(Emergency) Healthcare in the UK

Hi guys,

I'm headed to London this fall for some film school (for about a month), and am tempted to ask around about emergency healthcare in England and Scotland. Has anyone had experience with the system? It's pretty scary to pass out in the street pretty much anywhere, but I'm wondering if the way the Brits respond is different than the treatment you might receive in America. Thanks in advance for anything you might be able to pass along!

(I am also accepting pub/park/restaurant/shopping recommendations at this time. And any other advice you might feel appropriate!)

5 Comments

should be great

by winesap - 2008-10-14 07:10:41

Not exactly a UK emergency room experience but ... FYI. A few years ago (before my PM) I slipped and fell through a door in Portugal resulting in a severe wrist cut. They put me at the head of the line at the local emergency room and the bill was $3 which included dressings for multiple changes. A few days later I had it checked in Sweden (where I was living) for an $8 copay and the next week when it was time for removal of the stitches I was visiting Oxford University. I called a local clinic and they told to come right in. They removed the stitches, gave me medication and more dressing material. No waiting in line, very professional treatment and it was free. All of my encounters with health care in Europe has been similar. In my experience - at least as good as care in the USA and never questions about insurance with very reasonable fees.

UK Cardiac care

by markjbaker - 2008-10-15 03:10:06

I am Brit, living to the East of London. I have experienced UK Emergency services first hand. I had a Cardiac Arrest while driving. I was aided by two bystanders who gave CPR until a Paramedic arrived with a defibrillator. I was admitted to A&E (ER) and from there to ICU and from there to Cardiac Care Unit. After 3 weeks in CCU I had an ICD fitted and they let me go home. All in all, the care was good, testing was all with state of the art equipment. Some of the building is brand new and very shiny, other parts a bit old and tired. I was very lucky there were bystanders to help me, otherwise I would have died, the Paramedic arrived inside 8 minutes. To me the whole thing is free (though I pay a lot of tax!) I don't know if or how they charge Americans, but they will treat first and ask finance questions later, if necessary. I suggest you get specialist travel insurance for pacemaker wearers to ensure you don't have any big bills if you have a major problem. In the UK we used Medtronic, St Jude and Guidant Pacers and ICDs, so it is highly likely that any UK Cardiac unit will have a programmer that can talk to your device.
Not every hospital has A&E and Cardiac specialism, so if you are taken to an A&E by ambulance, you might need to be transferred to a Cardiac centre later if you have a more severe problem. I'm lucky my local hospital has A&E and is the regional Cardio Thoracic Centre.

As well as finding some restaurants etc, it may be sensible to find out where the Cardiac units are in case you want to walk into one for help.

As far as eating is concerned, the UK has every type of cuisine from around the world., especially Chinese and Indian Like the US, big chains are growing, like Friday's and Chili's but there are family run places too, especially pubs,some of which are actually fine restaurants too.

I hope you enjoy your visit.

Thanks!

by Broken Hearted Jane - 2008-10-15 04:10:23

Thanks very much, winesap, Denis, and markjbaker! Your comments have put me at ease more than you can imagine. This is exactly what I was looking to hear. I am now fully prepared to have tons of fun in London like a normal student/tourist!

Thanks again. I'm really really excited!

Healthcare in UK

by Caesium - 2008-10-15 04:10:33

As a Brit, can only state our Health Service is "second to none" as they say. If you should "pass out", someone will call an ambulance or the Shop first-aider (every shop/office/firm must have a fully trained person) will attend. Treatment at an A & E (=Accident & Emergency) hospital, may need a wait, but they WILL treat you and ask any questions afterward. Might be well advised to have some travel insurance as a precaution for anything serious. Can't advise on restaurants except we do have MacDonalds/Starbucks etc. Also restaurants in Departmental Stores, eg. Selfridges/Harrods are usually reasonably priced and good value.
Happy travelling & good learning.

Denis S

'Normal'

by Hot Heart - 2008-11-11 08:11:03

Hi Jane, now come on here, is there any such thing as 'normal'? lol.

You'll be fine over here, we have plenty of walk in medical centres if you are a bit unsure about anything, a system called nhs direct where you dial up a number and they give you advice. Any general practitioner will see you as a visitor, and all of this is backed up by our emergency services who offer road, motorbike and helicopter medical services, with paramedics on hand.

Just make sure that you have id on you that shows that you have a pm fitted and you should be fine.

Loads of people in the uk are also trained in cpr now through their jobs and most big shopping centres have defibulators (dont think thats spelled right).

You may have a wait in A&E but not if you are an emergency, 2 weeks ago i was seen instantly and given a pm next morning.

Enjoy x

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