Great Britain: Toothache boy nearly died (Another triumph of Socialized medicine)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | November 16. 2004 | ANDY RUSSELL

[Stoat]

Toothache boy nearly died

Battle ... Peter fights for his life
 

By ANDY RUSSELLA TEENAGER with toothache ended up fighting for life in hospital — after being turned away by a string of dentists.

Peter Owen, 19, was in agony for a week as he tried SIX times to have a tooth out.

He was eventually rushed to hospital after an abcess on the tooth swelled so much that it blocked his windpipe.

Peter had an emergency tracheotomy — where a breathing tube is inserted through a hole in the throat — and was on life support for two days.

Mum Wynn, 47, said last night: “Peter nearly died because there is a shortage of dentists.

“It is shameful that someone should be taken to hospital fighting for his life just because of toothache.” Peter was not registered with an NHS dentist when he developed raging toothache.

Wynn rang NHS Direct who told her there were NO available dentists near their home in Colwyn Bay, North Wales.

The nurse who answered suggested the emergency dentist at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl could see him — but not for six days.

Next day Peter went to a dental centre in his home town who told him the tooth must come out.

But he was quoted a total of £121 which he could not afford on his Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The next day he went to Colwyn Bay Community Hospital — but was told they were not taking any more dental patients.

The day after that Peter’s pain was becoming unbearable as his mouth began to swell.

 

 

Agony ... Peter nearly died
 

Wynn called her doctors’ surgery saying her son needed antibiotics for the pain. But she was told they did not deal with dental matters.

Desperate, the pair then went to Glan Clwyd hospital where a nurse said he HAD to see a doctor.

But after waiting two hours they had to go as Wynn was in agony with a shoulder problem.

The following day Peter saw the dentist at Royal Alexandra Hospital who confirmed he needed the tooth out.

He prescribed antibiotics — and Peter made an appointment for an extraction four days later. But his condition got worse and the next day Wynn rang NHS Direct again, saying: “You’re going to kill this lad.”

That night Peter could not breathe and dad Gareth rushed him back to Glan Clwyd, near Rhyl, where surgeons performed the emergency surgery. He was eventually allowed home a week later.

Wynn said: “It’s a terrible story. These kids can’t afford a private dentist and there are no NHS dentists anywhere.

“I also blame the Welsh Assembly for the shortage of dentists in our area.”

Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust said: “We can’t discuss individual cases. But if Mrs Owen contacts patient services at the hospital we will discuss her concerns.”

A Welsh Assembly spokesman said: “Steps are being taken to address the issue of dentists.”
  

[backhoe]

And don't call me frankly.

Keep a civil tongue in your head.

[bd476]

LOL. Laughter is the calling card of civility.

[bd476]

It would be great if what you said applies to my town. It really would. But it doesn't.

BTW that's a cute animal you have on your profile page. Is it a ferret?

[FormerACLUmember]

In my home town, the ER's are plastered with signs stating treatment must be given, regardless of ablity to pay. And they do routine extractions. Dentists in private practice may be another matter- but help is available.

You live in a fortunate town. The EMTALA law (that sign saying care is "free") is increasingly ignored due to escalating staffing deficiencies and the shrinking number of ERs in the USA.

Another factor is the lawyer crisis. Malpractice insurance rate increases are eliminating many medical key specialties from participation in the "free" ER care.

Try geting a neurosurgeon in any ER in many Florida or Mississippi counties. They are as extinct as the US flu vaccine industry. Coming to your home town soon.

[ApplegateRanch]

Socialized medicine is not the problem here, as I see it; stupidity, lack of follow through, and lack of problem-solving skills on the part of the "victim" and his family are.

A. 121 pounds that he can't afford to have it pulled, but mum & da, will run him all over the country for several days, rather than make an arrangement for repayment?

B. After two hours, Mumsy had to leave because of shoulder pain...but couldn't leave 19 YO Sonny at the hospital to contine waiting his turn?

C. He only tries to contact or see ONE dentist or clinic each day????

My wife just had a dental emergency. Neither dentist here in town could see her for a few days, but it still only took a few more calls to find someone about 30 miles away that could get her in, and our state has the LOWEST per-capita number of dentists in the contiguous 48.

It takes persistence, some honest explanations, and sometimes one must even do without 25-30 text messages/day, with the latest ringtone; and a nightly trip to the pub to make ends meet...especially on a "Jobseekers Allowance".

[beaversmom]

Job Search Allowance is the dole. The unemployment benefit.

