Nhs !

[Gandalf]

The NHS where I live is utterly pathetic.

Takes four weeks to get an appointment with a GP (pot luck who you get). In the surgery there's signs on the wall saying they can translate over 100 languages, not surprising when you visit either.

Is it like that in the rest of the country? Waiting times? Congestion? Do Americans and Canadians and the like struggle like Brits?

I was diagnosed with something serious, looked for a surgeon, found the best, and he operated on me within a week. I was able to interview different surgeons at different hospitals prior. I think the quality of care here is exceptional. He had a full schedule, but decided my 3 hour surgery was 'easy' and was willing to do it two days later. He has a great reputation and I knew he was right for me. Touch wood, healthy ever since. I delayed as I wanted to give work a weeks notice first. National insurance would not cover the surgery I wanted and thus my private insurance made up the difference. Private insurance is only a quarter of what my monthly national contributions are between me and my employer. No reason not to have it. It's the price of a meal out once a month.

Out here at smaller hospitals you can typically get scans done the same day. Bigger hospitals take longer, but if it is for something serious they get you in more quickly. At a smaller hospital I was able to do a same day tube down the throat and a brain scan another time an hour after seeing the doctor. Very fast. It's insurance based but you do pay extra for treatment. Thus the stomach check will cost you 50 quid discounted using national insurance. You then reclaim it privately.

Translation? You don't need it. I always refuse, but the doctors end up speaking amazing English anyway. My surgeon publishes in English snd speaks perfect English. Most are biligual. Smaller hospitals less so but that's where I get to practice myself. At the top they are full of all that terminology they got from medical school. Very smart people. Likewise, the nurses are amazing too.