It made me most incensed
When the Americans were slagging off the NHS. Sure the NHS isn't perfect, but it's free and universal. The only major fault I can see is a combination of bad management and politicians using it as a bargaining chip.
There was a lot of mud-slinging and it disgusted me. One argument was that if Senator Kennedy was treated in the UK, he wouldn't have survived nowhere near as long. But in America, if he wasn't stinking rich and was one of the 30 million Amercians that can't even afford medical insurance, he would've received no ongoing treatment whatsoever. The biggest cause of bankruptcy in America is medical bills.

You hear some horror stories about the NHS. How do they weigh up against the vast number of success stories?

I've been on long-term medication for epilepsy since 1991. They changed the drug to a fairly new one in 1996 (which has worked perfectly ever since). One day, being curious, I asked the pharmacy how much these tablets cost. He dug a book out and checked. It worked out about £4.50 per tablet. That price will have come down significantly as they're now produced by other companies now. (I think it's something to do with patents running out).
In 2005 I was diagnosed with a dicky thyroid, so now I have to take thyroxine every day for the rest of my life. At no cost to my pocket.
A couple of years ago, I had a bit of a funny turn and I thought my epilepsy was beginning to manifest itself again, so I was sent for an MRI. No charge. I can't imagine what that might have cost in America without insurance.

A couple of months back, they investigated my Dad as to why he had high blood pressure. They did a scan and they ended up bypassing a section of his carotid artery. He went in on the Sunday teatime, and was home again by Tuesday lunch with an impressive scar and a bottle of painkillers. It cured his high blood pressure immediately. Didn't cost him a penny. He's going back in a few weeks to sort his cataracts out.

My uncle Ernie is having both hips replaced. No charge. My mother-in-law once had a kneecap replaced at no cost.

My mate got bit on his finger by his guinea-pig. He got some antibiotics but it didn't clear up. He ended up having it operated on to clear out the infection, plus a bit of plastic surgery and then physiotherapy because he's a pianist. No charge.

There are dozens of other similar success stories

So those who slate the NHS for whatever reason, stop and think, weigh up the pro & cons and you'll see that the NHS is pretty fucking ace really.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Fri 12 Mar 2010, 14:04, 6 replies)

click for...
sensiblenessment.
(SimianKid internet faffer, Fri 12 Mar 2010, 14:18, closed)

very much this
I've had a brain haemorrhage and double lung collapse. I shudder to think how much my treatment would have cost (5 operations, all the rehab and support + epilepsy tablets for life)
( h3donist tryin' to play me out as if my name is Sega.., Fri 12 Mar 2010, 16:23, closed)

Damn right
The NHS is one of the greatest establishments of the UK.
It's not always perfect, nothing is - and scandal can make us forget it.
But they try damn hard, and there's an endless list of people who'd be worse off without it. It deserves all the respect we can give it.
(Sundayturkey has the biggest mug of tea, Fri 12 Mar 2010, 16:33, closed)

I'm sorry, I'm very tired....
"Wouldn't have survived nowhere near as long" is a double negative. You mean "anywhere near as long".

On topic, I heartily heartily agree with you! The NHS has many faults but it's fantastic. I enjoy living in a country where I wouldn't have to worry about money if something bad ever happened to me.
( vix0r was not Matthew on, Sat 13 Mar 2010, 0:57, closed)

'I can't imagine what that might have cost in America without insurance.'
A fuck of a lot, indeed. To give you something to compare it to, the last time I could afford to go to a private clinic for a checkup, it cost me USD$300. Just for a basic checkup, nothing fancy. And that was *before* the charges for the basic lab work. All in all, it came out to about $500. I go to one that gets public funding now, and that still costs between $80 and $200 a visit. No actual treatment involved, mind -- just the basic weight/BP/listening to the heart-n-lungs deal.

The anti-public healthcare crowd here says 'Well, just get health insurance!' which is all well and good to try for, but I was born with a heart condition and couldn't get coverage even if I could afford it. But god forbid people like me get coverage we didn't 'earn' so we don't die.
(louveciennes , Volvospotter, Mon 15 Mar 2010, 16:44, closed)

This!
My brother was born with a hole in his heart (well, we all are, but it normally closes by itself, and his didn't), and needed an op when he was 2. An op like that costs something like 40 grand, but to us not a penny. Hooray for the NHS!
( Bob Todd whee, Mon 15 Mar 2010, 19:18, closed)