I figured Job Seekers Allowance was unemployment. The lefties sure do come up with some nice, politically correct synoyms, don't they?

[FormerACLUmember]

Major bump for accurate analysis and clear thinking to post #45.

[beaversmom]

Guess this is the mentality that you get when you expect the government to take care of you.

[Stoat]

"It would be great if what you said applies to my town. It really would. But it doesn't."

This may be an aspect of healthcare that you have not had the misfortune of needing, and for that you are truly Blessed.  For those who are desperately poor and indigent, as well as those who are suffering a near or immediate life threat there are options that they can avail themselves of.  It's a nationwide law that stipulates all hospitals provide care to critical patients...this does not vary from one community to the next.  Yes, they will turn you away if you have a non-critical injury or illness and cannot pay, but for those TRULY in dire need, there is help regardless of where you live in the USA.

Although the young man in this article was eventually treated, he should have been seen before his condition became life-threatening.  This is a failure of the British healthcare system that would not have occurred in the USA, regardless of where he lived.

BTW that's a cute animal you have on your profile page. Is it a ferret?

Thank you for your compliment.  It is a Stoat, genus mustelidae.  It is similar to the American weasel, but is far more intelligent and is legendary for an appreciation of vivacious, buxom ladies, fine scotch and an occasional steak.

[FormerACLUmember]

The technical term for the weasel parents of this poor lad, is that they suffer "blue state mentality."

[monkeyshine]

What ever happened to the hyocratic oath? 121 pounds is not a lot of money, a dentist should have done it on credit just because he could obviously see it needed to be done. The poor boy was in agony with a swollen face, how all these people just shuffle him along?!?

[bd476]

Stoat, you and I agree on what the young man should have received.

And I am aware that there are laws which should enforce emergent care for all. What I stated though is fact. There is a situation here in my town called passive denial. I have witnessed it. I am not speaking from hearsay.

Emergency rooms cannot turn away the indigent, but that does not mean that anyone, insurance or not will be seen in a timely matter. With a waiting room filled to capacity, and only one doctor on the ER staff treating gun shot wounds, myocardial infarctions and end stage illnesses, plus a nursing shortage compounded by a hiring freeze due to the hospital's all red balance sheet, sure anyone has a right to a seat in the ER, just don't plan on surviving the wait.

Private dentists is what we have here. Insurance or ability to pay is how you get in.

Medical care in the USA is to be offered, but that young Welsh man would have had at least an equal chance of neglect in my town, even if he were a citizen.

[FormerACLUmember]

a dentist should have done it on credit just because he could obviously see it needed to be done.

Sorry, the parents said "NO." It was to be free or nothing.

[bd476]

Stoat said: "Thank you for your compliment. It is a Stoat, genus mustelidae. It is similar to the American weasel, but is far more intelligent and is legendary for an appreciation of vivacious, buxom ladies, fine scotch and an occasional steak."

Nice Stoat then. Is a Stoat domesticated? Is it compatible with domesticated animals such as cats and dogs?

Wait a second, you are either bragging or advertising. LOL!

[Stoat]

Socialized medicine is not the problem here, as I see it; stupidity, lack of follow through, and lack of problem-solving skills on the part of the "victim" and his family are.

I agree that the parents may have had a lack of understanding of the healthcare system requirements and probably other difficulties, but here in the USA we have social workers in hospitals who work all day long with people exactly like this, and far worse off, to help them gain medical care.  These people should have been referred to a social worker for help.  If there was no social worker available or the receptionists (six of them?) didn't refer them, then I would suggest that this is indeed a failure of the Socialized system in that it didn't, for whatever reason, accommodate a patient for whatever reason.  This sort of thing would not have happened in the US.

A. 121 pounds that he can't afford to have it pulled, but mum & da, will run him all over the country for several days, rather than make an arrangement for repayment?
I cannot speak to the family's finances or problem solving skills as this was a short article and of course lots of detail was left out.  I would suggest, however, that ONE competent social worker could have eliminated this aspect of the problem.

B. After two hours, Mumsy had to leave because of shoulder pain...but couldn't leave 19 YO Sonny at the hospital to contine waiting his turn?

This confirms my belief that the family did not have an adequate understanding of the severity of the problem.

