Whenever I come “home” to the states, I always try to squeeze in a few different doctor visits. I see the dentist, I see my Gynecologist, and I always try to take my kids to the pediatrician for a check-up and vaccinations. (I dread taking my perfectly healthy kids to the GP in London, only to be surrounded by sick people in a tiny waiting room).
The other day, while I was sitting in the waiting room at the Gynecologist, I saw a sign on the wall that read, “If you are sick (or think you might be sick) please notify staff, and we will give you a mask to wear.”
America might have a slight case of germaphobia, but in this circumstance, I’m quite happy for it.
Because medicine in the UK is socialized, it means that any time you have reason to see a doctor, you go to your GP. If you are pregnant, if you have a mole you want checked out, if you need a pap smear, if you need vaccinations for your children, if you pull a muscle (etc. etc.), you go to the GP (the same place you go if you are sick, if you have a terrible cold, or if you have a stomach flu).
Socialized medicine is a privilege, providing universal medicine to everyone. There are loads of benefits to this system, but also a few downsides. I know I haven’t been to every GP’s office in London, but the ones that I have seen are usually run-down, and filled with people coughing all over me. The GP is not the place you really want to go if you are perfectly healthy (and want to stay that way).
Here in the states, if you have a skin problem you see the dermatologist. If you’re pregnant, you see your gynecologist. If your child needs a check-up, you take him to the pediatrician. These doctors are experts in their specific field, and you can see them without worrying about germs in the waiting room, (but apparently they have masks to prevent the spread of germs even if someone is sick)!
Pediatricians aren’t commonplace in the UK (unless you pay for it privately). Kids just go to the GP when they’re sick, or when there is a problem. The concept of preventative medicine is relatively unknown in the UK. Here in the states, people take their kids to the pediatrician simply for routine check-ups where kids get weighed, measured, and completely checked over. Here, they are concerned with charts and norms, vaccinations and germs, and how to prevent problems in the future.
I always thought Americans were overly paranoid. But I have to say that it feels good to have a pediatrician do a complete check-up and tell you your child is perfectly healthy (and that biting his brother is totally normal)! :-)
-Courtney
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Italy might be in the middle between the two systems. We have an NHS with loads of problems, but that provides medical assistance to everybody. Still every child is assigned a paediatrician, a GP for kids!!!
So when kids are sick or have a problem they go to see somebody who is specialised in dealing with kids and their diseases.
To see a specialist you need a referral from the GP as in the UK…. but it’s so much easier to get one. I remember in London, after my then 3 1/2 month baby had green diarrhea for two weeks it was still hard to get a referral to see a paediatrician!
Needless to say… if you can pay you can see any doctor anywhere!
In the Netherlands everybody is obliged to have a basic insurance that takes care of all general medical help, medications, hospital stays and specialist care. For children up to 18 years old dental care is included as well. For all extras (fysiotherapy, alternative medicine, dentistry) you have to buy additional insurances. The basic insurance + an avarage additional one costs something like 100 euro/month (children are free). Expensive, I think!But, unlike the GP’s offices in the UK, in Holland everything looks like new, is cozy and super clean. There are toys for the kids, gossip magazines for the parents and people are kind and actually pick up the phone. If people are really ill, they don’t come to the GP’s office but a house visit is aranged.
To see a specialist however, Holland is more like the UK. You do need to see a GP before you can get specialist care – and a pediatrician is considered a specialist!
But are you not comparing a completely free medical system in the UK to a private system in the US? Wouldn’t a fairer comparison be to compare a private insurance in the UK (say BUPA) to the health care you are receiving through your private insurance in US? I am not an expert in health care, so I might be completely wrong, but as far as I understand one of the main campaign points of the democratic party in the presidential election is to introduce a social health care system similar to the one in the UK.
I completely agree, the NHS is mismanaged and has a lot of problems which seem to be getting bigger every year, but we did all give birth in NHS hospitals without paying a penny and the kids are all healthy.