FYI. When I'm in the UK (as I am at the moment), I have no problems with the NHS. In fact, if I am sick (as opposed to scheduling a check-up) I can see an NHS doctor on the same day I phone in. An appointment with a specialist takes anywhere from 2-5 weeks, just as it does where I live in the US. If the NHS GP deems the problem serious, I will be seen within a few days, or even sooner.
Back in March when I was in the US, I got a sinus infection. The usual salt sprays and aspirin didn't work, and the infection rapidly got much worse. It was Tuesday and I was scheduled to fly out to London on a Friday night flight. Neither my doctor nor any of his nurse practitioners would schedule me in, not for the two minutes it would have taken to confirm that I needed antibiotics. I was told that if the situation was as urgent as I claimed I should go to the ER. When I responded that all I had was a severe sinus infection, achy ears, and a low-grade fever, not an ER matter, I was informed that I could wait to see the doctor or NP until they could fit me in on the following Tuesday. Telling them that I would be in London by Tuesday was met with silence. By the time I arrived in London on Saturday morning, I had a fever of 103F, conjunctivitis, bronchitis, the first ear infection of my life, and, of course, a raging sinus infection. I phoned the NHS doctor who saw me at once. "My, my. That must hurt", he said, referring to my eyes.
The Keflex and eye cream he prescribed cost under $20. (It would be free at point of delivery if I were over 60.) Several days later, I was in Glasgow when the Keflex caused some side-effects. The doctor took my call, and told me to keep taking the Keflex and to start taking Zantac. (Don't ask -- it worked.) I seldom can get any doctor in the US to take a call.
The NHS has problems, to be sure. However, it is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.
As for the subject of the thread. Glasgow has problems specific to itself, as does Scotland. The Scottish diet tends to be bad, and the Glaswegian diet is awful. Heavy smoking is still prevalent, as is drinking. CAD is epidemic, which could be predicted. However, in Glasgow CAD is high even amongst people who eat well, don't over-imbibe, exercise, and who have never smoked. The medical community haven't figured that one out yet.
In addition, Glasgow can be a violent city, and unemployment is high both in Glasgow and throughout Scotland. Does unemployment cause people to engage in unhealthy behaviour? I have no idea, but I wonder.
The best medical care in the world can do little for people who have lived a lifetime on chips, crisps, lardy meat pies, and deep-fried everything you can imagine. They even deep-fry pizza here, if you can imagine such a thing. And the smoking....
On the plus side; Glasgow is a walking city. Glaswegians walk everywhere. Even the old folks. Furthermore, the old sandstone blocks of flats -- always called "tenements" whether they are in working-class or posh neighbourhoods -- have no lifts. So we walk up and down steps. Just for fun I wore a pedometre and found that I was walking between 3.5-6 miles/day. Then, I don't eat deep-fried pizza, or Mars Bars either.
The average Brit lives slightly longer than the average American. That is nothing to gloat about as both countries are far down on the world longevity charts. There is much room for improvement in both the US and the UK. In both countries lifestyle changes would make the biggest difference, starting with better diet.
FYI. When I'm in the UK (as I am at the moment), I have no problems with the NHS. In fact, if I am sick (as opposed to scheduling a check-up) I can see an NHS doctor on the same day I phone in. An appointment with a specialist takes anywhere from 2-5 weeks, just as it does where I live in the US. If the NHS GP deems the problem serious, I will be seen within a few days, or even sooner.
Back in March when I was in the US, I got a sinus infection. The usual salt sprays and aspirin didn't work, and the infection rapidly got much worse. It was Tuesday and I was scheduled to fly out to London on a Friday night flight. Neither my doctor nor any of his nurse practitioners would schedule me in, not for the two minutes it would have taken to confirm that I needed antibiotics. I was told that if the situation was as urgent as I claimed I should go to the ER. When I responded that all I had was a severe sinus infection, achy ears, and a low-grade fever, not an ER matter, I was informed that I could wait to see the doctor or NP until they could fit me in on the following Tuesday. Telling them that I would be in London by Tuesday was met with silence. By the time I arrived in London on Saturday morning, I had a fever of 103F, conjunctivitis, bronchitis, the first ear infection of my life, and, of course, a raging sinus infection. I phoned the NHS doctor who saw me at once. "My, my. That must hurt", he said, referring to my eyes.
The Keflex and eye cream he prescribed cost under $20. (It would be free at point of delivery if I were over 60.) Several days later, I was in Glasgow when the Keflex caused some side-effects. The doctor took my call, and told me to keep taking the Keflex and to start taking Zantac. (Don't ask -- it worked.) I seldom can get any doctor in the US to take a call.
The NHS has problems, to be sure. However, it is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.
As for the subject of the thread. Glasgow has problems specific to itself, as does Scotland. The Scottish diet tends to be bad, and the Glaswegian diet is awful. Heavy smoking is still prevalent, as is drinking. CAD is epidemic, which could be predicted. However, in Glasgow CAD is high even amongst people who eat well, don't over-imbibe, exercise, and who have never smoked. The medical community haven't figured that one out yet.
In addition, Glasgow can be a violent city, and unemployment is high both in Glasgow and throughout Scotland. Does unemployment cause people to engage in unhealthy behaviour? I have no idea, but I wonder.
The best medical care in the world can do little for people who have lived a lifetime on chips, crisps, lardy meat pies, and deep-fried everything you can imagine. They even deep-fry pizza here, if you can imagine such a thing. And the smoking....
On the plus side; Glasgow is a walking city. Glaswegians walk everywhere. Even the old folks. Furthermore, the old sandstone blocks of flats -- always called "tenements" whether they are in working-class or posh neighbourhoods -- have no lifts. So we walk up and down steps. Just for fun I wore a pedometre and found that I was walking between 3.5-6 miles/day. Then, I don't eat deep-fried pizza, or Mars Bars either.
The average Brit lives slightly longer than the average American. That is nothing to gloat about as both countries are far down on the world longevity charts. There is much room for improvement in both the US and the UK. In both countries lifestyle changes would make the biggest difference, starting with better diet.