Question about the NHS in Britain

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

How does this work today? I'm not well versed on Britain at all. From what I hear the NHS has been sort of worn down.

Can anyone just walk into any hospital in Britain and get care? Do you need to show ID or a card? What if someone from some other part of EU was in the country on holiday? Could they get care?

Thanks

[farleft]

In the UK we don't have ID cards.

GP's (your local doctor) is free to go and see. If you get referred to a hospital, it's free. If you have an accident or have an illness, it's free.

The only thing you have to pay for is your prescriptions for your medicine which is 7.40 pounds (irrespective of how many pills you need).

I have used the GP service many times as well as seeing specialists and I have only paid for the occasional prescription.

The NHS also provides after care and rehabilitation to a limited basis.

Opticians and dental work is general not free though some people are still eligible on the NHS to get this for free or massively reduced.
I have paid for dental work and it's reasonably cheap. Though prescribed glasses can be expensive.

[farleft]

Nobody will be refused emergency hospital treatment in the UK, it doesn't matter what nationality you are or what visa you have.
I am not sure on the details of what happens for foreigners. Maybe their home countries get billed but no individual gets billed via the NHS.

[ColonelCossack]

^ What farleft said, but at the same time we are seeing what has been hailed as the largest attack on the welfare state since its creation.

[farleft]

Yes that's right and I think it was the same party attacking it now who removed opticians and dentists from the NHS some years ago. The wankers.

[REVLEFT'S BIEGGST MATSER TROL]

I think NHIA is an american, so he would be refering to him, or a friend, travelling to britain with a tourist visa or something (or nothing at all) to and attempting to use the NHS.

Honestly not sure. I know if it was life threatening they would intervene though, and you wouldn't be billed, so it might be a better gig than whatever you have now.


"What do I have to pay for?

All treatment given by staff at a hospital or by staff employed by a hospital may be subject to a charge with the following exceptions; which are free to all;

Treatment given in an accident and emergency department (excludes emergency treatment given elsewhere in the hospital);
Treatment given in a walk in centre providing similar services to those of an accident and emergency department of a hospital;
Treatment for certain communicable diseases (excluding HIV/AIDS where it is only the first diagnosis and connected counselling sessions that are charge free);
Compulsory psychiatric treatment.
Family planning services"

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074373

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Yea, I'm just curious. Like if a Polish guy happened to be in London for vacation. Could he walk into a doctor and have something non-life threatening but still problematic like a bad back treated.

If you don't show any ID, couldn't anyone just walk in and claim to be a British citizen/resident?


In the UK we don't have ID cards.

You don't have driver's licenses? Non-driver IDs? How do you prove your age or identity when you want to buy liquor, open a bank account, get a new job, etc.? :confused:

[Zanthorus]

Opticians and dental work is general not free though some people are still eligible on the NHS to get this for free or massively reduced.

Off the top of my head, you're eligible for free dental treatment if you're under 16, in full time education or on some kind of unemployment benefit.


You don't have driver's licenses? Non-driver IDs? How do you prove your age or identity when you want to buy liquor, open a bank account, get a new job, etc.? :confused:

We do have drivers licenses. farleft might be confused because there have been talks in the UK of introducing an 'ID card' scheme, which would contain people's information, which would be seperate from driver's licenses and passports, though so far nothing has come of it. I don't remember ever having had to show ID at my local GP's. I just turn up, tell them I've booked an appointment, and they point me to the waiting room.

[RedAnarchist]

You don't have driver's licenses? Non-driver IDs? How do you prove your age or identity when you want to buy liquor, open a bank account, get a new job, etc.? :confused:

They thought you meant literal ID cards, rather than something used to confirm identity.

Driver's licences can be issued to anyone over 17 who passes their test, and people often use them as ID. You can also, like I do as I don't drive, use what is known as a CitizenCard.

[Vanguard1917]

You can find the eligibility rules on the Department of Health website:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074373

And just to be slightly pedantic: the NHS is free at the point at which care is provided, but it's misleading to call it 'free' overall - workers pay for it through taxation.

[Rooster]

If you are in the UK, regardless from where you are from, you are able to see a doctor if you need to. Even if you're on vacation and you get involved in an accident, you can see a doctor. You can see a general practitioner at a hospital after a certain hour (I think it's six). You can apply to a GP if you live in the local area. You get free eye tests from all opticians and you can get discounts on prescriptions for glasses. There are free dental hospitals but they are few and far between. As far as I know, you don't need to provide identification but you have to give information if you are able to. I think that is mostly for insurance reasons though.

[Nox]

How does this work today? I'm not well versed on Britain at all. From what I hear the NHS has been sort of worn down.

Can anyone just walk into any hospital in Britain and get care? Do you need to show ID or a card? What if someone from some other part of EU was in the country on holiday? Could they get care?

