Yup. Socialized medicine at its finest. I would certainly urge those who believe in this failed program to head over to England have their babies. Show us how it's done, blokes.Thousands of women are having to give birth outside maternity wards because of a lack of midwives and hospital beds.
The lives of mothers and babies are being put at risk as births in locations ranging from lifts to toilets - even a caravan - went up 15 per cent last year to almost 4,000.
Health chiefs admit a lack of maternity beds is partly to blame for the crisis, with hundreds of women in labour being turned away from hospitals because they are full.Latest figures show that over the past two years there were at least:
- 63 births in ambulances and 608 in transit to hospitals;
- 117 births in A&E departments, four in minor injury units and two in medical assessment areas;
- 115 births on other hospital wards and 36 in other unspecified areas including corridors;
- 399 in parts of maternity units other than labour beds, including postnatal and antenatal wards and reception areas.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
For Those Who Think Britain's NHS Is The Answer. . .
From an article in the UK's Daily Mail today:
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9 comments :
Of course we can be proud of our US system in this respect. See for example "Infant Deaths Climb in South" at "http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/health/22infant.html".
Profit-based inaccessible health-care at its best.
David
PS. I can quote just as extreme and unhelpful and polarizing information out of context as easily as you can.
The difference here between the blog and the NYT example is lifestyle vs a failure to provide quality care. On all measures, once you gain access to the US system, you chance of survival is higher than in the UK. Also, just because you have universal healthcare does not mean you have universal access. The UK system is failing the patient, that’s why Labour have been trying to rehabilitate it for 11 years.
The NHS’s existence only goes to prove that when you create one of the worlds largest bureaucracies you also create one of the world’s largest groups of self-interests.
I agree with David. I have heard and seen some of the things being said about our (Canada) health care system. Some true, most exaggerated by someone who feels thay have a reason.
The truth is I have never paid for health care, I have 2 children and did not pay for their births. (We by the way did not have them in the hall or a taxi!) If a Dr says I need a CT, MR I will get one. And if I don't like the wait I can pay. If I don't like the cancer treatment I can get for free, I can pay and go to USA!
Best of both worlds?
I'm glad David feels compelled to defend socialized medicine against lil' ol' me! David, you have a blog, please feel free to expound on your ideas. I promise I will read what you write and comment as intelligently as my Neanderthal mind will allow.
The Anonymous comment above tells the whole story. "I have never paid for health care". Sorry, but just how foolish can one get? Of COURSE you paid for your health care, you simply paid it in taxes and you didn't see the individual price tag. I'll guarantee, you paid dearly. This is the BIG CON that is about to be perpetrated on the US. Socialized medicine is far from "free".
The other difference Anon is you have a choice because of your economic circumstances unlike the 90% of people in the uk. Champagne socialism at its worst. I'm alright mate!
The NHS is the worst two tiered system in the world. It is our dirty little secret.
Since I'm in Port Huron tonight, right across from Canada, where do you think the largest statistical numbers of CT and MRI units are installed? Duh...across the border from Canada. Canadian's love driving AND paying.
It's really quiet simple, Dalai. If you have money or proper health insurance then the US health system is probably the best in the world. If you don't, it's decidedly not.
Sam,
I'm glad you feel so compelled to discuss your thoughts about the Healthcare bill on your blog.
But perhaps you should rename your blog to something else.
"Dalai's PACS Blog" certainly doesn't fit with the most recent line of discussion.
I am an avid reader of your blog due to your excellent, humorous and well justified commentary on using PACS in your day to day life.
Not to be-little the topic of socialisation of the US Healthcare system but being Australian, I don't really care at all about it and am missing the daily quips, opinion and other related material based around PACS.
No Offence intended - and of course its your blog and you can right about what ever you like, but as a reader I can express only what I would hope to continue seeing on your blog.
Dear Dalai,
Sure there are disadvantages in public/socialized healthcare systems. This however doesn't nesseceraly mean that they must not exist. This can also mean that they can get improved.
There is no perfect system.
I choose to have both even with their disadvantages.
Here in Greece everyone pays through their taxes for the public system. If they want better services they can pay extra for private. This means that even if we don't use the public system, we pay for those who can't afford private healthcare (helping those who can't is good - not bad).
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