Conservatives use NHS as ammunition against Obama healthcare plan

[oldironside]

Another story from the Guardian about the NHS. What you may find particularly entertaining here are the comments. These are far closer to what most Brits really feel about the NHS than anything else I've read lately

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/deadlineusa/2009/aug/11/nhs-criticism-obama-healthcare

[depakid]

1. This response reminds me very much of my British friends:

These people are unbloody believable.

As for the people complaining the NHS is shite, they can simply cough up (like they would in America) and buy the drugs they want directly, oh thats right they dont want to do that because a course of cancer drugs runs to tens of thousands a year.

Its my understanding in the states a second trimester scan to check on baby health costs around $600 for the uninsured, on the NHS its free, or rather a massively lower cost through national insurance.

And also if the yanks have such great health provision why do they need flying doctors to run mercy missions to look after the poor / low paid, they are meant to be the wealthiest country in the world but a massive slice of their population rely on charity to survive. DISGUSTING, I'm no commie but for fuck sake these health reform bashers dont deserve what they have, most of these fuggers claim to be religious as well, wheres the compassion.

I tried to watch Fox news for 20 minutes the other day and felt physically sick at being abused by the manipulative, slanted, fabricated stories anyone who cant see through it must truly be as thick as pig shit.

[oldironside]

2. I must admit...

... I found the anger expressed at the way the British system is being misrepresented thoroughly refreshing. We all know the NHS is far from perfect, but we still see it as a much abused national treasure. The idea of a for profit system is terrifying.

I mentioned this to my dear old 80-year old dad, which set him off on a most entertaining rant about what British health care was like pre-NHS. Apparently my grandmother used to pay a penny a week to the Red Cross (I think that was enough to buy a small holding back in the 1930s). My own family's recent experiences of the NHS have all been positive.

Even though I don't live in the UK anymore I went to my doctor with a potentially serious problem last year and was given an appointment to see a gastro-enterologist within a week. My father saw a specialist for a small skin cancer within 12 days and is currently having check ups every three months to see he stays clear - he's great for his age, but hardly the most productive member of society. My elderly uncle collapsed last Saturday, was collected by the ambulance within 15 minutes and has been receiving top quality care in a clean and modern NHS hospital ever since.

I wish that Hannity would go and repeat his lies in the middle of Trafalgar Square. The British people would do to him what was done to Edward II.

[silverweb]

4. I had to look up Edward II...

OMG... not sure I'd wish that on even Hannity.

:wow:
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Maybe on Cheney... B-)

[oldironside]

5. Good thing...

... I didn't mention him four or five years ago. Might have given Cheney a few ideas for super enhanced interrogation.

[silverweb]

9. Good thing, indeed.

By the way, welcome to DU, Herr Oldironside! :hi:

[YewNork]

8. I was visiting relatives in Britain and had to use the NHS

I developed a cold and my cousin took me to the local clinic to see his doctor. Even though I don't live in Britain the doctor saw me and it cost me five pounds.
The prescription was free because they couldn't figure out how to charge me. The same drug, when I priced it in the US would have cost $24.

[lovecanada56035]

3. Every heatlhcare system has it's flaws

But ANYTHING is better than the joke of a system we've got here.

[Warpy]

6. Somebody needs to point out that Mad Maggie Thatcher

used the NHS recently for surgery. If it's good enough for one of Reagan's "privatize everything" buddies, it should be good enough for them.

The MSM won't tell them that part, of course.

[oldironside]

7. Thatcher would have privatised it in a second...

... if she'd thought she could have got away with it. A state run, union dominated non-profit organisation? That can only be a Trotskyite plot! One of her favourite think tanks came up with proposals in the early 80s to dismantle the NHS and replace it with a system of private profit driven insurance, and the devil take the hindmost. What civilised country would be insane enough to adopt a system like that? There was a major outcry (Ah, the 80s. There were still some proper lefties in the Labour party then) and before you knew it she was proclaiming "The NHS is safe in our hands". And don't get me started on that particular rant...