Honest, unbiased review of British healthcare system

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I have to use the NHS a lot... it isn't in terrible shape at all. Over the past 6 years things have improved a lot from what I've seen myself (and that's a lot). It's got some problems because of some bizarre/deranged policies towards it by the Thatcher and Major governments (the bed problems were caused by an insane decision to get rid of IIRC half of them to "save money"...)

It's not on the point on financial collapse or whatever... U.K health spending as a % of GDP is less than most other western countries and the NHS provides a better service for working class people and people with chronic illness (the two have a tendency to go together) than most countries.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Just because it functions doesn't mean it's in good shape. It could be much better.

True, but it's not on the point of collapse. A lot of damage got inflicted in the '80's and '90's and it'll take a while to recover.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

*sighs*... the NHS is not, repeat not in a bad shape. I have to use it a lot so trust me on this, alright?

The U.S healthcare system is excellent if you are rich and good if you're well off (like most internet users). It fails the poor (yes I am well aware that people with no insurance can get free healthcare, but I am also well aware that hospitals that do that spend outragous amounts of money on lawyers, debt collecters and so on to track down people with even a bit of money in the bank or dodgy insurance that they didn't mention etc. That's inhuman).
It's not as bad as it's often described over here, but if you think it offers a better service to working class folks than the NHS, you are kidding youreselves.

What the NHS needs is more investment to fix the problems (some of them very serious) caused by 18 years of neglect and outright vandalism (1979-1997). It is not falling apart and should not be compared to healthcare systems in most other European countries.
I understand that a lot of you don't like it because it really is Socialist, but can we keep ideology out of a debate like this?
Can we keep nationalism out of the debate as well please?