Health Care – England Versus France – A Patient’s Thoughts
I used to work in the National Health Service, albeit in the HR function and dealing with accountants rather than patients. I have also spent ten years in France being a recipient of their healthcare system. It could be easy to make misguided comparisons but nearly every British person living in France would say: ‘Why can’t the English be more like the French’ when talking about healthcare.
Take the town I was living near with a sizeable population of about 5,000 and just two doctors. There is one secretary who will book you in for an appointment either the same day or the day after. You wait in the waiting room and see the doctor, I should say eventually, and after your extensive consultation you pay him 22 €, of which you will get back 65% from the Social Security. You can get the whole lot back if you have a mutuelle, or top up health insurance. If you get some eventually terminal illness like cancer and the doctor may decide that you pay nothing related to that disease. On the other hand a mutuelle is essential for paying for medicines, where again, you pay the top 35% and only get that back if you have the insurance top up. I know that the French Health Budget is creaking somewhat like the English but it does seem fairer that the patient should pay a proportion. And, unlike the UK there is no advantage to being over 65 – you still pay your 35% – unless…
The Ambulance Service is completely different too as the paramedics are part of the fire service and their specially equipped vans will be called out at the same time as the fire engine. What one sees as an ambulance service are fleets of privately owned taxis that take patients to and from appointments. If you need to be lying down they usually have a vehicle or two that are so equipped. The drivers are trained in emergency first aid and are always punctual for appointments.
If your doctor decided you needed a blood test he gave you a prescription which you presented to the receptionist any morning from 8.30 am, queued up with the others and a district nurse or infirmiere would take your blood. It was always pleasing to note that blood test results were with you, the patient, and the doctor by the next morning and x-rays were handed to you after you had seen the attendant doctor, within 30 minutes of your x-ray. I carry with me still a stack of x-rays of my foot, my back and practically everything else.
What can I say about the top heavy English system with too many administrators providing information on every function that the government does not understand when it gets the figures. Front line staff must find it hard to treat patients for all the paperwork they have to fill in and there seems to be a lack of pride throughout the NHS. The patient gets the thick end of a poor deal. You are not treated as though it is your body and you often face long waits for treatment. I faced that myself in A & E when I had a problem with my foot. I was told to take my shoe and sock off and to wait in a cubicle on a stool. Getting a bit weary nearly an hour later I inadvertently leant back and set off an alarm. A nurse came in, turned off the alarm, said ‘don’t do that’ and walked out. An hour later I walked out too.
Tagged with: Administrators • Ambulance Service • england versus france • national health service