CF Care in the U.K.

[Guest guest]

Hi: I am NOT an expert on the British health care system. However, I

lived in the U.K. while my wife and I were on sabbatical at the Univ. of

London. We visit there every couple of years or so. I am an umpire

(reader and evaluator) for the Cochrane Library out of Liverpool, U.K.

which is the largest library of journals and other professional

information pertaining to Cystic Fibrosis. More to the point: We still

have our national health cards which indicate that anyone who is

admitted to the U.K. for a year or more as a resident comes under their

health care system. That has been the general rule, but rules can be

changed as we all know here in the States. The suggestion that you check

with the British Embassy is a good one or if you live where there is a

counsel legation, give them a call. Short term visitors can get care,

but must pay for it (some American insurance companies will pay for it).

Their health care system began to deteriorate during the Thatcher years,

as her administration closed regional and local hospitals. Blair has

improved the system somewhat, but rural areas have never caught up. If

you are going to stay in London, the CF care is excellent, and I would

personally say equal if not better than most large cities here in the

States. Other larger U.K. cities also have excellent CF care facilities.

They do a lot of research on CF and other children's diseases in

Britain. Many of the antibiotics we have here were first developed

there. I saw both national health doctors and a private pulmonary

specialist, and unfortunately, got an inside view of their hospital

system, having had a severe hemoptysis while living there. My care was

excellent. A British cousin of mine just retired from being a physician

with the national health system in Northampton. He doesn't always agree

with me how great their system is. Our medical bills were covered as

well as my medications (not my private M.D.). Antibiotics and other

medications can be bought in the chemists (pharmacy) by anyone with a

prescription for a fraction of what they cost in the States. Dental care

is not as modern as in the States, but adequate. Our dentist was Doctor

Payne. We thought he was good. You will hear horror stories about Brits

dying waiting for open heart surgery, etc. You will also hear that

antibiotics purchased from Canada could be poisonous. Guess who spreads

that stuff around? You can wait for elective surgery in Britain. You

can die here if you don't have health insurance and/or access to an

emergency room. If you have other questions, just e mail me and I'll try

to help. I have tried to become an expert on single malt scotch, but I

still have a lot to learn! Hal