Thanks

It works perfectly, even with the huge cuts from David Cameronpaul.

You can walk into any hospital and get care with no questions asked whatsoever, any tourist from anywhere can get any care for free.

Anyone who thinks the NHS doesn't work is probably an American who has never relied on any form of public healthcare before.

I remember reading a story on a website (this website was about funny conversations between employees and customers) where someone working at a NHS hospital was approached by an American man whose son had received treatment for breaking his leg (or something like that) and the American man kept insisting to pay them and refused to believe it was free, he was absolutely gobsmacked when it finally dawned on him that they were being serious and he didn't have to pay :cool:

[farleft]

I know when I watched Michael Moore's documentary 'Sicko' when he goes to the UK, it's very funny, not only do people not have to pay but in fact there was a money counter where the NHS give many to patients to reimburse them for the travel expense (or something like that) made me smile anyway :)

[RedAnarchist]

The NHS works extremely well. A few examples -

I was born with heart problems that weren't really noticed, as far as I can remember, until I was seven years old. In November 1996, at the age of ten, I had open heart surgery and after five days in hospital was allowed back home, and I stayed off school until around late January 1997. Back then I had a huge phobia of needles and was probably more scared of the needle with the anaesthetic in than the operation itself. I've looked up the price of open heart surgery in the US and the amounts were obscenely high - far higher than my parents could have afforded if we didn't have the NHS.

Another example is about my mother, who had a kidney disease that affects a lot of people on that side of my family. She had to have dialysis three times a week for four hours (this is around 2003), and so we were able to have a dialysis machine in our house for her. We did have to take out a window to put the machine in. Again, if we didn't have the NHS, my parents wouldn't have been able to afford it, or even afford dialysis at the hospital. My dad and sister became quite proficient at operating the machine for my mother.

As for prescriptions, there's a lot of categories that allow people to get them for free. I'm unemployed, so get them free.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Thanks for the info.

Obviously universal healthcare is better than the kind of shit we have here. I was just wondering the specifics of getting care. Friends in Canada tell me that you have to show ID there now, for example.


You don't have driver's licenses? Non-driver IDs? How do you prove your age or identity when you want to buy liquor, open a bank account, get a new job, etc.? :confused:

This was rhetorical. I guess that wasn't clear.

[ClearlyChrist]

Jesus, I Wish Things Were Like That For The HSE In Ireland. I Go To The G.P, For Nothing To Be Done, I Fork Over Forty Euro, And I'm Told To Fuck Off. If Not, I'm Referred To A Consultant To Pay More, Be Given A Prescription Then Pay For That. Healthcare's A Racket Here.

[REVLEFT'S BIEGGST MATSER TROL]

i guess the truth is nobody really knows?

we're all already signed up with the general practitioners, so its kinda routine? I wouldn't know what they would ask if you walked in and just asked to be treated.

If it was serious i would expect you'd be in hospital long enough for them to find out or something and they'd bill you

[Aurora]

Jesus, I Wish Things Were Like That For The HSE In Ireland. I Go To The G.P, For Nothing To Be Done, I Fork Over Forty Euro, And I'm Told To Fuck Off. If Not, I'm Referred To A Consultant To Pay More, Be Given A Prescription Then Pay For That. Healthcare's A Racket Here.
My family earns so little that i'm entitled to a medical card which is pretty good i've never had to pay to see a GP and dental work is covered too although with the austerity measures this is being eroded and prophylactic work now isn't covered :rolleyes:

[SHORAS]

The health service in Britain is great despite many criticisms and so on one could bring up about paying for prescriptions (you don't have to at all in Wales I believe!) the introduction of paying for dental care, the increasing waiting lists for operations and so on, the high tax that comes out of your wages - though tax is progressive in Britain, it is a fucking relief that when you get sick or badly ill you can see a doctor or whatever without worrying about bills and so on. Also the workers who work in the health service are generally fantastic people. I am sure there are some 'horror stories' and so on but I literally haven't had a bad experience. My dad has been messed around a little bit before but he is a grumpy bastard who probably brings it upon himself most of the time! To all the American comrades feel free to use our health service when you are over here! You might as well! :thumbup1:

[ClearlyChrist]

My family earns so little that i'm entitled to a medical card which is pretty good i've never had to pay to see a GP and dental work is covered too although with the austerity measures this is being eroded and prophylactic work now isn't covered :rolleyes:

Lucky You, Comrade:lol:

[IndependentCitizen]

The NHS is a beautiful thing, and without it, my cousin would be dead. He had a serious accident, in which after 6 operations and 3 years of intensive physiotherapy he's back to how he was to some extent. He has regular meetings with physiotherapists to ensure his legs are functioning fine, and if he has any issues he's to immediately report it and be seen. I can't imagine how much this would have cost him under private provision.

