ponyfitness said:
We have it here in Canada and it's great - unless you need a big operation or an MRI or something like that. Waiting lists for surgery are insane, up to a year or more. Frankly I'd prefer the chance to pay for stuff if you want it fast, which is what most Canadians do - they go to the US and pay for it.
Also, hospital waiting rooms take 8 hours because every new immigrant brings their kids to the emergency room when they have a cold.
I guess there are pros and cons, but it is mostly a big pro - it is a great peace of mind to know that you can get health care anytime if you have a problem and not have to pay a dime - just wait forever. Small price IMO.
Despite some of the problems in the UK, it is not that bad.
We have a dual system here of the NHS and private.
The turn around time for AE is 4 hours in most hospitals, this is a nationwide directive. If the child is under 2 years, they are seen and treated within one hour.
The issue with recent immigrants coming to AE for minor issues that could be dealt with by a GP is also being addressed, most do not realise they have to register with a surgery, as they have clinics in their countries.
I had surgery twice last year, once private and once with the NHS (national health service).
Only differences:
1. Private surgery was about 5000 pounds (I also saw some of the lab bills and as I KNOW how much some of the tests cost, time involved, I was shocked), I have no idea how much the NHS surgery cost
2. I had my own room with private, I was in a ward with about 8 women in the NHS
3. I had a menu and slightly better food with private care, although the nurses in the NHS did find me more protein sources when I asked for it
4. I had my own nurse in private and NHS, but the NHS nurse did take care of a few others besides me
5. I had to wait about three months for private surgery, I phoned almost every day and got a cancellation and got in in a month.
I had to wait two days for surgery with the NHS.
6. The surgery was scheduled with private, so they took me in when they said they would, I had to wait 'nil by mouth' for about 8 hours in the NHS and didn't get in till the late afternoon.
I was told by another BBer (also a police officer) who broke his jaw in the line of duty and needed surgery, was kept three days nil by mouth (one meal in the evening). He couldn't deal with not eating for that long so he went private.
I work for the NHS - in fact I am at work right now, 'on-call', nearly 3 am..............
I have great job security
Great retirement policy,
28 days of annual leave that increases with the amount of time I work for them, I can make extra annual leave (and the lab does not really function without people doing this),
wages are not too shabby and increase every year
they have paid for two degrees and my travel expenses (I got food expenses in my first degree)
the libraries on the hospitals are great, they bought my required reading lists, and I have Pubmed, medline access
complemetary therapies in some trusts (reflexology and massage for staff)
sent to conferences and lectures
my trust also used to have a 'learning for life' and they paid for a part of two of my open university courses in psychology
we get a staff discount at a number of places including gyms (we get a little card each year and a book of all the discounts)
25% off my train fares
staff training on stress management, managing finances, assertiveness
coffee and tea are free in our tea room
our consultant shares the 'private' money we get and we own part of a vineyard in the lab
opportunity to do flexi-time
6 months maternity leave full pay (also based on my on-call payments) or one year half pay
6 months sick leave full pay (also based on on-call payments) and then another 6 months half pay, if you are sick longer than that, you get state benefits
Men get 6 weeks paternity leave
Perks and bonuses do vary a bit from hospital to hospital (trusts), but most would have similar bonuses
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