UK-Bed shortage forces 4,000 to give birth in lifts and hospital toilets

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Looks like you are better off in the UK than the US if you catch swine flu.

As long as you don't need a hospital bed.

Really? Seems you'd have a better shot finding one in the UK than you would in the US.

Hospital Beds per 1000 population:

Country...................2000..........2007

United Kingdom........4.1............ 3.4

United States...........3.5............. 3.1

Looking at the overall satisfaction with the health care system, about 2/3 of Brits feel that major changes or a complete re-build of the system is needed while 3/4 of the US population feels that way. And while about 1/4 of Brits feel that only minor changes to their system is needed (which would indicate that this quarter is happy with what they got) only 1/6 of Americans feel that way. So, more satisfaction and less dissatisfaction with the health care system in the UK than in the US. And they get to these more positive numbers spending 8% of their GDP on health care vs. the 16% that we blow down this broken system of ours.

[HAL 9000 96]

Indeed, which is why my elderly mother is in hiding.

She will be found.

She will if you keep pointing out her hiding places!

There is no hiding from HAL 9000.

How can you be comfortable giving birth? Can you feel the softness of the bed while you scream like the lion, and huffing and puffing your ####### off?

How did you feel?

Looks like you are better off in the UK than the US if you catch swine flu.

As long as you don't need a hospital bed.

Really? Seems you'd have a better shot finding one in the UK than you would in the US.

Hospital Beds per 1000 population:

Country...................2000..........2007

United Kingdom........4.1............ 3.4

United States...........3.5............. 3.1

Looking at the overall satisfaction with the health care system, about 2/3 of Brits feel that major changes or a complete re-build of the system is needed while 3/4 of the US population feels that way. And while about 1/4 of Brits feel that only minor changes to their system is needed (which would indicate that this quarter is happy with what they got) only 1/6 of Americans feel that way. So, more satisfaction and less dissatisfaction with the health care system in the UK than in the US. And they get to these more positive numbers spending 8% of their GDP on health care vs. the 16% that we blow down this broken system of ours.

edited to remove facts.

Edited August 26, 2009 by HAL 9000

[Peikko 1,575]

Meanwhile, in the land of make believe and exaggeration Mrs Plunkett is facing a galling afternoon for, unbeknownst to her the 'birthing plan' that she has lovingly crafted (all warm birthing pools and soft jazz with a friendly midwife) are slowly beginning to unravel...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Mind you, you'd think that the "if you can't afford decent healthcare you're lazy and weak and will get what you deserve (keep yo'hand outta my POCKET!)" attitude would lend itself well to the nightmarish socialized system imagined by the naysayers.

At least it should give a few people something to crow about as they enjoy the vastly superior private healthcare afforded by their treasure troves of hoarded wealth

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Looks like you are better off in the UK than the US if you catch swine flu.

As long as you don't need a hospital bed.

Really? Seems you'd have a better shot finding one in the UK than you would in the US.

Hospital Beds per 1000 population:

Country...................2000..........2007

United Kingdom........4.1............ 3.4

United States...........3.5............. 3.1

Looking at the overall satisfaction with the health care system, about 2/3 of Brits feel that major changes or a complete re-build of the system is needed while 3/4 of the US population feels that way. And while about 1/4 of Brits feel that only minor changes to their system is needed (which would indicate that this quarter is happy with what they got) only 1/6 of Americans feel that way. So, more satisfaction and less dissatisfaction with the health care system in the UK than in the US. And they get to these more positive numbers spending 8% of their GDP on health care vs. the 16% that we blow down this broken system of ours.

edited to remove facts.

Sorry, I let facts interfere with my thought process all too often. My bad.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Meanwhile, in the land of make believe and exaggeration Mrs Plunkett is facing a galling afternoon for, unbeknownst to her the 'birthing plan' that she has lovingly crafted (all warm birthing pools and soft jazz with a friendly midwife) are slowly beginning to unravel...

I imagine a dingy basement, with standing pools water on the floor and a sinister looking doctor with a leather apron and a rusty hacksaw

[JVKn'CVO 11]

Terrible and wrong!

Saludos,

Caro

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What is the relevance of the NHS to our health care reform?

[Niels Bohr 72]

Indeed, which is why my elderly mother is in hiding.

She will be found.

She will if you keep pointing out her hiding places!

There is no hiding from HAL 9000.

How can you be comfortable giving birth? Can you feel the softness of the bed while you scream like the lion, and huffing and puffing your ####### off?

How did you feel?

Looks like you are better off in the UK than the US if you catch swine flu.

As long as you don't need a hospital bed.

Really? Seems you'd have a better shot finding one in the UK than you would in the US.

Hospital Beds per 1000 population:

Country...................2000..........2007

United Kingdom........4.1............ 3.4

United States...........3.5............. 3.1

Looking at the overall satisfaction with the health care system, about 2/3 of Brits feel that major changes or a complete re-build of the system is needed while 3/4 of the US population feels that way. And while about 1/4 of Brits feel that only minor changes to their system is needed (which would indicate that this quarter is happy with what they got) only 1/6 of Americans feel that way. So, more satisfaction and less dissatisfaction with the health care system in the UK than in the US. And they get to these more positive numbers spending 8% of their GDP on health care vs. the 16% that we blow down this broken system of ours.

edited to remove facts.

[Nearly Done 8]

I never knew anyone who gave birth in a hospital corridor! I nealry had one child before I reached the labour room, but thats cos I was late getting there, not cos I had to wait for a bed. The NHS is getting slagged off more and more lately, Canada as well cos of the scaremonging with the New health proposols here! I complained the odd time when I was there but I would never do that again, compared to here it is fantastic!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

What is the relevance of the NHS to our health care reform?