Myself, I'm blind in my right eye, and the eye never developed. Which means even at 19 years old, my right eye is still the size of a new born baby. This caused problems amounting to the need for a new orbital platform to be fitted. I had an appointment about pains in my right eye on a Monday, my GP immediately referred me to the local eye hospital who said I'd require an operation to rebuild it. I received that operation Tuesday evening and was home Wednesday afternoon. The care I received was second to none, it was incredible. The compassion was moving, because I thought to myself without these people I'd be in a dire situation and in agony. The opticians and other specialists were incredibly fascinated with my eye, one stayed up during the night during his lunch break to have a talk to me about it. He had never seen such a thing!

2 years ago, I tore my ACL/MCL and severely tore my meniscus on the right knee (bad luck on the right side :P) I was rushed to hospital by the ambulance crew (who arrived within 5 minutes of the 999 call) and got me to the hospital incredibly fast. As soon as I was in, I was having x-rays then an MRI. Unfortunately, there was a 7 day wait for the operation. However, they gave me a lot of equipment to use to support myself and a huge bag of anti-inflammatorys and pain killers. When I received my operation, I was in a very comfortable room, occupying me was some Indian fellow, he had been in the country less than a year, and had a serious accident at work which meant he required the same operation, he commented on the efficiency and level as care as "excellent" and was obviously grateful for what the staff in the hospital had done to meet his religious requirements (He was a hindu).

The amount of letters I received afterwards was annoying, but I suppose it really did show the length they go to help. My physiotherapist kept in touch with me fortnightly, and the intensive physio was both fun, and hard. But I can still ride my BMX, so I'm grateful.

My mother has worked in the NHS since she was 17, and the NHS has helped provide her a steady career which she loves. The NHS is a lifeline for this country, and I worry so much for it :(

[IndependentCitizen]

The NHS works extremely well. A few examples -

I was born with heart problems that weren't really noticed, as far as I can remember, until I was seven years old. In November 1996, at the age of ten, I had open heart surgery and after five days in hospital was allowed back home, and I stayed off school until around late January 1997. Back then I had a huge phobia of needles and was probably more scared of the needle with the anaesthetic in than the operation itself. I've looked up the price of open heart surgery in the US and the amounts were obscenely high - far higher than my parents could have afforded if we didn't have the NHS.

Another example is about my mother, who had a kidney disease that affects a lot of people on that side of my family. She had to have dialysis three times a week for four hours (this is around 2003), and so we were able to have a dialysis machine in our house for her. We did have to take out a window to put the machine in. Again, if we didn't have the NHS, my parents wouldn't have been able to afford it, or even afford dialysis at the hospital. My dad and sister became quite proficient at operating the machine for my mother.

As for prescriptions, there's a lot of categories that allow people to get them for free. I'm unemployed, so get them free.
Another awesome thing is the transport subsidies they use to do. If you earned below a certain amount, received benefits or was an OAP, you'd get your money back on the money you used to get there.

And the transport services, which is being scaled back really did help the elderly and provided them with a friendly, reliable and effective service. But of course, this isn't self-reliance, and has to be removed...

[CommieTroll]

Jesus, I Wish Things Were Like That For The HSE In Ireland. I Go To The G.P, For Nothing To Be Done, I Fork Over Forty Euro, And I'm Told To Fuck Off. If Not, I'm Referred To A Consultant To Pay More, Be Given A Prescription Then Pay For That. Healthcare's A Racket Here.

You mean your parents pay forty euro each time.........

[Charlie Watt]

The NHS is fundamental to us not living in a Dickensian hellhole. It gets right on my tits when some (not very bright,) people say "You're an anarchist, why do you like the NHS so much?" Why the fuck would an anarchist, or any socialist for that matter, not believe in universal healthcare? I wasn't aware that the anarcho-communist vision for healthcare was a network of shamans, but you live and learn.

The biggest threat to the NHS (apart from the government,) is apathy. If people start believing the bullshit spread about it by the Daily Fail.

To answer the OP's questions, the state of the NHS depends on where in the UK you go. To the best of my knowledge, the devolved parliaments maintain control over the NHS, with England's being presided over by west minister, so I think it is our English comrades that will largely be being fucked by these reforms. Still, I'm sure there'll be some hefty budget cuts for the rest of us soon, just to keep us all level pegging.

[IndependentCitizen]

The NHS is fundamental to us not living in a Dickensian hellhole. It gets right on my tits when some (not very bright,) people say "You're an anarchist, why do you like the NHS so much?" Why the fuck would an anarchist, or any socialist for that matter, not believe in universal healthcare? I wasn't aware that the anarcho-communist vision for healthcare was a network of shamans, but you live and learn.

