tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110392363965889177.post1911378779873128837..comments2023-05-15T16:12:48.372+01:00Comments on Atlantic Lines: Late on a FridayADBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737746983905368038noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110392363965889177.post-88800284184503266542009-08-15T08:44:17.029+01:002009-08-15T08:44:17.029+01:00I've an English ex-pat friend in San Francisco...I've an English ex-pat friend in San Francisco who says that media reporting in the US about this story is highly biased against the NHS system. There are, apparently, very few soundbites from supporters.<br /><br />I can't understand what all the fuss is about. I certainly wouldn't want to pay $2-3k per month for health insurance cover (which would by default have pre-existing conditions excluded), or to pay 20% of the cost of any treatment (even with insurance) - an appendix op is likely to cost around $40k. My friend knows of several instances where US insurance companies have cancelled someone's policy when they've been diagnosed with a serious condition.<br /><br />The NHS is fantastic. OK it creaks at the edges a bit, and is a nightmare of bureaucracy when it comes to waiting lists and 'adjusted' appointments in order to meet performance targets. And the disconnect between NHS Scotland and the rest of the UK is a patient's nightmare I've recently encountered at first hand, but I won't hold it against them!<br /><br />Often I think the patient comes last in the list of NHS priorities, but on the whole we are *extremely* fortunate in this country to have free healthcare for all, regardless of ability to pay, and that is a cause for celebration.John Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05857501363717178055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110392363965889177.post-67453786198722812462009-08-15T01:09:54.604+01:002009-08-15T01:09:54.604+01:00Yes, I've heard the NHS given praise by Britis...Yes, I've heard the NHS given praise by British friends and with the puppet-clown we have for a President now I'm anxious to copy ANY model that's been shown to work.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13788060917420508410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110392363965889177.post-34167725231416728642009-08-15T00:24:17.329+01:002009-08-15T00:24:17.329+01:00Ah ... good and bad in everything Guido. There...Ah ... good and bad in everything Guido. There's that. I'm not opposed to change at all. We need 'something'. But I think we need to take smaller, not baby, but smaller steps over a gradual period of time to get there.<br /><br />But then, who am I? lolKathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03718645722631873821noreply@blogger.com