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Great Britain: Toothache boy nearly died (Another triumph of Socialized medicine)
The Sun (U.K.) ^ | November 16. 2004 | ANDY RUSSELL

Posted on 11/16/2004 11:00:12 PM PST by Stoat

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To: Stoat

When I lived there(for 3 years), I had friends who were anal about getting to thier dental and medical appointments. There would be panic if they thought they may get sick. They had to wait up to 4 months just to have dental surgery, if you were sick and missed the appt, you had to wait at least another 4 months.

Women weren't getting their mammograms when required because there was such a long wait. Socialized medicine is horrible. I used to be all for it(brainwashed in Nursing school) until I watched how the Brits suffered. No thank you.


101 posted on 11/17/2004 7:31:31 AM PST by highlandbreeze
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To: Stoat

Stop shouting.

Perhaps I should have clarified my point about the sense of entitlement: I am perfectly happy to pay for my own dental coverage, and that of my family. The "fair enough" remark was perhaps an expression of frustration at the amount I pay in tax and SS and how little I get back for it whilst the lazy and feckless have at least a formal entitlement to free dental care, although it is indeed the case that NHS dentists are very rare these days.

One might also make a case for the provision of free dental care to the pregnant and children as a public good.

On a related note, interesting that flat tax has raised its head in the UK.


102 posted on 11/17/2004 8:33:18 AM PST by Killing Time
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To: Stoat

Hey. They count this as a success. They saved his life.


103 posted on 11/17/2004 8:37:59 AM PST by <1/1,000,000th% (Bush wins!!!)
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To: highlandbreeze

Actually, my experience of NHS medicine could not be more different. In the last few years my family have used paediatric, obstetric, gyne, oncology, cardiac and orthopaedic services.

Waiting times, with one exception have not been a cause for concern and quality of treatment has been uniformally first rate.

Of course, a system like this is a form of rationing. There does seem to be considerable regional variation (the exception was in a part of the country known to have shortages of the relevant speciality). However, so is the HMO system you have there.

Sure, the NHS is a stalinist monstrosity, but we still spend only about 7% of GDP on healthcare compated to 16% in the US and I don't think that is really reflected in the respective health outcomes. Like some stalinist institutions (the gulags, the KGB) the NHS is quite efficient in some ways.


104 posted on 11/17/2004 8:50:14 AM PST by Killing Time
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To: Killing Time

I can only speak to that which I know. However, I'm glad to hear that it's working well for you, that does give me hope. Thanks

=0)


105 posted on 11/17/2004 9:08:17 AM PST by highlandbreeze
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To: TaxRelief
Are you aware that this is a conservative website?

Of course.  Are you aware that speaking to others in a rude and condescending tone is not an effective or coherent way to communicate your ideas, because any substance becomes overshadowed by your belligerent manner?

Conservatives don't believe in healthy young men, like the star-leech of this story, whining that they couldn't afford a dentist, because they were TOO LAZY to work.

Who appointed you the regal arbiter of what constitutes Conservatism? You certainly don't need to lecture me on what Conservatism is; I live it ever day of my life as do most people at FR.

In the case of this young man, it's oh so terribly easy to call him lazy (with zero supporting information) and he may well be, but the article doesn't say that.  What the article DOES say is that the family lives in North Wales, which is a terribly depressed area that may not have any job at all available. This is not the United States, you know.  The article also infers that the family is very poor and has had a rough time with the NHS which appears to be their only option.  They appear to be locked into the NHS system, which is not in itself a reflection upon the family but a reflection of the failure of Socialized medicine and Socialism in general.

He should get a job. Period.

Again, very easy to say when you have so little information.  Great Britain needs to scrap it's socialized healthcare system "PERIOD".

106 posted on 11/17/2004 10:24:35 AM PST by Stoat
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To: Stoat

And i tried to say it to you so gently...


107 posted on 11/17/2004 1:08:35 PM PST by TaxRelief (An entire thread polluted by Socialists...)
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To: Stoat
The article also infers [sic] that the family is very poor and has had a rough time with the NHS which appears to be their only option.

There is always a way to make money even in a depressed area.

I am English (from the North Wales vicinity) and know the NHS system well. Private dental care is available to all for about the same costs, and often for less, than we pay here.

The young man in question was clearly unwilling to work to pay for his own medical needs. At 19, he would have the option to be at university or technical training (which pays salary while you learn a trade). His medical needs would be well met in either case, as most campuses have on-campus clinics.

He, like many of my young cousins, is choosing the sit-around-and-collect-a-stipend-while-playing-on-line-games route. Socialism breeds laziness.

God willing, this will be the kick-in-the-pants that he needs to go out and get a job; or go back to school.

/rant

BTW, you are right that socialized medicine does have to go. But this is an article about dentistry, not medicine.

108 posted on 11/17/2004 1:15:15 PM PST by TaxRelief (An entire thread polluted by Socialists...)
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To: Killing Time
Actually, my experience of NHS medicine could not be more different. In the last few years my family have used paediatric, obstetric, gyne, oncology, cardiac and orthopaedic services.

Have you had to deal with medical care for older people?

109 posted on 11/17/2004 1:28:36 PM PST by TaxRelief (An entire thread polluted by Socialists...)
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To: GeronL

what do u mean how does this lady know there is a dentist shortage?? easy because we live here and find it hard to get a dentist unless we are earning huge ammounts of money!!!! and as for what is job seekers allowance , well try asking in a nicer tone, it is state benefits, my god have u no sympathy this lady nearly lost her son as they could not afford a dentist, our country helps many people , asylum seekers immgrants ect, but now this is done at our own expense, cut backs in the national health means less dentists taking nhs patients so people cannot afford treatment. plz spare a thought for peoples feelings before u ask questions with attitude


110 posted on 04/23/2006 11:32:45 PM PDT by keyahuk
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To: Stoat

They have dentists in England??!! That's the news.


111 posted on 04/23/2006 11:36:03 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: Stoat
Remember this young man when you hear people singing the praises of Socialized medicine.

I hate to burst your bubble but it's no better here. I'm an ER doc and I see AT least 1 or 2 people a day with dental infections. They come to the ER because I MUST see them and treat them, but no one requires dentists to. The idiocy of this is that since I'm NOT a dentist, I can't fix the problem. I give them pain meds and antibiotic and tell them to go to a dentist. They come back a week or two later, usually worse and around and around we go. The best part is the ones who tell me they just can't afford a dentist, but DO have money for 2 packs of cigarettes a day and beer.
112 posted on 04/23/2006 11:49:57 PM PDT by Kozak (Anti Shahada: " There is no God named Allah, and Muhammed is his False Prophet")
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