British Defend Their Healthcare System
In America's healthcare reform debate, there is no greater whipping boy than the National Health Service (NHS,) Britain's healthcare system. The NHS is being used as an example of the "failed Socialist" model of healthcare. FOX host Glenn Beck took some shots at the NHS, apparently forgetting his own nightmare journey when he received subpar care in an American hospital. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley told a radio station last week that "countries that have government-run health care" would not have given Senator Edward Kennedy, who suffers from a brain tumor, the same kind of care as in the U.S. because he is too old. And most impressively, FOX News's treasure, Neil Cavuto, even claimed universal healthcare is a terrorism recruitment tool. Seriously.
Conservative hosts and politicians alike must have been overcome with joy when they finally secured a Conservative British politician who was willing to bad mouth the NHS, which remains extraordinarily popular in Britain. Daniel Hannan previously sat as an Independent after having been expelled from the European People's Party. Hannan is most famous for opposing the European Union and praising Iceland's "economic miracle" prior to the country's titanic crash in 2008. It was probably that stellar resume that first caught the eye of FOX News, which couldn't secure the microphone to his lapel fast enough.
These kinds of attacks on the NHS aren't unusual or new, but what is unique is the British response this time to the mad attacks on their healthcare system. British citizens -- particularly tech savvy residents -- are fighting back on Twitter. The top trending topics after Hannan's FOX declarations included #welovetheNHS and #NHS. British Twitterers boasted 'I Heart NHS' avatars designed by Twibbon, a group that spreads awareness about causes by overlaying an image onto supporters' Twitter profile avatars. The Twibbon team says during our interview that the response to the 'I Heart NHS' design has been "magnificent." They add, "In the UK, people often talk about political apathy and show concern over disappointing voting turnouts. What everyone has shown over the last few days is a testament to the power of social networking, and Twitter in particular, not only to unite people in solidarity, but also to initiate global conversations at grassroots level."
Graham Linehan, the man behind the #welovetheNHS tag, tells me he was motivated by FOX's irresponsible coverage of the healthcare reform debate.
I think that the way that FOX News has been raising the temperature of the health care debate over there is one of the most reckless and cynical things I have ever seen. It's just mindblowing to me. It's also infruriating the way they change their coverage of the UK according to their needs. So when they wanted a partner to legitimise an illegal and ill-thought-out war, the UK was the best country in the world. Now that their needs are different, they attack the UK as 'Socialist'. It's breathtaking, how little shame they have.
What really inspired Linehan to do something was when Investor's Business Daily published an editorial claiming Steven Hawking "wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless." Of course, the claim is absurd as Hawking stated later, pointing out that he would not be alive today if it hadn't been for the NHS.
Where other British citizens saw gross lies, exaggerations, and frustrating half-truths, Linehan saw a "golden opportunity to kickstart a campaign to redress the balance a little bit." He linked to the Hawking article and the #welovetheNHS hashtag was born. "I thought it might pick up steam once people saw the ridiculousness of that story, but I had no idea how big it would become. Three days now, and we're still trending," says Linehan.
The online response to the We Love the NHS campaign is overwhelming. "NHS Saved my life as a 19 year old naive lad!" writes one Brit. "Saved my life, saved my wife's life, beat my brother-in-law's cancer and embodies a compassionate civilized ideal #welovetheNHS," writes one more. The movement now includes some of Britain's most powerful leaders, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who Tweeted "NHS often makes the difference between pain and comfort, despair and hope, life and death. Thanks for always being there #welovetheNHS."
British newspapers, politicians, and medics are rushing into the debate partly to defend the NHS and partly to gain some kind of political leverage. Labor hoped to embarrass David Cameron by challenging him to disown the Hannan comments, which he did. "Nobody should be in any doubt, for the Conservative Party, the NHS is the number one priority," said Cameron to Sky News.
The British newspaper, Daily Mirror, has started calling America "the land of the fee" because of the way patients are forced to pay for medical services. Senior figures in British healthcare are also frustrated at the portrayal of the NHS. Mike Hobday, of Macmillan Cancer Support, stated: "We are really furious at the way in which the NHS, which is the best healthcare system around, is being denigrated by a group of people who clearly don't have the first idea about how it works."
"The NHS does a damn fine job," says president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, Dr. Alan Maryon-Davis. "These claims are complete and utter rubbish...The horrific thing about the American system is that there are tens of millions of people without health insurance. We spend less on health in terms of GDP than America but if you look at health indices, especially for life expectancy, we have better figures than they do in America," he adds.
The nexus of the Internet makes the dissemination of disinformation difficult. Such interconnectedness means the lie of "dangerous Socialized medicine" cannot sustain itself when Brits of all ages and backgrounds shout to the rafters that they love the NHS, and are here to defend it.
Cross-posted from Allison Kilkenny's blog. Also available on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Allison Kilkenny on Twitter: www.twitter.com/allisonkilkenny
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Even though my brother received less than optimal care when he was in hospital for an emergency recently, and I have had friends who have had ill-treatment, I still defend the NHS. You just have to look at the comments on right-wing newspaper websites to see how - near-universally - it is the *principle* which British people support, that care should be 'free at the point of delivery'.
