is health care that bad in the uk?

my ex got sick and he said that the health care in the uk is different then the US, that if he needs an operation he will have to wait really long time to get that, and even then they do a poor job..so he said he needs to pay out of his own pocket to get it done sooner and better..so is that health care that bad?


I was talking with my mom about that and she said thats werid is that even true...so im asking you is this how it is there?

You aren't going to get any definative answer. 

Some people are going to tell you it's great; other people are going to tell you it sucks. 

It depends on individual experience.  It depends on where you are and who you encounter.

The NHS can be stellar.  It can also lead to your demise.   

Like any health care system it has its pros and cons.  I've had great treatment and it's happened quickly, but some people have had to wait for ages to get surgeries and the like.  It's a bit of a lottery.  But most people I know feel that the treatments they've received have been stellar even if they've had to wait for it.

I've had great experiences with the NHS my whole life, probably because I live in an area with a relatively low population.  In other areas it's not so great.  I can't complain though, any hospital treatment i've ever needed has been carried out quickly and efficiently and the fact I don't need to pay for it is great.

It's not so good when it comes to long term conditions that aren't life threatening though.  People do have to wait a while to see specialists sometimes. 

Because the NHS is publicly funded through taxes etc they have only so much money to spend and therefore may not be as up-to-date as in the States.  For example just a couple of months ago they were talking about this wonderful new technology of opening up blocked arteries in the heart with a stint, simple and a very quick recovery.  I couldn't believe this because my dad had a couple several years ago, so not really new technology.  What the deal was though is that the NHS has just now decided they will offer this treatment, not that is was new, only new to the NHS.  You can get private health insurance here so that if you do need surgery, physiotherapy etc. or to be seen by any sort of specialist you can do so much faster than waiting for the NHS.

I was born and raised in the UK and in 25 years, I have never had a problem with everyday healthcare needs such as doctors appointments or prescriptions etc. If you are under 18, all appointments/treatments/prescriptions are free (including eye tests, glasses, dental check-ups, fillings etc.) and once you are earning, you contribute to the NHS costs by way of taxes. When you reach the age of 60 (or 65, I can't remember which), prescriptions are all free again.

As an adult, all doctors appointments are free upfront, the standard charge for a prescription is £7.10 (about $11) and certain prescription items are free (e.g. birth control). Dental check-ups are about £16 and eye tests are £20 (or free when they have vouchers and offers on), but you do have to pay for the glasses if you want nice ones! I have never had a problem with doctors or treatments (and the longest appointment I've ever had was 15 minutes, so it doesn't take up a lot of my time), although I have never had any long-term problems or needed surgery.

However I did end up in the emergency room when I was 12, after breaking my leg. It was a Saturday night, but I was seen, x-rayed, put in plaster and on my way back home within about an hour and a half. They gave me crutches and medication and later on, a foot support for my cast... and the entire process - the emergency room treatment, medication and crutches cost exactly nothing!

In terms of waiting lists and things, my gran was told in September that she needed a hip replacement and she had a choice: she could go private to get it done quickly... and pay about £10,000 ($15,000) for the privilege, or she could wait 12 weeks and get it done for free on the NHS. The waiting list wasn't too long so she decided to wait the 12 weeks and her operation should be done just after Christmas, by one of the best surgeons in the area .

On the other hand, my brother, who is a gymnast (recently competed in the British Championships for about the 6th time), has needed several surgeries over the last few years, including one major operation on his shoulder. Because he is a UK athlete, he pays a few pounds a month for extra sports insurance and so can get bumped to near the front of the line for surgeries... he hasn't had to wait longer than a few days to a few weeks for appointments with his specialist and for his operations .

I love the NHS.

A couple of years ago, I had to have a major operation - major, but not life-threatening in any way. So the wait was long. I could have had it a bit sooner than I did because of other people cancelling their ops, but I needed too much notice as I had family flying over from the US. In the end, the care I got was amazing. I have no complaints whatsoever.

I love not having to pay for GP visits, and getting cheap prescriptions (or at no charge, as ksand24 mentioned, in the case of B/C). Also, in Wales (where I used to live) all prescriptions are free. I miss that!

No, the NHS isn't perfect, but then no system is. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I love the NHS and I too have had only great experiences, however my in laws have a terrible NHS service, so it just all depends. Having a baby on the NHS was a great experience for me.

So far, in the last 5 months I have lived here, I have had a great experience with the NHS.  No major surgeries or anything, thankfully, so I don't know about that stuff.  I will say that my ongoing condition has been well looked after, and the same medications I paid loads of money for in the USA (even when I had insurance, these meds weren't usually covered) only cost the usual £7, which is amazing.  Also, without going into detail, I had a health issue for a while that doctors in the USA summed up to be part of my ongoing condition.  My GP here in UK decided to run some tests rather than just assuming, and it turns out the problem was caused by something else.  And the test results didn't take long at all.  Now I am getting treatment for something that I thought was hopeless, which makes me very happy.  Also, I have never felt rushed out of an appointment with my GP like I often was in the states, and I have never been kept waiting for ages after my appointment time, like I often was in the states.  I have always been given an appointment when I needed one, usually only waiting a day or so.  I definitely appreciate the care I am getting.  But I realise that others with more serious problems might have more complaints. 

I have no experience with the NHS as a patient (beyond registering for a GP) even though I've lived here for two years.  BUT I did work for our local NHS trust for a year and having been on that side of it I know it is an organisation that has the best interests of patients at heart.  It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I for one am really glad it's around should I need it.

I agree that it depends on your experience.

I find that the NHS is very good for common, everyday ailments - you will get seen pretty quickly and the care is equivalent to what you would get with private insurance in the US.

However, I find that they are rubbish when it comes to preventative care. My husband and I have both been refused tests, once in my case for a hereditary condition that my sister has, either because 1) we aren't showing severe enough symptoms (isn't the point of testing to catch a condition and do something about it before you show severe symptoms) or because 2) we have been living with whatever problem we have for so long that it's considered a waste of time/money to try to figure out the cause of it and do something about it since we can obviously tolerate it - who cares about our quality of life or if the condition progresses further because we aren't doing anything to deal with it because it hasn't been diagnosed?

In the US I got a complete blood work every year. I  have a family history of diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, thyroid disorder and lupus. In the UK - nada.

ah thats good

well my ex lives in a villiage he does have a deadly sickness and they told him he has to wait oct of the next year! I was like what?! seriously he said yea..but he said he wont wait that long he wants to get it done earlier so he will have to pay out of his pocket.

My experience is the same as chary's, pretty much.

I've had three kids here - none in the US so no basis for comparison - and not had a problem with the care related to that other than having to travel some distance for it in the last case because we live in a rural area.

But we also have a daughter with learning difficulties and the care's been terrific.

My mother seems to think all socialised medicine is the work of the Devil and can't understand why a major reason I'd never move back to the US is that whole health insurance BS, but there it is. 

I love not having to faff about with all that health insurance rubbish and worry at night that I'm uninsured or underinsured, espeically with three young children.

well my ex lives in a villiage he does have a deadly sickness and they told him he has to wait oct of the next year!

Er... UK public healthcare is not that bad, that if you have a "deadly" illness you have to wait 11 months to be treated. Just a thought... is he asking you for a contribution to his "urgent" medical costs?

nah he isnt asking...for money...