The British government apologised Wednesday after a damning official report into a hospital likened by one patient’s relative to “a Third World” health centre. Stafford Hospital in central England was found to have appalling standards of care, putting patients at risk and leading to some dying, according to a report on Tuesday. Between 400 and 1,200 more people died than would have been expected in a three-year period at the National Health Service (NHS) hospital, according to an investigation by the Healthcare Commission watchdog.
Receptionists with no medical training were left to to assess patients arriving at the hospital’s accident and emergency department, the report found. Julie Bailey, whose 86-year-old mother Bella died in the hospital in November 2007, said she and other family members slept in a chair at her bedside for eight weeks because they were so concerned about poor care. “What we saw in those eight weeks will haunt us for the rest of our lives,” said the 47-year-old. “We saw patients drinking out of flower vases they were so thirsty.
“There were patients wandering around the hospital and patients fighting. It was continuous through the night. Patients were screaming out in pain because you just could not get pain relief. “It was like a Third World country hospital. It was an absolute disgrace.”
I had a friend once who was admitted to a Caribbean hospital which will go unnamed. When the hospital ran out of hot water, and he required a hot water pack, they just filled it up with coffee. Problem solved!
#1 What access? The US system makes rational healthcare contingent on economic class.
Ever heard of a social contract? You want natural law?
Read more, stupid.
As a younger person of limited means, working for his living, I know this: One trip to the ER would ruin me.
My fault? Possibly. Our fault? Certainly.
We are always in bondage to some sovereign. We can’t even chose whom.
Ahh, some of you Americans never fail to take one bad example from a country with universal healthcare and blow it all out of proportion, saying “See? Universal healthcare doesn’t work! This just proves it!”
Are there problems with universal healthcare? Absolutely. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t work, or that the American way is better. I’m Canadian and I’ve never, ever known anyone to go broke due to a medical procedure, or fail to get the attention they needed it when they needed it.
#8 (Angel)
Are you claiming that 3rd world prisons are humane?
Then again, anyone who defends socialism as envisioned by the liberal democrats in America does not have the ability to feel shame. The kind of “socialism” as envisioned by the liberal democrats has nothing to do with the basic precepts of true socialism.
#22 Skippy;
In the United States, people die every day because their HMO decided not to cover their disease, not to pay for a procedure they cannot afford, or won’t pay for medication that can keep them alive
Looks like q potted plant to me
What Americans are yet to comprehend is what we Canadians put up with – but yet have an escape valve of need be of “going South”
The role of Canada’s health care system is to provide union jobs
The only thing that grows is not the level of care but of the bureaucracy , which is a giant self serving cancer, who spend all day making graphs and charts on how wonderful health care is in Canada – regardless of reality or service levels
More than 30 % of Canadians have absolutely given up of finding a G.P.
The role of the doctor is to be the front not to provide care , or even parcel out care – but to deny care and tests
There was a case in Manitoba where a poor paraplegic who while waiting for a routine catheter unplugging, waited over 30 hours in the emergency ward of the major hospital and then died
At the inquest the head people of the bureaucracy were found to be repeatedly lying – vs the actual proof and video tapes
The only answer was that the death or events were “irrelevant”
From their twisted self serving perspective it is “irrelevant”
All that matters are their graphs and charts devoid of any reality to anyone else
#25 – I have no experience with the Canadian system but what you say about the bureaucracy sounds very similar to the British system. I lived there (Scotland) for a number of years and the Stafford story sounds like a rerun of numerous such stories I read about in the papers. Seemed like every six months or so there would be a major scandal of poor health care. Many doctors and most dentists were pulling out of the system so they could earn some money and not be told how to practice. Another oddity, National Health services were not uniform across the system. One hospital would approve a service while another would deny it! And, speaking of bureaucracy: The NHS (last I heard) was the largest employer in Europe! Just imagine the bureaucrats.
#22 – “I’ve never, ever known anyone to … fail to get the attention they needed it when they needed it.” Then you haven’t been paying attention, Skippy. The Canadian press is full of stories of delayed or rationed health care. And the Canadian system is among the better examples of socialized medicine. You know, the practice of medicine is not like on the TV show ‘House’ where a patient might get three or four MRI scans in a day. But it shouldn’t be where you have to wait a week or a month to get one, either. And that is an all too common situation in Canada.
I am not against changing our system of health care in the US of good ole A. I just don’t think the new system should be modeled on one that is proven to be broken. And don’t ask me how I would fix it ’cause I don’t know how. I do know (or at least believe) it needs to start with tort reform. The last time I practiced medicine in the States, I paid my insurance company more than I paid my entire staff (ok, it was a small office – only four staff) and my attorney more than my head nurse. And, dammit, that’s just wrong!
#8 You talking about European socialism or Latin American “socialism”?
#11 Sharia care. Good one.
#14 Because in Latin America, there’s a trend where they don’t like it if private persons get rich but do not care if crooked politicians get rich. They will gladly not only give them their money to said politicians, but bend over so those politicians can kick them, as long as no private person has money.
There’s a caveat. If said private person is an honest working person, with no government conections, it should be taken as an example of the evils of capitalism. If said private person is a sleazeball with lotsa government connections, that’s cool (as long as el comandante says so).
#16 Did you read what you wrote? If the government was able to do all those things you mentioned, without real approval from tax payers, you want us to take that as an OK excuse for those same politicians to run health care?
#20 That’s your tax payments in action. The government is just doing population control.
#26 A month for an MRI? That’s the norm in Canada. It can go up to 3 months.
I gues in the end, the only choice we have is who screws us, a private entity or a government over and over.
Yes, the Canadian’s will tell you government run health care sucks too!
Pedro – I don’t know you but when you say : “I guess in the end, the only choice we have is who screws us, a private entity or a government …” I fear you are very, very right.
29,
Probably. but, with the government, you can vote them out or become the government yourself. Corps will just pack up and leave. A la Haliburton.
# 19 Named said, “You don’t have an implementation of social health care to use as a framework. ”
You are dense. There are many countries that have gone that route to examine. Cut down on the meds.
31,
How about France? Did you examine that one? No. Why would you try to disprove your own opinions?
Why don’t you inventory the larder again before the board of directors goes shopping for groceries?
Or, do you have “staff” for that?
#23, nono,
#8 (Angel)
Are you claiming that 3rd world prisons are humane?
Are you insinuating American prisons are humane?
#21, Health Care,
Your scenario happens multiple times every day here in the US. People in rural areas are finding it increasingly more and more difficult to find a physician. The specialists in rural areas (and not all) are often times those who have failed in urban areas. Although trained and “board certified”, they make more errors and care less for their patients. General Practitioners are a dieing class of physician, accounting for less than half of all Medical School graduates.
Your anecdotal story of the cathter patient has equivalently happened too many times here to count. Uninsured patients will only have life threatening care. Then they are sent home with a prescription they can’t afford to fill or orders for follow up they can’t afford. Babies born sick because the mother couldn’t afford health care during her pregnancy. A work injury that has to wait until the contracted physician finishes his golf game to assess the patient.
In my opinion, it is better to have a few mistakes happen in the light of day than a lot hidden by corporate veils of secrecy.
Gee, guys, react much? Try putting away your hot buttons for an hour or two–if you can. How about a little partisan rehab? You could room with your favorite media panderers. Maybe your health insurance will pay for it!
In the mean time, try to remember:
Arguing on the internet is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you’re still retarded.
# 32 Named said, “How about France? Did you examine that one? No. Why would you try to disprove your own opinions? ”
Once again, you are a moron. I’ve lived in France. I wouldn’t trade my personal insurance in the US for France’s system, ever.
#26- you say, “I have no experience with the Canadian system”, then go on to say “Then you haven’t been paying attention, Skippy. The Canadian press is full of stories of delayed or rationed health care.”
Thank you for proving my point.
If it’s in the press, then IT MUST BE TRUE! I’m basing my perspective on over 40 years in dealing with the Canadian healthcare system, you’re basing yours on the press. And my point is that people point to the press and say, “SEE! IT DOESN’T WORK! Socialized medicine is EVIL!”
#26, Nimby,
it shouldn’t be where you have to wait a week or a month to get one, either. And that is an all too common situation in Canada.
Is it?
Currently my dentist has me scheduled for some reconstruction work. He expects to do it over several months, a bit at a time.
“Well can’t you do it all at one time” I asked? Well, yes, but I only do it in blocks”.
So, each time I visit him I end up paying an extra fee just to sit in the waiting room.
As for Canadian medical treatment, NO ONE is ever turned away. EVERY ONE is given good care and treatment. Canadian newspapers are NOT filled with headlines talking about waiting lines and people not getting treatment.
#9, the reason people have to buy insurance for health care and not pay for it themselves, is because the prices don’t work like auto insurance.
For auto, if you don’t have insurance, you pay $4000. If you have insurance, you pay $500 and the insurance company pays $4500
For health care, if you don’t have insurance you pay $5000. If you have insurance, you pay $20 and the insurance company pays $1800.
>because of Ronald Reagan’s record back in the 50’s.
What record is that? The soundtrack for Bedtime for Bonzo? I remember he was in a hospital in King’s Row, or maybe you mean Knute Rockne?