7 weeks for a pair of glasses?

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

I don't know anything about the UK system but in Canada we have the whole free healthcare thing but vision and dental are not covered. You need to get private health insurance for that. Maybe that's the case in the UK??

Very similar system. Vision is only covered under certain circumstances. There are NHS dentists but as anyone will tell you, when you go to the dentist here in the UK everything is itemised, £20 for an x-ray, £25 for an injection, £10 for this and £15 for that, then you have to see the hygenist once the dentist has finished with you, another £30 for that. Unless you have perfect teeth, a visit to the dentist can be very costly, even at NHS prices. Why do you think we Brits have such lousy teeth as a nation?

edited to add this afterthought........

......if England was devoid of people and you just imported a nation of US citizens as the UK public, then there would be civil war inside a month because of the health care.

After seven weeks and a load of bull #######, an American would have b*tched so much the glasses would be free! Actually had a gal friend who did this very thing. She had a stigmatism, and the office she went to kept putting off why her glasses were not ready. She finally got them and the things had a big scratch on them, she took them back griping up a storm, and ended up with a free pair.

[MrMrsKnight 0]

My mom had to do the same thing. She only had to get 1 glass but she has the same problem as the OP. They're bi-focal though.

She never spends money on herself so now that she had the chance she go a fancy Channel glass and it cost about U$300.

Oh and it only took them 5 days to make it.

[Kajikit 65]

Seven weeks for glasses and then they didn't even give you what you need? Ack!

Mama needs super-strong lenses and it takes them about two weeks to make her glasses... I can usually pick mine up next day.

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

I don't know, I still like the idea of being able to see a doctor without having to pay an arm and a leg on the bills afterward. But moving on...

Have you thought about the laser corrective procedure? You should ask someone whether you'd qualify for it.

I wish I had looked into it before moving to the US.

[TracyTN 237]

I don't know, I still like the idea of being able to see a doctor without having to pay an arm and a leg on the bills afterward. But moving on...

Depends on the insurance, I suppose. I pay a copay ($20 for a regular doctor visit) and never see another bill.

I also like seeing a doctor when I'm actually sick - instead of the next available appointment being two weeks later.

Don't get me wrong, I totally wish NHS were wonderful. I'd love to move to the UK one day. But based on what I've seen so far with NHS, I don't know anymore.

[Sister Fracas 5]

I don't know, I still like the idea of being able to see a doctor without having to pay an arm and a leg on the bills afterward. But moving on...

Depends on the insurance, I suppose. I pay a copay ($20 for a regular doctor visit) and never see another bill.

I also like seeing a doctor when I'm actually sick - instead of the next available appointment being two weeks later.

Don't get me wrong, I totally wish NHS were wonderful. I'd love to move to the UK one day. But based on what I've seen so far with NHS, I don't know anymore.

I hear ya Tracy... I totally agree that things here are not perfect here by any stretch, but I'm not all that confident in NHS either. My sister-in-law had an illness that kept her out of work and in pain for 8-9 months and she couldn't get the necessary tests done because she was on a waiting list. In addition, my father-in-law bought private insurance years ago and is glad he has it, especially since he's been battling health problems for a few years now. I'm not so sure he would have been quite so confident in NHS. To be honest it DOES scare me because our goal IS to move back there some time in the future. With a pre-existing condition, I'm concerned about getting what I need, especially as I won't be a citizen and private insurance would be extremely high price I'm guessing because of my condition...

Edited August 1, 2006 by Frances

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

In the UK can't you just go to the emergency room if you need it? And be covered by NHS?

[Lou Lou 1]

In the UK can't you just go to the emergency room if you need it? And be covered by NHS?

Yes, whether you're a citizen or not. They won't turn anyone away from the ER. That is why it takes so long when you do go there

I don't care what anyone says about the NHS. I've had very bad experiences, and very good experiences. I would not hesitate to move back and use their services (and will be in the next few years). I've had nothing but horrible experiences over here despite having excellent health insurance. Quacks over here leave a lot to be desired... It all depends on where you live both in the UK and the US IMHO.