Hannan has been disavowed by his party and his country. Yes, the NHS is not perfect - I certainly know that. But the system you have is patently unfair and knowledge of this is reflected in how strongly British people have come to the NHS's defence.
very interesting post and very frustrating at the same time!
A few weeks ago there was a story about a pregnant Scottish woman who had H1N1 swine flu. Her lungs were shutting down and she was going to die. The NHS has a hospital in the N. of England with a special unit that removes the blood from a patient, oxygenises it, and re-infuses it, and can do so for weeks, if needed, allowing the lungs to heal. Only problem was, all five beds were occupied. So what did that uncaring socialized British medical system do? Well, they contacted the nearest hospital with the same service, which happened to be in Sweden, and arranged a Medevac flight to the Swedish hospital. Since All Western European countries have a reciprocity arrangement, the patient would pay nothing for treatment. The British NHS would probably pay for the Medevac.
Do you think the United States could ever have such an outstanding National Health Service? Yes, we could actually, and we could cover EVERYBODY for less money than we currently spend to cover 70% of us. Its called HR676, the single-payer bill currently in the House of representatives. The only reason we DON'T have such a medical system is because of the corrupt political system we DO have!
this is why we need a public option. so that those who want affordable healthcare that is not-for-profit, can have it. those who want to keep their current parasitic insurance company plan can.
there is only best thing for all - single payer. but in America, it's all about misinformation and money.
but if people don't want it, then so be it. I'm not going to force anyone to do what's in their own self interest. they're adults, let them choose for them and their families. I don't like the idea of their children having to needlessly suffer at the hands of insurance companies, but if that's what they want, then so be it.
pass a public option that is paid by individuals. it will still be significantly cheaper. no insurance company overhead of 30% to pay their execs and CEOs. no denial of coverage. no insurance rep overriding a doctor's decision. and no rescission.
I understand the insurance companies fears. a public option will actually provide health care, not health profit. they will actually have to be innovative and compete. no more government subsidies. no more corporate welfare/handouts.
to the insurance industry: suck it!, suck it long, and suck it hard.
Wow. Graham Linehan was already grand lad in my estimation (THE ANTS ARE BACK, TED!).
I am most impressed with his pro-NHS campaign and I'm pleased it's getting a large and enthusiastic response.
I guess I should't be surprised to see socially responsible action from a British humorist. I became aware of Amnesty International for the first time in the late 70's because of the benefit given by the blended Python/Beyond the Fringe cast.
Land of the fee and the home of the grave.
When they start to live in as large numbers as us (check the child birth mortality rates) or as long as us (life expectancy) then they might figure out that a national health system can actually be a boon.
Just so we are clear... there is no recruitment for terrorists through the Doctor, Hospital and Nurses in the Public Health Care system here in Canada. I use Public Health Care, same as for my family, my friends, my co-workers, my neighbours
The NHS is not low cost at GBP2,000 per head per year. This is the only "per head" cost I could find:
http://www
That makes it about $3,000 each. $250 per month average per person. I am not sure of the ration of people to taxpayers but at 3:1 that means $750 per month per tax payer.
Even so it looks like better value that the US system to me.
$250.00 per month is less than half of what Americans have to pay for insurance -- ask any employer what the average cost of their group plan is combined with the employees portion and it is well over $600.00 per month for medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage -- try buying the same coverage while not part of a group/employer plan and expect to pay about $750.00 per month with a high deductible
Every man, woman and child receives universal health care at something close to $200 a month in taxes, depending on income in the UK. This whole health care fiasco in the U.S. is so totally absurd, as to make me think we learned nothing from the Bush experience. The bigger the lies, the more the American public loves it. I've gotten something out of this, though, and it's a good thing for me. My tv has not tuned into network news for over a week, as I get my news from the Internet. I will never darken the door of Whole Foods, as a supporter of their boycott. I openly scoff at anyone daring to show respect for a member of Congress, other than a very select handful. And never again, will a member of the Party of Corporate Welfare, or a Democrat (other than that very select handful) get my vote.
I lived in England for 20 years, until 2002, and had some experience of the NHS. You don't have to worry about bills (or a portion of them), paid for through taxation, which is an emotional advantage when you are struggling with illness. NHS doctors and hospitals saw me safely through one. On the other hand you cannot choose your specialist. I chose my own cataract surgeon, because my situation required special expertise and long experience. I do not regret paying a hefty bill: I have had no problems since successful surgery on both eyes in 2002. A proportion of NHS doctors supplement their income through private practice.
I heard this morning that 13% of the British have private health insurance, some probably through their employer, though all are entitled to NHS treatment.
America "Land of the fee"!! So true. Thanks for a great post, giving us a balanced view of the vilified NHS. Our media are a disgrace. So thankful for HuffPo.
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