The UK's National Health Service
Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 4:30 pm
Let me just tell you a little of what's happened to me this week.
In the past I've suffered with a serious illness called Ulcerative Colitis. In 2012 - 2013 this meant I had to have several major operations including the complete removal of my diseased colon. I only have my small intestine left, but the surgery saved my life.
Due to the massive abdominal surgery I've had previously, I developed a small hernia.
On Wednesday morning I suddenly found myself in great pain and unable to use the toilet. After two hours of no relief and with the pain unbearable, I called the National Health Service - the UK's state-funded health service, open to all citizens. They arranged for a gastrointestinal specialist to call me back, and she did so within 5 minutes, and advised me to get to hospital - offering to send transport if I had none. However I was able to get to hospital myself.
Within 30 minutes I was seen by a nurse and admitted to hospital. Following X-Rays and a CT, the consultant surgeon came to see me and explained I had a hernia, in which a loop of my small intestine was caught, causing a blockage which would require an operation to correct.
I had to wait a little while, on pain relief now, but after not too much time I was taken to theatre, put to sleep by a very kind and professional anaesthetist, and awoke three or so hours later having had my intestines repaired and the hernia closed up.
After two days of rest, care, and careful obersevation on a small, clean hospital ward, I have now been allowed home. With a little rest I will be able to return to work in a week or so.
At every stage in this process the care and treatment I have recieved has been superb.
All of this is funded from my taxes; there is nothing to pay at the point of use. I do not have private health insurance - nobody in the UK really has to. The same excellent treatment would have been given to me if I was the Chief Executive of a top business, a middle-ranking civil servant (the actual me), or a homeless person.
I cannot understand why my American friends would not want such a system in their country.
In the past I've suffered with a serious illness called Ulcerative Colitis. In 2012 - 2013 this meant I had to have several major operations including the complete removal of my diseased colon. I only have my small intestine left, but the surgery saved my life.
Due to the massive abdominal surgery I've had previously, I developed a small hernia.
On Wednesday morning I suddenly found myself in great pain and unable to use the toilet. After two hours of no relief and with the pain unbearable, I called the National Health Service - the UK's state-funded health service, open to all citizens. They arranged for a gastrointestinal specialist to call me back, and she did so within 5 minutes, and advised me to get to hospital - offering to send transport if I had none. However I was able to get to hospital myself.
Within 30 minutes I was seen by a nurse and admitted to hospital. Following X-Rays and a CT, the consultant surgeon came to see me and explained I had a hernia, in which a loop of my small intestine was caught, causing a blockage which would require an operation to correct.
I had to wait a little while, on pain relief now, but after not too much time I was taken to theatre, put to sleep by a very kind and professional anaesthetist, and awoke three or so hours later having had my intestines repaired and the hernia closed up.
After two days of rest, care, and careful obersevation on a small, clean hospital ward, I have now been allowed home. With a little rest I will be able to return to work in a week or so.
At every stage in this process the care and treatment I have recieved has been superb.
All of this is funded from my taxes; there is nothing to pay at the point of use. I do not have private health insurance - nobody in the UK really has to. The same excellent treatment would have been given to me if I was the Chief Executive of a top business, a middle-ranking civil servant (the actual me), or a homeless person.
I cannot understand why my American friends would not want such a system in their country.