The biggest threat to the NHS (apart from the government,) is apathy. If people start believing the bullshit spread about it by the Daily Fail.

To answer the OP's questions, the state of the NHS depends on where in the UK you go. To the best of my knowledge, the devolved parliaments maintain control over the NHS, with England's being presided over by west minister, so I think it is our English comrades that will largely be being fucked by these reforms. Still, I'm sure there'll be some hefty budget cuts for the rest of us soon, just to keep us all level pegging.

Aye, we are. In England, we've seen a big creep off privatisation, with one hospital now being managed by a private company who promises to pay its shareholders its profits, whilst maintaining the services at the current form. I.E. No cuts to staff/services. Which anyone with basic capitalist economics knows is impossible unless you raise the prices..

[bricolage]

A lot of the NHS is effectively privatised under the radar, for example at the hospital I work at the newest wing is owned by Sodexo who can ask for several million to have any changes done to the building as the result of one of many dodgy PPP deals. At most hospitals cleaners, catering staff, those working in shops, medical delivery staff as well as porters and phlebotomists here and there will all be under subcontracted deals to private companies. Pathology labs are privatised in many places and temp staff are brought in all over the place to undercut the wage structure on agenda for change. It's all very sly.

[Charlie Watt]

Aye, we are. In England, we've seen a big creep off privatisation, with one hospital now being managed by a private company who promises to pay its shareholders its profits, whilst maintaining the services at the current form. I.E. No cuts to staff/services. Which anyone with basic capitalist economics knows is impossible unless you raise the prices..

In that respect, I'm quite glad the SNP are so fixated on their independence referendum. If that was off the table, I'm certain they'd be right in about privatising everything they could get their mits on.

[Il Medico]

So, brits. Is there any truth to the whole right wing shit about having to wait for months to see a doctor and that people can die while waiting to be seen bullshit? Honestly it annoys the shit out of me when I hear right wingers talk about it cause I know it has to be bullshit but I don't know anything about your healthcare system to counter their stupid accusations.

[bricolage]

So, brits. Is there any truth to the whole right wing shit about having to wait for months to see a doctor and that people can die while waiting to be seen bullshit? Honestly it annoys the shit out of me when I hear right wingers talk about it cause I know it has to be bullshit but I don't know anything about your healthcare system to counter their stupid accusations.
Officially you are meant to be seen within 18 weeks but yes it is true this doesn't always happen;


It has been prompted by the disclosure that around 242,000 patients do not get treated within the 18 weeks guaranteed in the NHS constitution.That represents 9.4% of the 3 million people awaiting treatment at any one time, and about 20,000 patients have been left untreated for at least a year.http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/nov/17/nhs-waiting-list-rise-uturn

Noone (least not communists) should be saying the NHS is perfect but on the other hand I imagine a lot of people die in countries where they simply can't afford to get on waiting lists in the first place.

[brigadista]

the nhs is great in giving emergency treatment-saved my life but there are waiting lists for often painful conditions [eg hip replacements]. However, privatisation is happening very fast now under this shit gov - services being contracted out of hospitals to private contractors which will change the working conditions of those who were previously directly employed and who fought for decent terms and conditons.-the "corporate approach" is the holy of holies - this is also going to seriously effect patient care most recently the first to always suffer are the elderly - coupled with the present tory/lib dem dismantlement of the welfare system - bad times ...:thumbdown::thumbdown:

just adding this is a continuation of the previous labour shit gov policies

[dodger]

the nhs is great in giving emergency treatment-saved my life but there are waiting lists for often painful conditions [eg hip replacements]. However, privatisation is happening very fast now under this shit gov - services being contracted out of hospitals to private contractors which will change the working conditions of those who were previously directly employed and who fought for decent terms and conditons.-the "corporate approach" is the holy of holies - this is also going to seriously effect patient care most recently the first to always suffer are the elderly - coupled with the present tory/lib dem dismantlement of the welfare system - bad times ...:thumbdown::thumbdown:

just adding this is a continuation of the previous labour shit gov policies

It's not good, we have known better. Personally very fortunate, keyhole surgery for arthritis in my knee. Could not have gone better. Came in at mid-day out at 5.30pm...Wheeled up on the trolley for the op after my first shots the Anaesthetist asked me questions from a clipboard. Age name allergy to anti Biotics etc..are you a JEHOVAH'S WITNESS?...NO!....Would you like one of our pamphlets?? That was the last i remembered....Great success...quality change to my life. lottery maybe..live close to Stoke Mandeville....centre of excellence. My sister not so lucky 3 visits ....2 mnsr virus and some bloody unpronounceable bug...so quality...uneven CASH STARVED. Not sure if any ones mentioned that over 60's get free meds as do others with various long term illnesses. The more I see other countries the more I value our beautiful NHS, AND THE GREAT PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE.