According to a recent article in medical journal, medical errors, if counted as disease or illness, would be the third highest killer in US, exceeded only by heart and cancer fatalities. Medical insurances come in all shape and size, to suit most pockets. Monthly premium ranging from just $50 to $1000 per person, not counting OAPs and those suffering from chronic disease, with vast and varied terms and conditions attached. But no insurance policy will cover long term illnesses like dementia, long term mental illnesses and similar conditions that would be immensely costly to cover. Only government funded NHS could handle such illnesses.
According to recent reports unfortunately our NHS is moving in the same direction, due to extreme bed shortages, ageing population and immigrants from war-torn countries putting extra pressure on NHS without funding rising in line with demand. OAPs are discharged without putting in place proper home care, ambulances carrying them in their homes on stretchers, thus many die due to lack care, unable to look after themselves, not even able to feed themselves. Introducing a nominal charge of £10 to see a GP and £50 for A & E visit may raise much needed funds and reduce pressure on these services, especially on GPs, as there is extreme shortage of GPs. Not newly qualified doctors want to become GPs and most GPs prefer to work as locums rather than become partners and take responsibility. I wonder how far we are from a breaking point, a collapse of medical service!
Kumudini Valambia
By email
