The National Health Service

Transcription

1 The National Health Service

2 About me.. I m British I qualified as an RN in 1987 after 31/2 years of training My training was funded by the NHS I worked in the in the UK for 2 years before leaving for the USA in 1989 I worked in the US for 2 years and then returned to my beloved NHS in 1991 where I worked for 8 years before I became a mom I worked in a diabetic special care unit and an intensive care unit in the USA I worked between general surgery and in intensive care in the UK Prior to moving to the US in 1989 I hadn t ever paid a penny for health care

3 When I started working in the USA. I was shocked when I discovered I needed health insurance in the USA I was shocked to discover that my patients had to consider their options financially when it came to their health care and treatment I was shocked that a preexisting condition hindered your ability to get health insurance I was also shocked to discover attitudes towards socialized healthcare and the NHS when I moved here

4 A brief history July 5 th 1948 Prime minister Clement Attlee AneurinBevan the minister behind the NHS Replaced the chaotic system in place after WWII Prior to WWII health care was paid for privately or by charities. The main idea was to make all areas of health care free for everyone in the UK

5 In a nutshell...the health service is available to all and financed entirely from taxation, which means that people pay into it according to their means.

6 There are a few costs for British citizens.. Prescriptions cost approx $12 an item Dental and eye care can also have a minimal fee. You are entitled to a free eye test and a voucher which should cover the cost of glasses/contact lenses but the choice is limited so people tend to pay a little extra.

7 Birth control is always free Prescriptions and dental care are free if you are 60 or over are under 16 are and in full-time education are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months have a specified medical condition or have a continuing physical disability hold a valid war pension are an NHS inpatient are on income Support you are diabetic or have glaucoma you re registered as partially sighted (sight impaired) or blind (severely sight impaired) you ve been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma you re 40 or over, and your mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter has been diagnosed with glaucoma you ve been advised by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) that you re at risk of glaucoma

8 So does it work? In 2014, The Commonwealth Fund declared that in comparison with the healthcare systems of 10 other countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the US) the NHS was the most impressive overall. The NHS was rated as the best system in terms of efficiency, effective care, safe care, coordinated care, patient-centered care and cost-related problems.

9 Constantly evolving The NHS is run by the state which means it is under constant scrutiny this is a good thing It is constantly evolving and improving Since it s creation in 1948 there have been several major reforms The most recent reform became law in 2012 and over the past 2 years has been put in place. It cut out a lot of red tape and in theory leaves the decision making to the health care professionals with guidance from people who can manage a budget

10 What the British do when they are sick? As a nation we are pretty stoic and hate nothing more that wasting the Dr. s time That said, assuming the problem isn t life threatening we see our GP General Practitioner It s a bit like the HMO model here: you are registered with a local GP who takes care of the whole family s healthcare needs including preventative care If you need to see a specialist they refer you In an emergency however, you call an ambulance or go to the ER

11 There is an alternative for those who are in jobs that provide health insurance and those who can afford to pay There are many small private hospitals throughout the UK The attending physicians take time out of their NHS schedule (unpaid) and have patients they see in private clinics and hospitals Routine, non emergency procedures are performed in these facilities It takes the load off the NHS In an emergency guess where they send their patients!

12 One way they save money....health care professionals are paid less than their American counterparts! UK average salary annually Cardiothoracic surgeon $105,800 GP $103,000 Psychiatrist $65,000 RN (newly qualified) $20,000 ICU RN -$35,000 USA average salary annually Cardio thoracic surgeon $412,000 GP $152,000 Psychiatrist $163,000 RN (newly qualified) $56,000 ICU RN $95,000

13 Pros and cons It's a British pastime to complain bitterly about the NHS but remain fiercely protective of it s existence. Pros It s free for all permanent residents in the UK Health screening is free and encouraged Promotes healthy living and disease prevention People are constantly striving to make it better Cons Less choice Higher taxes approx10% higher than in the USA Wait lists can be long UK has a higher mortality rate with cancers than the USA

14 Is the care you get in the USA better than in the UK? Britain ranks above the U.S. in most health measurements. The exceptions are cancer care and diabetic care Its citizens have a longer life expectancy and lower infant mortality. Britain has more acute-care hospital beds per capita. Fewer deaths related to surgical or medical mishaps in the UK Britain achieves these results while spending proportionally less on health care than the U.S. about $2,500 per person in Britain, compared with $6,000 in the U.S.

15 The NHS vs. Medicare/Medicaid The NHS is free for all UK residents Medicare is available for over 65 s and people with certain disabilities Medicaid is available for low income families Out of pocket expenses can be high

16 It's a British pastime to complain bitterly about the NHS but to remain fiercely protective of it s existence.

17 Why was Great Britain able to start and maintain a National Health Service? The mood in the country after WWII was buoyant. The country came together and there was a great feeling of patriotism Men fought side by side and after the war some of the class barriers were broken down The country was literally rebuilding itself Old systems were being re-evaluated and people were open to change This paved the way for a dramatic change in health care