[Sister Fracas 5]

In the UK can't you just go to the emergency room if you need it? And be covered by NHS?

Yes, whether you're a citizen or not. They won't turn anyone away from the ER. That is why it takes so long when you do go there

I don't care what anyone says about the NHS. I've had very bad experiences, and very good experiences. I would not hesitate to move back and use their services (and will be in the next few years). I've had nothing but horrible experiences over here despite having excellent health insurance. Quacks over here leave a lot to be desired... It all depends on where you live both in the UK and the US IMHO.

I guess there is comfort in the devil you know, as opposed to the one you don't.... ya know? LOL

Edited August 1, 2006 by Frances

[AFQuaid 18]

Here an update on the glasses issue.

They phoned back this morning and said somebody would be out on the 9th August with the reading pair. I was absolutely fuming and couldn't keep my cool at this point, I told her tensely that I requested to have them delivered BEFORE that date because I'll be in London! And guess what? She'll get back to me.....

ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!

As for the discussion on the NHS, my opinion is I absolutely hate them. They are fine for somebody who is healthy despite the occasional bug but for somebody with a long standing condition the treatment is disgusting. For example:

When I was 10 years, I developed Scoliosis (curve in the spine) which is a symptom of my muscle weaking condition. Which had to be pointed out by a Junior doctor even though the consultant thought my back was fine but the Junior doc had em x-ray and guess what a JUNIOR doctor was right and had more knowledge. Then they see me 6 months later and tell me it's progressed to the point bracing isn't an option and put me on a waiting list. I was on that waiting list for 4 years! Till that surgery finally came around and with it marked "urgent" on my file as I was deteroriating rapidly to the point I couldn't lie down and had breathing problems. Due to the wait I was close to being too thin to have the surgery. But luckily they did it despite the high risk. I spent 3 days in ICU, a week in High dependancy and 2 weeks on the regular ward. I was then bedridden for a year due to incorrect pain management and lack of funding for a new wheelchair that could enable me to change my position. It took they contacting a wheelchair company in the US which somebody kindly flew over with a demo and low and behold I could sit up again! The Muscular Dystrophy Association had to fund the electric wheelchair for me because the NHS would not pay for the wheelchairs recline function which I needed in order to stay out of bed. Totally rediculas. It wasn't till 1 year and a half later that they sorted both wheelchair and pain management and my family and friends threatening to contact the head of NHS about this.

So as you can imagine they aint in my good books at all. I'm quite looking forward to going private when I get to the US

[Sister Fracas 5]

good lord, that's AWFUL!

as for your glasses....GRRRRRRRRRR

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I also have a ongoing disability and I can tell you that yes the service level in the UK is ####### but at leasts its free.... Medical insurance is very expensive here in the states and many dont cover pre-existing conditions.... so a Total knee replacement here in the States will cost me $48,000 and will last about 15 years so that gives me time to save up for the next one.... ok so yes you may have to wait years in the UK but at least it is free... here is you cant pay you dont get it done.....

Kezzie

[anya-D 8]

wow.. insurance thing give me a headache.. i never have insurance until i'm herei n the US.. now i have to learn all about it and still confuse.. wish i'm still in Thailand where health care is still cheap (getting much more expensive though.. if in private hospital)

I hope you get the glass soon! for that mush cost you deserve it!

[incanada1234 0]

That sucks about your glasses. I have extremely horrible vision as well and I pay about $300-$400 per pair of contact lenses. Luckily one pair will last me two years if I take care of them. It's too bad you already paid them for your glasses, now you have nothing to threaten them with.

As for the whole universal/free health care debate, I'm on the fence. I used to be hardcore pro-private health care but it's sooooo expensive these days. I want lots of babies and I do NOT want to be paying $5000+ to give birth every time! But at the same time, I still think it's unfair to MAKE people pay for everyone else's health care.

[Lou Lou 1]

So as you can imagine they aint in my good books at all. I'm quite looking forward to going private when I get to the US

Just because you go 'private' here does not mean the care or service will be any better. In some cases it can be a lot worse. Just ask any British nurse in the US who has worked in both sectors. The stories from here aint that pretty either.