I don't think I've ever said that I was particularly proud of the Canadian Health system, I personally have no responsibility for it except for having paid my taxes over the years, rather what I did say was that its relative success, efficiency and universal accessibility is generally a source of considerable pride to Canadians and a major perceived differentiator of Canada from the US. I should also say that as a relatively healthy consumer I find it infinitely more accessible (and "user friendly") than the comparable US system.
The issues of staffing shortfalls, lengthening queues for service and so on etc., are a direct effect of the close proximity and more or less seamless transfer of certification for Canadian health professionals into the US where salary levels are anywhere from 70 - 200% higher. My larger point was that you were using the UK NHS as a dire example of the failure of government to provide effective services, and my larger point was that while this may a useful example for the UK, it is by no means generalizable either for health services of for Government's role in service delivery in general, outside of the UK. Mike Gurstein -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Keith Hudson Sent: January 30, 2002 3:20 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Basket case .... I know that some of you (at least Mike Gurstein), are proud of your health service in Canada. And, because I know nothing about it, I've never made a single comment about your health service in the several years I've been writing on FW. All I've done is to agree with Harry's recent comment that, because of the dire shortage of nurses, doctors and other health professionals in Canada that Sally drew our attention to, it seems to have some similarities with the National Helath Service in England. I only write about the NHS over here because it's an excellent, though sad, example, of what happens when a public service is led from the top by non-medical government officials and politicians who've appropriated the power and responsibility all the way down the line. The NHS is such a basket case that Tony Blair has given a hostage to fortune by saying that he wants to be judged at the next General Election by his success at reforming the hospitals. The rumours that are emanating from the press about the reforms that are coming do indeed suggest revolutionary changes. Even allowing hospitals to manage themselves! But it is doubtful that almost 50 years of arrogant and detailed control from London can be repaired all that quickly. (In the meantime, 25,000 patients needing operations are going to be sent to Greece [that is, besides France, Germany, etc] -- according to some press reports. If this is being seriously negotiated, this shows just how disastrous the NHS has been in this country and how desperate Blair is to reduce the waiting lists before the next Election.) Keith Hudson __________________________________________________________ Writers used to write because they had something to say; now they write in order to discover if they have something to say. John D. Barrow _________________________________________________ Keith Hudson, Bath, England; e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________