C. He only tries to contact or see ONE dentist or clinic each day????

It's hard to rationalize all of these different elements that you bring forth because there simply isn't enough information in this short article for a complete picture of every aspect of the matter.  However, it could be that the young man's work or school schedule didn't allow to call very often, considering also whatever abbreviated hours these hospitals may be operating with.  I agree that it's difficult to rationalize all of these things given the limited information, but the combination of a social worker and a less bureaucratic healthcare system would have undoubtedly helped him immensely.

My wife just had a dental emergency.

I'm sorry to hear that.  I hope that she received good treatment and that she is recovering.

 Neither dentist here in town could see her for a few days, but it still only took a few more calls to find someone about 30 miles away that could get her in, and our state has the LOWEST per-capita number of dentists in the contiguous 48.

It takes persistence, some honest explanations, and sometimes one must even do without 25-30 text messages/day, with the latest ringtone; and a nightly trip to the pub to make ends meet...especially on a "Jobseekers Allowance".

I can't speak to this family's priorities, their intelligence or their income based upon this short article, but it seems that we can safely understand that they are very poor.  A competent social worker coupled with a less bureaucratic healthcare system would have benefited them tremendously.

[Stoat]

"What ever happened to the hyocratic oath? 121 pounds is not a lot of money, a dentist should have done it on credit just because he could obviously see it needed to be done. The poor boy was in agony with a swollen face, how all these people just shuffle him along?!?"

I don't know how seriously the Hippocratic Oath is taken anymore, what with abortion and other 'inconveniences'.   I would suggest that Socialism slowly saps people of their compassion, because it's assumed by all that compassion is the purview of the Government and the State. Especially when there are laws in place which PREVENT healthcare workers from engaging in charitable work, such thoughts might not even enter a person's mind anymore, as it's not part of what you do.  It's very sad and an example of how Socialism not only destroys economies but the human spirit as well.

[FormerACLUmember]

I don't know how seriously the Hippocratic Oath is taken anymore, what with abortion and other 'inconveniences'. I would suggest that Socialism slowly saps people of their compassion, because it's assumed by all that compassion is the purview of the Government and the State. Especially when there are laws in place which PREVENT healthcare workers from engaging in charitable work, such thoughts might not even enter a person's mind anymore, as it's not part of what you do. It's very sad and an example of how Socialism not only destroys economies but the human spirit as well.

Excellent points. Many medical schools now ban (under PC pressure) the Hippocratic oath precisely because it bans abortion.

[Ros42]

Again, not in my town. You have to have insurance or prove the ability to pay or they won't see you



It's true here in Arizona..at least in my town.

[still_learning]

This is why we see rules attached to the American nationalized health care proposals to not allow individuals to pay practitioners directly. Was that not a feature of Hillary-care? The Commie-crats do not want to allow "rich people" (aka: people who work) a way to jump the line.

Of course the Hollywood elite will have large well staffed clinics in their areas. An accommodations will be made for government employees.

[Stoat]

Medical care in the USA is to be offered, but that young Welsh man would have had at least an equal chance of neglect in my town, even if he were a citizen.

The essential point is that yes, of course there are problems with healthcare in the US, I would never suggest the contrary.  However, they are recognized problems, not the normal and accepted state of affairs, as they are in Great Britain.  The problems we experience are primarily due to John Edwards and his pals in the trial lawyers association, and the flood of illegal immigrants.  They are problems that can be solved without scrapping and rebuilding the entire healthcare system, with solutions such as tort reform and increased illegal immigration control.

In a community in the USA where things are operating as they are supposed to, this young man would have been referred to a social worker to assist with any payment problems, and he would have been treated before the situation became critical.  In Great Britain, the normal state of affairs is what this man experienced. 

Although I'm sure that you have experienced and seen the problems that you recount, they are not representative of the way things are when things are running as they should.
 

Medical care in the USA is to be offered, but that young Welsh man would have had at least an equal chance of neglect in my town, even if he were a citizen.

The essential point is that yes, of course there are problems with healthcare in the US, I would never suggest the contrary.  However, they are recognized problems, not the normal and accepted state of affairs, as they are in Great Britain.  The problems we experience are primarily due to John Edwards and his pals in the trial lawyers association, and the flood of illegal immigrants.  They are problems that can be solved without scrapping and rebuilding the entire healthcare system, with solutions such as tort reform and increased illegal immigration control.

In a community in the USA where things are operating as they are supposed to, this young man would have been referred to a social worker to assist with any payment problems, and he would have been treated before the situation became critical.  In Great Britain, the normal state of affairs is what this man experienced. 

Although I'm sure that you have experienced and seen the problems that you recount, they are not representative of the way things are when things are running as they should.