National Health Service

We were given mixed reviews of the National Health Service (NHS) before we moved here. Some people told us to expect long queues and months of wait time for referrals to specialists.  Others told us to anticipate top rate medical care at little to no monetary cost, and to opt for all medical procedures while we are covered under NHS.  So far, we have experienced a little bit of both.  Our experience with the NHS began the first Wednesday we arrived and registered with the health system, and I made my first GP appointment for the following Monday.  I asked the receptionist how much the appointment would cost, and she gave me a look that said, “Did you just get off the boat?” but graciously responded with, “Um, it’s free of charge”.  That was a new experience!  The doctor with whom we met could not have been more pleasant.  We spoke with her about continuing in the fertility process, and handed over the small book that has been created as the result of the accumulation of my lab work and doctor notes.  She looked it over and noted that we had been doing due diligence.  However, she was also frank with us: if we wanted immediate fertility service, we would have to go to a private fertility doctor and fork over £500, or we could get put on a public queue and wait.  Our GP was very supportive and said that she understood the emotionality associated with this topic.  Therefore, she said that she would do all that she could to expedite the queue process since I have already had all of the initial lab work and treatment.  We found out a couple weeks later that although we will have a wait in queue, it will be relatively brief due to strings pulled by our doctor.  Our current opinion on the NHS seems positive.  Our experience has shown us that if one needs to see a GP for a procedural visit, an appointment is readily available; in order to see a non-emergency specialist, then one must pay with time, instead of with time and money.  For example, when we moved to Michigan and were trying to get into the fertility specialists at U of M, we had to wait around two months, and pay for the services.  Here, we are waiting roughly the same time period but without the pain to our wallet.  As we further venture into the world of nationalized medicine, I am sure that we will experience some speed bumps (sorry, “humps”) which may tarnish our view of the system.  But for now, we are enjoying the services provided by our NHS cards – yellow cards which remind us to “ensure that our GP, eye doctor or dentist participates in the NHS Trust” (otherwise the doctor would be a “private care” physician and we would pay out of pocket).  Participating in the UK method of caring for the health and well-being of its people is meeting our expectations thus far.  Our GP has been most helpful in helping us navigate through NHS bureaucracy as we find the rhythms and customs of another culture’s methods of healthcare.