NHS is the world's best healthcare system, report says | Society | The Guardian

Fascinating article on the NHS. Ranks #1 in everything except survivability.

Page 8 pretty much sums it up. Where would you rather be diagnosed for prostate cancer, the US with a 99% 5 year survival rate or the UK with a 69% survival rate? http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/con...spc-027766.pdf

Glad you re OK.

always assuming you can afford the insurance of course, which a lot can't

your taking a rather simplistic and selective view there. You would need to consider other factors involved such as delayed presentation by patients etc. UK rates were around the median of other European countries, all of which lagged someway behind the states. Poor survivability is only partly related to standards of treatment. Early detection is the principal factor in survivability.

as the report goes on to say

The authors say that the healthcare system cannot be solely blamed for this issue, which is strongly influenced by social and economic factors.

It's not a perfect system, it has it's faults, and innevitably sometimes mistakes are made, but as a universal healthcare system free at the point of delivery, it is a world leader.

Having read this whole thread, I felt compelled to say something myself in support of above. Moggy's perfectly entitled to his opinion. He does not deserve to be attacked personally for his honest held beliefs...

I am becoming absolutely sick and tired of over-sensitive people who are oddly offended by FACTUAL words statements and mere honest held opinions and beliefs. Our hard won freedoms (in NZ as well as here in the UK) are under threat because of this kind of nonsense.

STICKS AND STONES........ What ever happened to that?

Actually I believe that the English (Anglo-Saxon) speaking countries of the world (UK,USA,Canada, Aussie, NZ etc) need to stick closely together in this violent world our failed political masters have created for us all. We should get out of the EU and return to the old British Commonwealth instead.

I personally have no problem whatsoever with a New Zealand Citizen using the NHS for free. Lets just consider their huge contribution in both world wars where their men came to the rescue of the mother country. Just look at what the Ausies and New Zeakanders did for us in Gallippoli.

That said, the NHS is heavily burdened by huge numbers of aliens who have no right to free NHS treatment. Apparently the majority of health tourists arrive from India, Pakistan and West Africa. It is these parasites who we need to stop NOT Anglo-Saxon New Zealander's who are in the main exactly the same as Brits and direct relations in many cases.

Of course I'm not suggesting for one moment that all citizens from these lands are parasites. Thought I'd better add that in case my words caused someone offence!!!!!!!!!!!

I know 3 people working in the NHS near Heathrow Airport and some of the stories I have been told infuriate me. Apparently there is a huge problem with pregnant NIGERIAN women turning up demanding free treatment. They get a taxi from the airport straight to the hospital. Most use the identity of a family member already living in the UK with the right of free treatment.

I wish the New Zealand guy (Deane) a speedy recovery and he's most welcome to use our NHS if he so desires (in my humble opinion)....

In any case the NHS is a dying service. I honestly doubt it will exist 15 years from now. Our masters know this and want us all to buy health insurance instead because it's less of a burden on the government. The UK is already bankrupt - It's paying it's bills by printing money and creating money by computer keyboard. Our public debt is heading for 1.6 Trillion pounds. That's a £30,000 debt for every man women and child living in the UK (think about that). Our politicians have been maxing out on the countries credit cards for nearly 30 years. We have ALL been living on CREDIT. Do the maths........ It's not just the UK either, the USA is also in exactly the same position as is most of the so called civilized world. Yes it's true we're all F*****!!!!!!

At the end of the day, I'm entitled to my opinion on this issue and others here are entitled to theirs. Lets all just Calm down............bier

In response to kentfallen

Just an aside - India, Pakistan and West Africa (well the countries you mean in West Africa)- all part of the Commonwealth -all contributed to the 2nd World War effort- maybe you would like to read this article for a start.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8201717.stm. All got exploited massively by the British Empire at some point in their history, with some pretty apalling atrocities along the way.

There are exploiters of systems at all levels - but it is usually the little people that get the bad press. Some of the biggest exploiters of systems are the multinationals and mega rich, but they have the power to manipulate the 'press', and it benefits them to set the poorer against each other- 'Divide and Conquer'

One can only hope that in time the human race evolves sufficently enough to forgoe its tribal nature and parochalism and realise that we are all inhabitants of a small piece of rock orbiting a minor star, and ultimately to ensure our survival as a species we will need to start working together, and not apart and against one another.

kentfallen, when I first read this thread I didn't really think about Deane's ethnicity. I thought the discussion was around his nationality.


There's a fair chance that he's white, coming from NZ and with a English sounding name. But maybe he isn't.


I don't know if you've visited NZ but there are quite a few Maori / black / Asian people living there. And I bet there's more than one Maori / black / Asian guy called Deane who rides a motorbike living there.


So assuming, just for this discussion, that Deane isn't a white guy, would you still be as welcoming for him to use the NHS for free?

I thought kentfallen raised a good point: if you are travelling without insurance, what responsibility do the taxpayers of your host country have towards your medical care?

I've read and seen many stories in the media of other Canadians getting injured while visiting the neighbouring USA, and being hit with extraordinary bills because they were travelling without medical coverage for the US. Being a bit paranoid I have very good travellers insurance that provides up to $5 million worth of coverage while travelling in other countries.

Really pleased that Deane is being treated.
Reading back on your original post, it sounded very urgent, almost life threatening. Glad it wasn't the case :)

I don't think that's what he's saying though.


He's saying that Deane should be able to access free medical treatment in the UK as a NZ citizen, based on the assumption that he's "anglo saxon."


Kentfallen seems to be saying that only citizens of countries where the majority of the population is black or brown shouldn't be able to access free medical treatment in the UK.

We call race baiters like you "xxxxxxx" in the US. Unsure what they call "people" like you in your country. Stop it.

and what do you call 'white supremacists'?

If you just want to call me names then go for it champ, but I'd be much more interested in hearing from you exactly how I've misrepresented kentfallen's comments.


Oh, and I used quotation marks as, surprisingly, I was quoting someone. As you don't seem to be quoting anyone on this thread I'm wondering what you're aiming for there?

I feel this thread has run it's course. Deano is seemingly now in good medical hands. An expletive has been removed (I must admit I thought it was quite a lame insult, but in US English it's apparently rather rude...)

Some of those that are left contributing are now hurling personal insults. The world is a better place without these, so I'm closing this thread.

Sorry about that.