I'm very sorry about your friend.
I understand better now, thanks. However, in clinical terms these patients were actually critically ill even if they didn't feel it. They may not have been exactly hooked up to life support but they will have been undergoing vital signs monitoring, regular blood tests, probably daily ECGs, daily evaluation by a doctor and would probably have had some kind of IV line that required nursing care and observation. They were legitimately kept in hospital, but yes, the waiting list issue is a big problem that the UK system also suffers from.
The problem is far less acute in France, but the reason for that is simple - higher funding into public hospitals. However that means electorally unpopular higher taxes. People in the UK consistently vote for tax cuts and that has knock-on consequences. One can't usually have cake and cream.
Thank you.
Nope...I was there. No IV lines, no EKG's and no daily blood tests (none that I saw or heard about) or any other tests and DEFINITELY NO daily doctor visits. That was the really frustrating part - they had to literally wait a day/days to see a doctor for 10 minutes - while in the hospital. The nurses said that the doctors were just too busy. Sure, if they had taken a turn for the worse, than a doctor would probably come by (I assume). But as long as they felt okay and their vitals were okay - they would not see a doctor for days - 24 hours absolute minimum....even if they asked to see one.
All these patients did was lie in bed, get fed, be given their pills at night and three times a day they had their blood oxygen, blood pressure and temperatures checked...all of which could have been easily done by them at home. It was ridiculous.
And again, this was in the province's top hospital - Health Sciences Centre in St. John's.
Canadian healthcare is designed for emergencies and GP visits. If you are REALLY sick - you get great, fast service. But if you are not in a life threatening situation - you are pushed back so that the truly sick ones can get emergency care. That is common knowledge in Canada.
If you need to see a GP or are near death - Canada is great and free.
But if you are somewhere in between - it can be hell. Free at least - but still hell - because you fall in between the cracks.
NEVER go an emergency room in a major urban area in Canada unless you have something truly serious - otherwise, you could literally be waiting for days to see a doctor. And I don't mean sniffles and colds. But if you have a simple broken bone/no complications/smallish bone, you could be waiting for over ten hours to see a doctor - I know people that have.
Sure, an RN will see you when you arrive. But if she deems it is not urgent, you could be waiting for days (certainly many, many hours) - in substantial pain - as the more urgent patients get looked at first.
My experience is that if you have to go to emergency in Canada but are non life-threatening...go around 4-6 a.m. when the emergencies are usually the most empty.
BTW - I should mention - drugs in hospitals are free. But drugs prescribed outside the hospital cost the full amount - unless you are on welfare.
