Which is why, for people who can afford private care, they may use it if it's deemed too important to wait in a queue. For the millions of people who prefer to use the NHS, that is a brilliant system too.
No one here has to get into debt to pay for medical care...it's there for us when needed.
And I think we are going round in circles now.
You can fund private care through a national insurance program. That's how much of our care and all care in Europe is funded.
You're conflating service with funding..
Your recent service was provided by a private company and funded with public dollars/forced participation in a government mandated insurance plan. That's the arrangement most of the world uses, for a good reason.
It works better than having medical care provided by government workers..
The NHS in England is not one single organisation. It is made up of hundreds of different organisations of differing sizes, at central, national, regional, and local levels with different roles and responsibilities.
The NHS is said to be the largest employer in Europe. Staff can be directly employed by the NHS, employed by a service provider, self-employed, or provide services under a contract with another, non-NHS organisation.
I think it used to be the largest in the world..
In any event, I think more and more people will be getting care like you just received and demand change to the system, so that what you just experienced becomes the norm, not the exception..
Unfortunately, Brits had an almost religious zealotry towards the NHS, and making it look like the rest of Europe is going to meet with stiff resistance.
Syl said
Mar 24 5:38 PM, 2024
You say "unfortunately"....we don't see it like that.
Maybe if you lived here and experienced the care the NHS offers, from birth till death, you would see it differently.
And like I have said....for the ones who don't, there is always private care on offer too.
Maddog said
Mar 24 6:59 PM, 2024
Syl wrote:
You say "unfortunately"....we don't see it like that.
Maybe if you lived here and experienced the care the NHS offers, from birth till death, you would see it differently. And like I have said....for the ones who don't, there is always private care on offer too.
I know you don't see it like that. That's kind of my point.
You just experienced private care, spoke highly of how you were treated, then went back to defending the status quo when the alternative could be everyone receives the care you just received.
It might require a little more spending, but isn't health care worth it?
Syl said
Mar 24 7:11 PM, 2024
I didn't experience private care, I experienced NHS care.
I had a hip replacement a couple of years ago at an NHS hospital, aftercare was rubbish, the actual op and brief stay in hospital was no better or worse than a private hospital. Food was good, nurses were brilliant.
The surgery was performed by a surgeon who also works privately...so no difference there.
Maddog said
Mar 24 7:27 PM, 2024
Syl wrote:
I didn't experience private care, I experienced NHS care.
I had a hip replacement a couple of years ago at an NHS hospital, aftercare was rubbish, the actual op and brief stay in hospital was no better or worse than a private hospital. Food was good, nurses were brilliant. The surgery was performed by a surgeon who also works privately...so no difference there.
You recently experienced private care funded by your government.
Your hip replacement was done at a government hospital..
If your after care was rubbish, you're care was not as good as what you just experienced..
Sounds like you have all the information to decide which experience was better in its totality..
Syl said
Mar 24 7:38 PM, 2024
Could be Covid had something to do with aftercare 2 years ago? I had a new knee, same hospital, a few years prior to hip....aftercare was brilliant.
The hospital did apologise, they took responsibility.
Maddog said
Mar 24 7:46 PM, 2024
Syl wrote:
Could be Covid had something to do with aftercare 2 years ago? I had a new knee, same hospital, a few years prior to hip....aftercare was brilliant.
The hospital did apologise, they took responsibility.
That could be. Covid disrupted care so bad that it indirectly killed people all over the planet.
Same thing happened here.
Medical care in general was worse for everyone.
Syl said
Mar 24 7:51 PM, 2024
The hospital has lots of history. It was actually the very first NHS hospital.
"On 5th July 1948, the hospital was officially opened by Aneurin Bevan as the first NHS hospital. During his historic visit, Bevan symbolically received the keys from Lancashire County Council to mark the creation of the NHS. Sylvia Diggory became the very first NHS patient to be treated at the hospital, aged 13."
The hospital has lots of history. It was actually the very first NHS hospital.
"On 5th July 1948, the hospital was officially opened by Aneurin Bevan as the first NHS hospital. During his historic visit, Bevan symbolically received the keys from Lancashire County Council to mark the creation of the NHS. Sylvia Diggory became the very first NHS patient to be treated at the hospital, aged 13."
The hospital has lots of history. It was actually the very first NHS hospital.
"On 5th July 1948, the hospital was officially opened by Aneurin Bevan as the first NHS hospital. During his historic visit, Bevan symbolically received the keys from Lancashire County Council to mark the creation of the NHS. Sylvia Diggory became the very first NHS patient to be treated at the hospital, aged 13."
Haha....same Christian name, I wasn't around then though.
Maddog said
Mar 25 4:57 AM, 2024
Was it your mother?
