Visiting the UK. Health Coverage ?

[LordSplodge]

No we haven't but evolution has ... let's say we have the following 3:

If someone pitches up all covered in blood and says "I am bleeding" then you can assume three things straight away 1) Their airway is patent 2) They are breathing 3) They are reasonably alert. This one can wait.

If someone else pitches up at the exact same time wheezing and struggling to say "I'm asthmatic" then you can assume 1) Their airway is still patent 2) They are still breathing 3) Both of these are under immediate threat. This one needs to be seen very quickly.

If someone else pitches up at the exact time with a kid in their arms saying the kid was just choking after having a sweet you assume ... actually you get stuck in their straight away as the indicator is their airway is at threat and they are about to die on you. This one is the priority.
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Exactly. I've turned up at A&E in various states of an asthma attack from conscious and talking to semi-concious and sure as hell not talking. All the time I've been correctly identified at risk and treated, however once stabilised I'm often bumped down the priority list, or in cases where higher priority cases come in I'm given the minimum treatment to stop me from dropping dead from respiratory failure whilst the other patient or patients are dealt with.

I've had people openly say "Why has that guy gone straight through" in earshot when I've been brought in. Sometimes I don't look that bad (apart from walking slowly, needing help) but minutes later without treatment I could be in resus not breathing (been there, done that)

So in forty years of me being a visitor to A&E I can say they've done a very good job of correct triage. I've had to wait around but I know why and my life threatening symptoms have always been dealt with quickly at lots of hospitals.

I've also had forty years on non-emergency treatment with the NHS and it has nearly always been excellent. The NHS copes brilliantly given the pressure it is put under, sure mistakes are made but that's a given because the organisation is massive.

If the government privatises or even semi-privatises the NHS then people like me are going to suffer.

 

[Castiel]

That much is quite clear because you haven't been discussing anything with me all along and have been ranting and challenging something I or no-one else in this thread have said. When asked to demonstrate where I stated these things that you claim I have you have failed every single time.

I asked you a direct question. You have demonstrated a complete lack of integrity in avoiding it.