UK PATIENTS with multiple sclerosis fare worse than those in most other countries in western Europe, campaigners claim.



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(From Topix Neurology)

well DUH thats because its always rainy with grey skies there. They need Vitamin D.

I had an e-mail MS friend in UK and he was one of MANY MS patients. They had a lottery (which he did not win so had no meds) as their med Supply was less than demand. At least I think that's what he told me.

they have lotteries for meds, lotteries to see who gets a local MD to be their care giver, or if they have to travel 45 mins in one direction for their basic care. Dental is NOT on the health care service so many either dont get their teeth fixed or they have them pulled because its so much cheaper. If you go to the ER in London with chest pain, the first thing they give is an antibiotic not asprin. So many hearts are failing because of the bacteria from those festering mouths. You wait months on end if not years on end to see a specialist, (you cant choose which one you want to see) and when you arrive he can simply say "nope, wont help you." and then you are stuck. They pick which DMD is appropriate for you, and you dont get a say so.

They have private clinics that you can go to, but you must pay to go there. Whats the point of paid healthcare if you are not going to get care? or have to go elsewhere to get care? I have friends in Ireland, England, London, Manchester...all of them say the healthcare stinks! The MDs are not listening, and it takes forever to see one of them if you make the lottery.

no wonder they fare worse.

Health care in the UK is probably the poorest example of any Universal Health Care Plan run by governments. Most countries in the industrialized world have some form of health care and while not prefect, they do work relatively well.

Opponents of government health care programs always point out the worst stories of why they are awful and should not be considered. Living in Canada, I can say that our health coverage is quite decent and you won't become financial destroyed if you become ill (like having MS or get in a terrible accident. It certainly isn't perfect and like any industry, its effectiveness often is determined by the people working in it. The baby boomer post war group is putting a strain on medicine these days and that doesn't help either.

I hope this doesn't turn into a private vs government health debate but just wanted to mention that there are a number of countries where this system is relatively effective.

Harry

Thank you Harry. I am always glad to have a perspective from someone who is actually experiencing health care in another country.

I don't take DMD's. With a 30% efficacy rate, I don't want to pay my insurance copay. I have other ways to spend my $.