We’ve been infectious as a family for over a week now and I’ve had ample opportunities to compare the healthcare systems here to the NHS in the UK. Here are some of the main differences.
1. Making an appointment.
In the UK
You phone up and wind up with an appointment so far in the future you’ll either have recovered or be dead.
In Thailand
You don’t need to call and make an appointment. No one keeps to appointment schedules anyway. Appointment or not you’ll be sitting there for half an hour so you might as well just show up.
2. Needing a scan/surgery/further treatment.
In the UK
You’ve been seen by a medical professional multiple times. They’ve tried fobbing you off with an exercise sheet and a prescription. With a heavy sigh they add you to the wait list which is usually 6 months or longer.
In Thailand
The doctor has barely looked at you before you booted off to the MRI machine. By the time you’ve redressed and walked back to his room he has your results and is gleefully sharpening up his scalpels. You’ve barely had time to digest your prognosis and google your condition and he’s booking you in for surgery than weekend.
3. Diagnosis and Treatment.
In the UK
A raised eyebrow and a hint of judgement suggests that you shouldn’t have bothered wasting his time. Even if you felt like you were knocking at death’s door. Pull yourself together. Stiff upper lip and all that.
In Thailand
Never mind that you don’t have half of the symptoms he is medicating you for. Nor the fact that you have plenty of (much cheaper) Tylenol at home. Doctors are trigger happy with their prescription pads and the hospitals are more than pleased to make some profit on unnecessary drugs.
4. The End
In the UK
You skip merrily off into the sunset with nothing more than a goodbye and possibly a follow-up appointment.
In Thailand
You’re directed to a cashier’s desk where someone hands you a bill which makes your eyes bulge out. You hand them your insurance card with your fingers crossed, praying your insurance covers it.
This was funny. I like the NHS. I have never had a problem with them. They are usually very quick, friendly and efficient. I’m used of the type of service you are mention about Thailand as I’m peruvian and the system is similar. Huge bills and lots of medicines but to be honest I like to have all the medicines possible if they will help me LOL For how long have you been in Thailand? Xx #bigfatlinky
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Yeah, I think the difference is we Brits with our stiff upper lip don’t believe all those medicines are helpful or necessary because we’re not used to being given so many. This is my fourth year now.
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I am sorry to hear you have been ill, hope you are all better now!
I found the whole healthcare treatment so different in Denmark than the UK – I went to the dentist in Denmark and it was crazy! I felt like I was on the Star ship Enterprise it felt that futuristic!! I hate waiting 5 years for an appointment in the UK though =(
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It’s the never ending cold apparently but we’re on the mend, thank you. It’s a different kettle of fish when you go private, I guess. I’d like to know how much money goes into the NHS compared with the private hospitals abroad.
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I’m sorry you’ve all been ill but I did find this funny. Sorry. I find all your posts amusing. I was all up for moving to Thailand until I read the bit about the large bill 🙂
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Thank you. Haha, yes, that seemed to be a common response x
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Oh this is Dubai love the quick appointments I hate the extra drugs! #momsterslink
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I wonder if the private hospitals in the UK are as bad.
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I was considering relocating until you mentioned the over-medication and the cost. Bs wings and roundabouts!
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True. You definitely pay the cost for convenience.
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I live in Viet Nam and the doctors prescribe too many antibiotics – drug resistance is a public health disaster.
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It’s scary. We almost never take them.
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My friend walked into a pharmacy to get some pain relief for a sinus infection – he was given Diazepam! That is the generic name for Valium, which is used to treat anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, or muscle spasms. Good thing I read the packet before he took them.
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Good grief! Yes, pharmacists give all kinds of stuff over the counter here too. Zero regulations.
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Ha, I thought the quick appointment turn around was great, but then the cost isn’t so great I guess! The NHS definitely has some things right! 🙂 x
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For sure. And imagine if the NHS ran completely smoothly. Us Brits wouldn’t have anything to complain about except the weather.
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Haha loved the comparison here!! It sounds fab! I have a mix of either good experiences with drs or bad. Never even a consistent good or bad to say lol. Must be lovely though to be dealt with so efficiently. Thanks for linking up with us on the #bigfatlinky hope to see you there next week
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Efficiency is nice but you definitely feel like when you take your perfectly working car for an MOT and suddenly there are all these expensive things wrong with it :-). Thanks for hosting!
