Posted on 11/15/2019 7:20:14 AM PST by karpov
Americans who want a preview of coming attractions under Medicare for All should take a look at the annual “winter crisis” at Britain’s National Health Service that is starting early this year. Data released Thursday showed the worst waiting times in 15 years in English emergency rooms. Hang onto your warm winter hats.
The NHS managed to treat only 83.6% of emergency-room patients within four hours in October, compared to 89.1% a year earlier and well short of the government’s target of 95%. The NHS winter crisis has become a national tradition like Guy Fawkes Day and the Grand National horse race, as the state-run system struggles to cope with a surge of illness during the colder months. Last winter’s four-hour admission rate bottomed at 84.4% in February 2019, and the winter before that the worst rate was 84.8% in March 2018.
This happens because the supply of doctors, nurses, hospital beds and the like hasn’t kept up with the rising demand from a growing and aging British population. NHS spending rises above the inflation rate, but that isn’t enough to fill the treatment and service gaps.
The NHS also missed its target for 93% of patients with suspected cancer to be seen by a specialist within two weeks of referral by a family doctor. In September, 90.1% of patients saw a specialist within two weeks, down from 91.2% in September 2018. A bureaucrat or Senator Elizabeth Warren might think that’s good enough for government work. But it’s definitely not for the nearly 10% of patients and their families who had to live with a suspected cancer diagnosis for more than two weeks.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
On the plus side, the care you don’t get won’t bankrupt you.
Bankrupt but alive or solvent but dead? Which will it be?
When I had colon cancer in 1996 I saw a specialist 3 days later. I had a barium enema 4 days after that, and I was in for surgery the next Monday, 13 days after the original referral.
Of course, I had surgery on April 1, so the chances of pranks were high.
I have zero interest in “Medicare for all”, but based on my experience I’d be surprised if most US emergency rooms see 90% of patients within 4 hours (thanks, illegals).
“But it’s definitely not for the nearly 10% of patients and their families who had to live with a suspected cancer diagnosis for more than two weeks.”
Warren and the rest of these Liberal half-wits hardly care. THEY, of course, will neatly and quietly exempt themselves from ANY plan forced on the rest of us, down here on the ground. Sheesh
“Of course, I had surgery on April 1, so the chances of pranks were high.”
“Lets take out his appendix and sew it onto his foot. He’ll think he has a 6th toe. Heh.”
I was in a message board debate with a citizen of britain regarding the american health care system versus the british nhs system. He was filled with praise for the nhs and full of disdain for the american system. He particularly hated having to pay out of pocket for anything medical, pointing out how his system is free.
I pointed out how america is number one in the world in cancer survival rates. That in great britain, some who are diagnosed with cancer are then put on a months long waiting list for an operation. By the time the date of the operation is to take place, the cancer has spread and is inoperable while in america, someone who is diagnosed with cancer gets treated as soon as possible. His response to that was he’d rather wait to have his cancer operation than have to pay anything out of pocket.
Just wow.
“I have zero interest in “Medicare for all”, but based on my experience I’d be surprised if most US emergency rooms see 90% of patients within 4 hours (thanks, illegals).”
I was thinking the same thing.. and for the same reason. The US emergency rooms are where people get to see what “Medicare for All” would look like in practice — most everyone there is Medicaid or has no insurance whatsoever
Guess the UK’s largest employer...
The NHS.
Patients aren’t the customers. They’re the grist for the mill.
He’ll change his mind if he gets cancer. He’s penny wise and pound foolish.
“The US emergency rooms are where people get to see what “Medicare for All” would look like in practice...”
No kidding - like the bar scene in Star Wars.
#4 The doctor left a squeaky toy inside you : )
That explains why I squeek when I pass gas!
I have run into that on a social media board. I’m only there because I have two orphan diseases, it’s a great place to talk to other people that have the same. And share information.
In the same post, someone will frequently Proclaim how much they love their free healthcare and then mentioned that they have to wait 6 months to see a specialist or that the new medications or treatments are not available where they are. For the two things I have, all research is being done in the US, no surprise, since doctors here are still somewhat rewarded for their originality and hard work.
I talked to a friend of mine and England, he’s one of those that sees the truth of it and wants to come over here. I asked him why people would be so happy with substandard care and he says that commercials for it are blasted all day long on the TV and are in newspapers and magazines. That reminds me way too much of 1984.
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