Question for those who have national health care

[rolanni]

I have been told that in nations with socialized medicine (my correspondent uses the UK as their example) a person who has broken their hip will wait an average of three months for treatment.

Can anyone tell me if this is so?

Thanks.

Comments

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

Can't speak for broken hip, but my brother broke his elbow at 9AM one day and was in surgery to repair it at 9AM the next day, as the surgeon reassembled a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle with innumerable screws. Self-employed publisher/editor, UK NHS, completely covered. Physio started as soon as he was medically capable, and continued until he decided he had better things to do with his time (his GP keeps telling him they could get more mobility if he'd do more physio).

By contrast, your fellow author Emma Bull's experience (http://morecoffeeem.livejournal.com/1506.html#cutid1), admittedly with two broken elbows.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

In more general terms, what the NHS is good at doing promptly is is 1) keeping people healthy, 2) caring for routine illnesses and injuries, and 3) treating emergencies. What they have waiting lists for are 4) advanced medical and surgical treatment of chronic conditions, possibly especially those in advanced age.

1) If you have diabeties, for instance, you will promptly receive necessary education, support, management, and regular appointments--with an emphasis on the education. If you are a child, you will get regular vaccinations and checkups, including eye exams and one free pair of eyeglasses a year if necessary. You can see the dentist every...six months?...for cleaning and exams and whatnot, though some areas of the country have shortages of NHS dentists, I'm told.

2) If you have a sinus infection or your kid has chickenpox, you will be seen the same day by a GP--both my mother and my sister-in-law bear this out, in two different areas of the country. My s-i-l complains when she can't get a same-day appointment with her regular doctor and has to be seen by another doctor in the practice--me, in the U.S., I would be astonished to get a same-day appointment without going to the urgent care clinic.

3) My brother's aforementioned broken elbow, for example. Your example of a broken hip, I suspect.

4) A hip or knee replacement is likely to have a long waiting list, and the medical care isn't likely to be as aggressive as U.S. care (assuming you have insurance, of course, and that your insurance company isn't fighting your doctor and that the surgeon who can do the procedure is covered under your plan and that the deductable isn't more than your budget can handle and that you have transportation to the nearest hospital where the procedure is performed and...).