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Lol. My parents live in France and we always joke that when they go for a blood test they come out with a carrier bag full of stuff/. When my brother had his wisdom teeth out he needed a suitcase to bring home all the drugs! #bigfatlinky
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Sounds like Thailand. As a Brit is really stresses me out that they give antibiotics for colds.
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hmm… I have never had an issue getting a same day appointment in the UK, and the recent scan on my shoulder to 3 weeks to come through. I’ve never understood how other people have so much trouble getting to see a doctor in the UK??
Great fun post though 🙂
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Wow, that’s really good going. Are you some kind of VIP? Three weeks is still forever by Thai standards though. My MRI results we’re in the doctors hands by the time I’d made my way back to his room.
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This made me grin! Me and my wife married and honeymooned in Thailand and both got a 24 hour bug at different times. It felt like I was going to die and I panicked over a language barrier but they were so so good. In contrast, I called the dentist for an emergency appointment after a filling THEY had put it fell out 2 days later. So THEIR error and a situation I wouldnt be in if it wasnt for them. My ’emergency’ appointment was schedule for 4 weeks later!
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Wow, it’s an interesting definition of emergency that can wait four weeks!
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The U.S. is somewhere in between the two lol. And the insurance costs a lot and covers very little. I hope you are all feeling better. I hate being sick …it just doesn’t fit into my schedule. Thanks for linking up with me again at #momsterslink.
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Thank you, we’re all slowly on the mend. No, it really doesn’t fit any schedules, especially when you’re a mum and can’t just disappear into bed for a few days.
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Oh man as I’m the worst hypochondriac ever I’m not sure this is good or bad! I’d be Dr Googling, getting seen and been given all these drugs!! haha. It’s a blessing when you have a baby though, as no worries about getting an appointment! xx #bigfatlinky
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Oh yes, I wouldn’t like to be sat at home panicking with a sick baby.
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The uk & Australia sound similar. What’s worse when your feeling like death and they say keep your fluids up & take some panadol …. you want to scream PANADOL where did you get your medical degree, panadol isn’t going to cut it!
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Haha, yes. That’s the UK too 🙂
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Interesting post. It’s always a scary feeling when you have to go to the doctor and you’re out of country. We had to take our little one in when in the USA last year and it was the same finger’s crossed feeling handing over our insurance. #bigfatlinky
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Terrifying. Especially when you’ve seen how much the bills are first.
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Just to be clear – you can get an appointment next Tuesday at your doctors?? Next Tuesday? Like an appointment the same year you called? What witchcraft is this?? (my last attempt to see doctor resulted in being booked for a TELEPHONE appointment 3 & 1/2 weeks later in order to determine when they would book me an actual appointment!) Interesting to hear about Thailand. #bigfatlinky
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Jeez, that’s really bad! Yeah, I used to live in a teeny village in the middle of nowhere so there wasn’t too much competition for appointments, I guess.
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The NHS do somethings really well and others they are desperately inefficient waisting everyones time. Very interesting to hear about Thailand. I assume it is only for those with money. #momsterlink
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Yes, money or insurance. There is a cheaper alternative but I’ve never sampled it.
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Great post. The differences are interesting. I’m not actually sure which one I would prefer, especially once I think about the last point.
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If I have good, work provided insurance I’d take Thailand any day.
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Ahh the NHS. love it and loathe it. Hope you are better.
Thanks for linking up to #FridayFrolics
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Thanks, finally getting there 🙂
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I was just thinking how fab the medical system in Thailand sounded – and then I reached the end of the post! I guess it stands to reason the service etc will be better if you are paying for it, but of course there’s the downside of all the drugs, tests etc you don’t actually need! #momsterslink
Debbie
http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com
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Exactly. Thankfully my work provide myself and the Baby with pretty good insurance. Oddly enough the total often falls just below the insurance limit…
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I was almost considering moving to Thailand until I got to the very end! You’ve got the part about making an appointment spot on – last time I made an appointment there was a three week wait! x
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Good grief! Had you recovered by then?
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I love your Doctor drawings. They are very doctory :). #FridayFrolics
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Haha, thanks. My drawing skills are pushed to their limits when I try to involve new characters.
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Hilarious!! The drawings just made it better! Great work!
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Thank you 🙂
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Ha ha you’ve definitely summed the NHS up there – so funny! Mim x
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Happy to spread a smile 🙂 x
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