US doctor salaries and cost of care

[Joco]

The cost of the NHS is certainly less than reported by Gov. figures. I know a few senior front line medics and the hours put in vs paid is a large mismatch. All junior doctors, and certainly most nurses ( not sure about consultants, world of their own) work many more hours than their paid for. In theory they should get paid but the hours are instead banked and to be taken as leave instead,.. never happens, they disappear in to a black hole at the end of the year. Going out to the cinema, meal, meeting friends at the end of your shift? Maybe is the best answer that can be given and eventually friends in the normal world give up to some extent.
The other forgotten about almost heroic group in the system - except they they’re not - are care workers, grossly underpaid and largely ignored by Government.
Now I’m not saying they’re the only workers who do unpaid overtime by any means. I do unpaid hours, nothing to out of the ordinary there. t just sticks in my gullet, actually it makes me really angry that the people we, or our loved ones REALLY depend on when we are at out lowest are treat with a level of almost contempt year in and out.
It makes want slap the politicians who say ‘it’s all in hand’ we’ve ‘put in place funding’ and all the tedious platitudes which are supposed to reassure Joe public, when they know know they’re lying, what the hell is wrong with the voters who put up with this!
It’s all a political choice, we’re easily rich enough - hopefully post brexit - to end this crap. Privatisation isn’t the answer, being kind and civilised and having an appreciation of what matters is.
Apologies, rant over,
John

 

[JensenHealey]

Most NHS employees are overworked. My wife regularly bangs in 60+ hour weeks and receives typically 100 emails a day - when in fact most of the day is spent in meetings of all sorts - mostly with a mix of staff, commissioners, external providers bla bla. So emails get done in the evenings and weekends! Likewise proposals and reports.

Until recently I have never been a user of the NHS - having been very healthy. All change now with a serious illness - and I see how tremendously busy the medics and nurses and support staff are, whilst working with an Everest of paperwork and forms. Still the treatment I get is amazing!

 

[sean99]

I suspect that the adoption of universal health care could be a game changer for public life in the US.

I agree. I think Americans would be absolutely astounded at how liberating it is and would never, ever give it up. Which is why the vested interests (of which there are many) are fighting it so hard.

 

[Joco]

Hi Sean, I have often noticed how wafer thin the difference between comfortable and borderline healthcare costs can affect Americans’
status, unlike much of Europe. The minorities generally are mostly borderline as you will well know due to education / employment disparities. This also affects poor white Americans. I’m obviously not saying its the panacea for racial / blue collar / white collar tensions but it must help that the majority feels everyone, perhaps excepting coloureds, getting a fair deal which was a basic given up until the post 1970’s descent in living standards except for the rich whose income has far outstripped the other economic classes.
Until living stands for the majority begin to increase the widely held dissatisfaction with politics and the ability to positively change their lives will lead to another Trump win I have no doubt.
Addressing an American or any other native of another country about their countries perceived issues gives me no pleasure. My affection for Americans led me to my comments, feel free to rebut and augment. Yours is a mighty big country with commensurate issues nowadays.
Regards, John

 

[ks.234]

I agree. I think Americans would be absolutely astounded at how liberating it is and would never, ever give it up. Which is why the vested interests (of which there are many) are fighting it so hard.

There appears to be a certain kind of Trumpish American who sees public health care as a bad thing because it’s “socialist”.

If our NHS had not been around for so long, I wonder if the same thinking would have traction over here?

 

[oldius]

There appears to be a certain kind of Trumpish American who sees public health care as a bad thing because it’s “socialist”.

If our NHS had not been around for so long, I wonder if the same thinking would have traction over here?

It has huge traction among the Conservative party and some of their voters.

 

[chartz]

There appears to be a certain kind of Trumpish American who sees public health care as a bad thing because it’s “socialist”.

Utterly stupid if that’s the case. Do they have brains? I live in France and I am so red that it’s burning.
Social security is a blessing.

 

[ks.234]

The fundamental point about health care provision in both the U.K. and the US is that both countries have the financial resources for vastly improved (UK) and free (US) health care systems.

Forcing the cost of health care onto private citizens or massive underfunding is down to a political choice driven by party ideology, and not down to financial constraints

 

[chartz]

Yes. Social progress has always been led by party ideology. The opposite to liberalism, which only creates more inequality. Isn’t it obvious?

 

[ks.234]

Utterly stupid if that’s the case. Do they have brains? I live in France and I am so red that it’s burning.
Social security is a blessing.

I saw one report in which a protester against Obama’s proposed health reforms described ObamaCare as ‘socialist’ and that the Nazi’s were socialists so Health care was a Nazi thing!

 

[ks.234]

Yes. Social progress has always been led by party ideology.

Unfortunately, the Greens are the only party in the UK that have social progress as an ideology

 

[oldius]

Yes. Social progress has always been led by party ideology. The opposite to liberalism, which only creates more inequality.

Is it progress to have healthcare only available to those who can afford it?

 

[chartz]

Is it progress to have healthcare only available to those who can afford it?

You don’t get it. I’m saying exactly the opposite.

 

[ks.234]

Yes. Social progress has always been led by party ideology. The opposite to liberalism, which only creates more inequality. Isn’t it obvious?

Thinking about it, I think social progress has been led by ground up movements rather than political parties. Think trade unionism, Chartists, Suffragette’s etc.

Political parties only adopt social progress when they have no other choice and only adopt it as a means to manage it with as little impact to their bottom line as possible.

Labour in the U.K. was a little different as it was the product of a coalition of those ground up movements, but sadly it’s history is one of morphing into the very thing it was set up to oppose

 

[chartz]

Very true. Strikes.
Remember what Margaret Thatcher did. She was so wrong about basically everything.
But she had to abandon the idea of destroying the NHS, fortunately.

 

[oldius]

You don’t get it. I’m saying exactly the opposite.

My fault for not reading your post fully. Naturally, social progress is when everyone can afford quality healthcare.

 

[Fatmarley]

Type into the YouTube search bar "why universal healthcare won't work" and you'll see lots of videos explaining why it won't work.
Of course it's a load of b***shit, but it's surprising how many Americans believe it. But not only Americans, I know there are plenty of British people who believe the UK healthcare system isn't working because "people are living longer" and "it needs to be privatised so it can be run more efficiently".
The source of the problem has got to be the right-wing media. Why else would people think this way?

 

[chartz]

I never cease to be amazed at how gullible and uneducated some of them are. The reason why Trumps and Johnsons are possible.

 

[Sue Pertwee-Tyr]

Thinking about it, I think social progress has been led by ground up movements rather than political parties. Think trade unionism, Chartists, Suffragette’s etc.

Political parties only adopt social progress when they have no other choice and only adopt it as a means to manage it with as little impact to their bottom line as possible.

Labour in the U.K. was a little different as it was the product of a coalition of those ground up movements, but sadly it’s history is one of morphing into the very thing it was set up to oppose

We’re seeing some growth in grassroots, challenger movements at the moment. Led by Donkeys, GLP, and others. And the Greens are starting to get noticed. A hopeful sign? Maybe a new coalition will form.

 

[chartz]

In France they seem unable to do so. Shame on them.
A godsend for the far right especially, because all the brainless idiots will vote for them unfortunately.