Hmm
It's a tricky one.

As you may know, I'm living in the states, but as my teeth confirm, I am a brit abroad.

The UK system kept my father alive, bouncing him around various hospitals and consultants until they found a good one. Then he had surgery, was ill for a while, but is now back to decent health. He has a chronic gut condition, which has regular complications, but which he's been treated for, and survived. the hospitals he was kept in were FILTHY, to the point of shit smears on the ceiling in one (no, really). however, dad was able to take 6 months off work, then a further 6 months working part time, until he went back to full time.

A colleague here has more or less the same condition, and has had her insurance stopped because of it, so she and her husband now find themselves with mounting bills, unable to afford to take any sick leave, and she only now is able to go and see other doctors, as previously her insurance prevented her from looking outside of the network (or something like that - i'm not totally sure what's going on). But, she has just been approved for surgery, which, all being well, will cure her.

So, the differences?
1. In terms of waiting times, none.
2. Cleanliness of hospitals? USA beats UK hands down.
3. Cost? Well, I expect that the USA cost more to the individual, but then, dad has been paying taxes for 35 years or so, so the overall cost is probably the same.
4. Actual healthcare? No difference that I can see.
5. Sick leave - well, my colleague only gets 1 day of paid leave a month (as do I), whereas in the UK, you get as much as is deemed appropriate by your GP/employer.

Overall, I think I prefer the UK system.

And if management in the NHS could be improved (say, by losing most of it, and not carpeting their fucking offices and giving all managers solid oak desks etc etc), the UK system would be amazing, one of the best in the world.
( ascorbate, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 15:47, Reply)