Some uncomfortable truths

[KaiserD 12]

Phew! Thanks guys, feeling a bit more under control today

On the whole however, its the reassurance that if my child takes ill, or I do, I can see a doctor that morning

and receive the necessary treatment at little or no cost.

You make an excellent point..

Unfortunatly (I feel) that the NHS is going to continue to breaking point, I also have a feeling that placements are already being set up to turn it all private. Maybe it will end up being the opposite way around with Brits paying and an American NHS ...that would be weird!

I personally feel the answer lies somewhere in the middle...paying for services but there has to be a cap on how much they can charge. The cost of some medicines is outrightly abusing people. I had to pay $65 for a round of antibiotics, how much do others have to pay for drugs they have to take reguarly? I don't advocate Wal-mart, I think they treat staff abysmally and the shop is always a mess but at least they are able to make some medicines affordable.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I think your right Kaiser - my experiences of the NHS have been positive (they were wonderful with a chronic eye condition I have and a malignant tumor that needed to be removed)). But stories like yours do exist - unfortunately, there are many stories like them in the US as well.

I've always understood the Canadian and Australian systems to be better examples of universal healthcare, not that I have any experience of them.