Ridiculous facebook status updates about the NHS.

That's the thing NHS-bashers don't get. In the US we *do* wait, often; we *do* ration care - for all those folks who can't get insurance and/or can't afford to self pay.

Perhaps people are just scared that they'll wait more with universal coverage (it is possible, as has been seen with Massachusetts, that the more access people have to covered care, the more existing resources get overloaded). Perhaps they're scared that rationing will happen to them and they won't get all the tests/procedures/doctor's visits they want anymore. (But do they need them? Are they even asking those questions?)

I'm sure, as others have mentioned, that fear has a lot to do with it. But most often the fear is based on misinformation about how things work in the NHS.

I'm actually looking into writing a blog for US consumers about how things work in the UK, to address pros and cons of the system, and misconceptions. Looking forward to hearing more of people's stories!

There's a cultural mindset to it as well. Though we like to think we can think out of the box, it is actually *very* difficult to think outside of our culturally set mentality. Thankfully *knocks on wood* most Americans haven't experienced how harsh the system can be. Fear has a lot to do with it. There are many on here who say they like the NHS but don't believe such a system could work in America. Why not? We don't imagine that it can because that would be contrary to a system we were raised with. I can't imagine the system in the US, but that doesn't mean I don't think we should give it a try.

Do patriated Americans in general accept, at least, that there is something wrong with the system? I know my family all do and whenever I talk about going home, they all look horrified and ask how I could leave the NHS.

When my mum died, my dad started sorting through the finances and found out they had 51 credit cards with a combined limit of half a million dollars. I told him he should cancel a bunch of those and he said they got them all in case they needed them for health care if their insurance ever refused to cover them for anything.

The mind boggles.

You cannot just choose to be treated for your condition any old where.

This is going back a few days, but I just wanted to say that that's not true anymore! The NHS is changing and due to the new NHS constitution, patients (in England, at least) are able to choose which hospital they are treated at for any condition.  So if you live in Leicester and want to be treated in Birmingham for your operation, you can be.  This is a pretty new development- patient choice has been a legal right only since April 2009.

(the above really pertains to secondary care, but there are also plans to abolish GP cachement areas in primary care so choice seems to be widening to that arena as well.)

That is really excellent news! Thanks for that update