Syl said
Mar 25 12:05 PM, 2024
Maddog wrote:
Was it your mother?
She loved that song.
Syl said
Mar 28 6:15 PM, 2024
Maybe things are looking up?
So I have been having really bad night cramps in my legs, I used to take Quinine, stopped years ago, but lately I feel I need them again.
Phoned the Dr's surgery .... unless it's urgent, they don't make appointments by phone now, everything has to be done online (that's not good, but anyhow)
Put details in online, I needed to speak to a Dr....within 24 hours one called me back.
He was nice, friendly, helpful, took time. He sent the tablets over to the chemist immediately, also sorted out blood tests for me.
Once more...we moan enough when things go wrong, so it's nice when things go right.
Magica said
Mar 28 9:43 PM, 2024
Syl wrote:
Maybe things are looking up?
So I have been having really bad night cramps in my legs, I used to take Quinine, stopped years ago, but lately I feel I need them again. Phoned the Dr's surgery .... unless it's urgent, they don't make appointments by phone now, everything has to be done online (that's not good, but anyhow)
Put details in online, I needed to speak to a Dr....within 24 hours one called me back.
He was nice, friendly, helpful, took time. He sent the tablets over to the chemist immediately, also sorted out blood tests for me.
Once more...we moan enough when things go wrong, so it's nice when things go right.
Yes it is Syl. I'm so lucky with my docs, no problems.
Glad you got tablets, I had them for restless legs a few yrs ago. Haven't had them in years though. Hope you sleep well with them x
Maddog said
Mar 28 11:42 PM, 2024
Syl wrote:
Maybe things are looking up?
So I have been having really bad night cramps in my legs, I used to take Quinine, stopped years ago, but lately I feel I need them again. Phoned the Dr's surgery .... unless it's urgent, they don't make appointments by phone now, everything has to be done online (that's not good, but anyhow)
Put details in online, I needed to speak to a Dr....within 24 hours one called me back.
He was nice, friendly, helpful, took time. He sent the tablets over to the chemist immediately, also sorted out blood tests for me.
Once more...we moan enough when things go wrong, so it's nice when things go right.
You probably need some magnesium. Many adults are deficient in that..
I don't think I can actually get a new prescription over the phone. That's one reason our health care costs so much..
We need doctors appointments in person for just about anything.
Syl said
Mar 29 12:26 AM, 2024
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Maybe things are looking up?
So I have been having really bad night cramps in my legs, I used to take Quinine, stopped years ago, but lately I feel I need them again. Phoned the Dr's surgery .... unless it's urgent, they don't make appointments by phone now, everything has to be done online (that's not good, but anyhow)
Put details in online, I needed to speak to a Dr....within 24 hours one called me back.
He was nice, friendly, helpful, took time. He sent the tablets over to the chemist immediately, also sorted out blood tests for me.
Once more...we moan enough when things go wrong, so it's nice when things go right.
You probably need some magnesium. Many adults are deficient in that..
I don't think I can actually get a new prescription over the phone. That's one reason our health care costs so much..
We need doctors appointments in person for just about anything.
I have just been reading about magnesium...I will buy some, it seems to have less potential health risks than quinine.
Maddog said
Mar 29 3:52 PM, 2024
Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Maybe things are looking up?
So I have been having really bad night cramps in my legs, I used to take Quinine, stopped years ago, but lately I feel I need them again. Phoned the Dr's surgery .... unless it's urgent, they don't make appointments by phone now, everything has to be done online (that's not good, but anyhow)
Put details in online, I needed to speak to a Dr....within 24 hours one called me back.
He was nice, friendly, helpful, took time. He sent the tablets over to the chemist immediately, also sorted out blood tests for me.
Once more...we moan enough when things go wrong, so it's nice when things go right.
You probably need some magnesium. Many adults are deficient in that..
I don't think I can actually get a new prescription over the phone. That's one reason our health care costs so much..
We need doctors appointments in person for just about anything.
I have just been reading about magnesium...I will buy some, it seems to have less potential health risks than quinine.
It has zero health risks unless you eat the whole bottle.. 😉
It's essential for your body to function.
I follow a lot of folks that discuss health and aging. While they think many supplements are a waste, just about all of them agree that magnesium is an important supplement. We are supposed to get it from plants and they get it from the soil. Because of intensive farming the soill has less magnesium in it..
Syl said
Mar 29 4:43 PM, 2024
I got some... Magnesium Citrate , which is apparently the best to take to help with leg cramps.
There are side effects, as there are with most things, but mild compared to possible side effects with the Quinine.
Digger said
Apr 1 9:02 AM, 2024
Syl wrote:
I got some... Magnesium Citrate , which is apparently the best to take to help with leg cramps.
