info