Hornlisters,
Although now living in Germany, I am British and take a keen interest
in what is happening back home. At least it means I have a more
objective view of the travails of the NHS and a comparison to make
between my experiences at home and those I have come across in Germany.
The NHS is now a dinosaur. It is top heavy, being overloaded with bean
counters who are beholden to government policy and dictats. The UK is
besotted with 'targets'. So, in the health service there are a certain
number of operations to get through in a given period, a number of
hours in a week beyond which doctors cannot work and a number of hours
in Accident and Emergency within which a new patient must be seen.
This latter has given rise to serious accident cases being left in car
parks outside the hospital until the way is clear to admit them within
the specified period.
I could go on (and I'm sure somebody will) but the model which served
immediately after WW2 does no longer. It has become a political
football. Today's news is a survey which reveals that on a daily basis
45,000 NHS employees are absent on sick leave. Irony or a symptom of a
very sick health service?
My experience of the German model is profoundly different. No waiting
times, no risk of catching a virus because of poor hygiene, the very
latest equipment and a friendly staff not stressed out through
overwork and trying to reach impossible targets imposed from above by
people who don't know what they are talking about.
Whereas the NHS is a bottomless pit into which the Government pours
billions of taxpayers' pounds, in Germany I have private health
insurance which is cheap by UK standards and alleviated by factors
such as unemployment, retirement and disability.
My own view, for what it is worth, is that there should be a specific
health insurance tax (either private for the wealthy or public for the
less well favoured), commensurate with earnings, which is ring-fenced
for health care and and topped up by government. Otherwise you end up
with the ridiculous situation of an accountant/chief executive sitting
behind a desk only being able to meet his imposed budget by heavy car
park charges which then leaves a distraught parent marooned behind the
barrier and unable to return home because when his child was bleeding
to death, he neglected to pick up his wallet on his way to hospital.
It has happened.
The NHS was launched in the atmosphere of goodwill which was a legacy
of the war and when the UK Government was disinterested enough to put
party politics to one side and be philanthropic for the good of the
country. I suggest none of these apply today.
Ralph R. Hall (brasshausmusic.com)
On 19 Aug 2009, at 04:10, Milton Kicklighter wrote:
Hey Guys,
It might be interesting to discuss some of these health issues here
on the list.
Since I have a condition that pushed my retirement up a little,
knowing about how other systems in the world work might be helpful
to all of us.
Up to you guys though
--- On Tue, 8/18/09, Anne Megenity <amegen...@comcast.net> wrote:
From: Anne Megenity <amegen...@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Hornlist] NHR Healthcare in Europe
To: "The Horn List" <horn@music.memphis.edu>
Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2009, 7:02 PM
Would appreciate also receiving that info, TIA.
amegen...@comcast.net
----- Original Message ----- From: "Luke Zyla" <lz...@suddenlink.net>
To: "Horn List" <horn@music.memphis.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 6:47 PM
Subject: [Hornlist] NHR Healthcare in Europe
Those of you outside the US may know of our debate on the issue of
healthcare in the US. Is there someone from the UK that could
answer a few questions on the UK healthcare system? Please contact
me off list if you could.
Thanks,
Luke Zyla
lz...@suddenlink.net
_______________________________________________
post: horn@music.memphis.edu
unsubscribe or set options at
http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/amegenity%40comcast.net
_______________________________________________
post: horn@music.memphis.edu
unsubscribe or set options at
http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/kicklighgter%40yahoo.com
_______________________________________________
post: horn@music.memphis.edu
unsubscribe or set options at
http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/ralph%40brasshausmusic.com
_______________________________________________
post: horn@music.memphis.edu
unsubscribe or set options at
http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