There are side effects, as there are with most things, but mild compared to possible side effects with the Quinine.
I remember my mum taking magnesium many years ago. She said it gave her the most atrocious wind!
She said every step she took was accompanied by a bum trumpet. And the smell was horrendous. She said it even permeated the curtains in the living room!
I made a mental note there and then never to take it.
Syl said
Apr 1 11:52 AM, 2024
Digger wrote:
Syl wrote:
I got some... Magnesium Citrate , which is apparently the best to take to help with leg cramps.
There are side effects, as there are with most things, but mild compared to possible side effects with the Quinine.
I remember my mum taking magnesium many years ago. She said it gave her the most atrocious wind!
She said every step she took was accompanied by a bum trumpet. And the smell was horrendous. She said it even permeated the curtains in the living room!
I made a mental note there and then never to take it.
So far I haven't noticed any difference in the wind department.
One thing is the tablets are bloody massive, I dont usually have trouble swallowing tablets, with these I need half a pint of water.
I think it used to be the largest in the world..
In any event, I think more and more people will be getting care like you just received and demand change to the system, so that what you just experienced becomes the norm, not the exception..
Unfortunately, Brits had an almost religious zealotry towards the NHS, and making it look like the rest of Europe is going to meet with stiff resistance.
Maybe if you lived here and experienced the care the NHS offers, from birth till death, you would see it differently.
And like I have said....for the ones who don't, there is always private care on offer too.
I know you don't see it like that. That's kind of my point.
You just experienced private care, spoke highly of how you were treated, then went back to defending the status quo when the alternative could be everyone receives the care you just received.
It might require a little more spending, but isn't health care worth it?
I had a hip replacement a couple of years ago at an NHS hospital, aftercare was rubbish, the actual op and brief stay in hospital was no better or worse than a private hospital. Food was good, nurses were brilliant.
The surgery was performed by a surgeon who also works privately...so no difference there.
You recently experienced private care funded by your government.
Your hip replacement was done at a government hospital..
If your after care was rubbish, you're care was not as good as what you just experienced..
Sounds like you have all the information to decide which experience was better in its totality..
The hospital did apologise, they took responsibility.
That could be. Covid disrupted care so bad that it indirectly killed people all over the planet.
Same thing happened here.
Medical care in general was worse for everyone.
The hospital has lots of history. It was actually the very first NHS hospital.
"On 5th July 1948, the hospital was officially opened by Aneurin
Bevan as the first NHS hospital. During his historic visit, Bevan
symbolically received the keys from Lancashire County Council
to mark the creation of the NHS. Sylvia Diggory became the
very first NHS patient to be treated at the hospital, aged 13."
https://assets.nhs.uk/prod/documents/History_of_trafford_general_hospital.pdf
So you were 13 in 1948? 😉
Haha....same Christian name, I wasn't around then though.
Was it your mother?
She loved that song.
So I have been having really bad night cramps in my legs, I used to take Quinine, stopped years ago, but lately I feel I need them again.
Phoned the Dr's surgery .... unless it's urgent, they don't make appointments by phone now, everything has to be done online (that's not good, but anyhow)
Put details in online, I needed to speak to a Dr....within 24 hours one called me back.
He was nice, friendly, helpful, took time. He sent the tablets over to the chemist immediately, also sorted out blood tests for me.
Once more...we moan enough when things go wrong, so it's nice when things go right.
Yes it is Syl. I'm so lucky with my docs, no problems.
Glad you got tablets, I had them for restless legs a few yrs ago. Haven't had them in years though. Hope you sleep well with them x
You probably need some magnesium. Many adults are deficient in that..
I don't think I can actually get a new prescription over the phone. That's one reason our health care costs so much..
We need doctors appointments in person for just about anything.
I have just been reading about magnesium...I will buy some, it seems to have less potential health risks than quinine.
It has zero health risks unless you eat the whole bottle.. 😉
It's essential for your body to function.
I follow a lot of folks that discuss health and aging. While they think many supplements are a waste, just about all of them agree that magnesium is an important supplement. We are supposed to get it from plants and they get it from the soil. Because of intensive farming the soill has less magnesium in it..
There are side effects, as there are with most things, but mild compared to possible side effects with the Quinine.
I remember my mum taking magnesium many years ago. She said it gave her the most atrocious wind!
She said every step she took was accompanied by a bum trumpet. And the smell was horrendous. She said it even permeated the curtains in the living room!
I made a mental note there and then never to take it.
So far I haven't noticed any difference in the wind department.
One thing is the tablets are bloody massive, I dont usually have trouble swallowing tablets, with these I need half a pint of water.