In the US, my credit card saved my life

[go west young man]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/aug/14/nhs-healthcare-america-britain

[Hugin]

1. This is a good article!

"There are difficulties with the British health service, but perhaps the most important fact is that no one I know here is afraid to be sick.

For the past 20 years or so my family and I have been patients of Dr Azhar Malik at the Caversham Group Practice in Kentish town, London. A sympathetic man, he has looked after us carefully. When my wife was dying of cancer, he would stop by with medicines or prescriptions on his way home. British doctors will still make house calls when appropriate.

Visits to the GP are short, but most know when a problem should be investigated further. There is, throughout the country, a system of referrals to hospitals. Most consultants and junior doctors are well trained and carefully selected. In my own case, Dr Malik sent me first to a cardiac consultant when I became breathless. Because of anaemia, they in turn referred me to gastrointestinal surgeons, who located, operated and cured a colon cancer some nine years ago.

The relationship between doctors and their patients at every level is different from that in the States; here money does not change hands. An American friend of mine with five children was terrified when he became unemployed, fearful that one of them might become ill. I became ill when I was briefly back in the US some years ago, attending a meeting. With an acute urinary obstruction, the first person I saw, and the only one who could admit me for treatment, was the woman in charge of payment. My credit card probably saved my life."

[hlthe2b]

2. Why can't you include a couple of paragraphs?

I doubt I am alone in really hating posts that include nothing but a link. I mean, what's the point? I'm not trying to offend you, but don't you want your threads to be read?

[Hugin]

3. I put a couple of paragraphs in my reply above...

No need to be shy with the quotes!

[hlthe2b]

5. thank you!

It really does make a difference... I promise you.

[havocmom]

4. You are not alone in really hating posts that are naught but a link

I rarely click on a link that is posted without some comment or quotes. Most assuredly won't do it unless I am familiar with the person doing the posting.

[ejpoeta]

6. check out some of the comments

"to give medicine to a donkey one holds it by the ear, opens its mouth and puts the medicine in. it does the donkey good but the donkey complains that you are pulling his ears. From the current controversy on health service it seems there is very little difference between right wing americans and a donkey." about sums it up.