NHS experience

[doodab]

Besides, we pay through the nose for the NHS.

Actually, we don't.

List of countries by total health expenditure (PPP) per capita - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[TimberWolf]

The French health service is often rated highly, their contributions are not hugely greater than ours per person and I gather their doctors are paid significantly less than ours, and therefore more is presumably channelled into patient care than into flash cars. Not sure how they pull that one off. Perhaps it's managed better too.

In my experience I reckon my treatment, if it ever happens, could have been one or two 2 orders of magnitude more efficient, by lumping all these visits into one or catching it earlier.

[Mich the Tester]

The French health service is often rated highly, their contributions are not hugely greater than ours per person and I gather their doctors are paid significantly less than ours, and therefore more is presumably channelled into patient care than into flash cars. Not sure how they pull that one off. Perhaps it's managed better too.

If you don't demotivate highly skilled people by ruining their days with pointless form filling and inane 'targets' to satisfy busybodies at insurance companies, and allow them time to build a relationship with their patients, perhaps you don't have to pay them silly sums of money because they enjoy doing their jobs.

[doodab]

In my experience I reckon my treatment, if it ever happens, could have been one or two 2 orders of magnitude more efficient, by lumping all these visits into one or catching it earlier.

Efficient in what way though? It might not necessarily be cheaper to be more organised and flexible.

Of course the other question is whether the increased cost to the NHS, if there were any, of sorting people out quickly with minimal hassle would be outweighed by greater productivity in the wider economy.

[TimberWolf]

If you don't demotivate highly skilled people by ruining their days with pointless form filling and inane 'targets' to satisfy busybodies at insurance companies, and allow them time to build a relationship with their patients, perhaps you don't have to pay them silly sums of money because they enjoy doing their jobs.

Dentists seem to have gone on a huge piss take since dentistry was partly privatised in the UK. Extracting the piss from both NHS and private patients, they must be nirvana. Perhaps the rise of private healthcare generally in the UK is having a similar deleterious effect on doctors. Money corrupts.

[doodab]

Dentists seem to have gone on a huge piss take since dentistry was partly privatised in the UK. Extracting the piss from both NHS and private patients, they must be nirvana. Perhaps the rise of private healthcare generally in the UK is having a similar deleterious effect on doctors. Money corrupts.

That's a good point. If the NHS has a monopoly it also has a monopsony and can keep wages down as a result.

[Lockhouse]

Years ago, I developed a cyst on the inside of one eyelid. Went to GP, it was quite painful but not an emergency.

Upshot was it would take at least 3 weeks for an eye appt at the local hospital, wouldn't be able to drive so no work etc etc.

Booked in that same afternoon at the local BUPA. 2o mins later cyst in the bin, eyepatch on for 36 hrs and then back to normal, all in all 2 days off and £125.

Me too for exactly the same thing. Had three cysts in my lower eyelid, saw the BUPA consultant 6 days after being referred, he said "do you have the time to have them removed now?". Hour later I'm back on my sofa.

[Diver]

Me too for exactly the same thing. Had three cysts in my lower eyelid, saw the BUPA consultant 6 days after being referred, he said "do you have the time to have them removed now?". Hour later I'm back on my sofa.

I'm seeing a trend here

Reading posts on cuk gives you cysts in your eyes

[d000hg]

So, my first brush with the NHS, aside from dentists and the odd lazy GP, suggests it's tulip, unless you have an immediate life threatening condition perhaps. I try to convince myself that I should feel grateful for free NHS treatment, but I nevertheless feel the NHS is a mare.

By contrast...

I was having issues swallowing (yes very funny) so I called my GP and got an appointment the next day. I was referred to a nearby hospital for an endoscopy the day after which involved hardly any waiting, a nice team of people and a clear diagnosis.

Maybe the NHS is only good for more urgent stuff? I know NF was very impressed

[TimberWolf]

By contrast...

I was having issues swallowing (yes very funny) so I called my GP and got an appointment the next day. I was referred to a nearby hospital for an endoscopy the day after which involved hardly any waiting, a nice team of people and a clear diagnosis.

Maybe the NHS is only good for more urgent stuff? I know NF was very impressed

No doubt about it. The hospital did helpfully say that if my cyst got massive or my jaw fractured that I would be seen right away.