Saturday, March 27, 2010

Please don't glorify nationalized health care

I don't really want to turn this into a political blog, but having lived in London for about a year, I can tell you one thing: health care sucks here, and if you want to actually be treated, you buy supplimental insurance anyway.

Example:
Me: "I've been sick for three weeks. Coughing up flem, sinus pressure/headaches, stuffy nose, sore throat...I'm pretty sure it's a sinus infection."

NHS doctor: [After testing for fluid in my lungs] "Well, you don't have fluid in your lungs. You should get some Vapo rub and put that on your chest at night."

Me: "This has been going on for 3 weeks. This isn't just a cold."

NHS doctor: "But you don't have fluid in your lungs."

Me thinking: Since when does no fluid in your lungs means no sinus infection? I'm not a doctor, but my sinuses are NOT in my lungs!!!

Me: "Can I please just get some antibiotics?

NHS doctor: [Bitterly and skeptically writing prescription]: "Okaaay."

PS I have an even better example of the crap care you get here (which no one in the states would receive if they walked into an ER as I had done), but that requires a video reenactment which I have yet to do.

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