http://www.suddenlysanfranciscan.org/treading-warily/ The view from here Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:13:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 http://www.suddenlysanfranciscan.org/treading-warily/#comment-270 chris Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:58:43 +0000 http://www.suddenlysanfranciscan.org/?p=472#comment-270 As a Brit working for the NHS, who has also had direct experience of 'receiving' healthcare both in the US and the UK, it is good to read some comment that is more reasoned than the wild comments (and sometimes bollocks - for US read 'bullshit') coming from certain constituents in the US that has been reported on the news in the UK. For example, that the NHS has 'death lists'. The British media frequently complains about the 'state of the NHS', albeit at times with justification, so it has been rather gratifying to see the media response to the wildness of comments about the NHS coming from the US has been to rally around the NHS and defend its egalitarian principles. Not to mention, for the most part, its world class care (for all citizens). In the aftermath of this transAtlantic 'storm', the BBC has recently reported on a comparative study of national healthcare systems - the NHS came out as one of the best systems, with the US coming some way down the list. The US definitely has some of the best healthcare in the world, however, this is for some of its citizens. The UK also definitely has some of the best healthcare in the world, however, this is for all, both at the point of need and even if you have an ongoing condition which will cost lots of money for all of your life. I think in the end, it comes down to political/philosophical viewpoint - do you believe in healthcare for all? As a Brit working for the NHS, who has also had direct experience of ‘receiving’ healthcare both in the US and the UK, it is good to read some comment that is more reasoned than the wild comments (and sometimes bollocks - for US read ‘bullshit’) coming from certain constituents in the US that has been reported on the news in the UK. For example, that the NHS has ‘death lists’. The British media frequently complains about the ’state of the NHS’, albeit at times with justification, so it has been rather gratifying to see the media response to the wildness of comments about the NHS coming from the US has been to rally around the NHS and defend its egalitarian principles. Not to mention, for the most part, its world class care (for all citizens). In the aftermath of this transAtlantic ’storm’, the BBC has recently reported on a comparative study of national healthcare systems - the NHS came out as one of the best systems, with the US coming some way down the list. The US definitely has some of the best healthcare in the world, however, this is for some of its citizens. The UK also definitely has some of the best healthcare in the world, however, this is for all, both at the point of need and even if you have an ongoing condition which will cost lots of money for all of your life. I think in the end, it comes down to political/philosophical viewpoint - do you believe in healthcare for all?

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