Comparing U.S. and other medical systems

[Killearn Kitties]

Well the situation in London, Ontario sounds horrific. All I can say is that it is a million miles away from the situation here.

[sparks19]

Well the situation in London, Ontario sounds horrific. All I can say is that it is a million miles away from the situation here.

yeah... the system pretty much sucks in London lol. it's actually not THAT bad in other places in Ontario and I don't know about other provinces but if there were a list I could find I would bet London would be at the bottom. and on top of that they CLOSED one of the hospitals there so that's one less hospital taking patients.

but my basic point was when you have a HUGE population I don't think there is much that can be done about the ER being full with people who probably dont' NEED to be there

[Killearn Kitties]

but my basic point was when you have a HUGE population I don't think there is much that can be done about the ER being full with people who probably dont' NEED to be there

Yes I know I don't post in the Dog House, but I still know that this doesn't accord with your political view ... but there is something that can be done about the ER being full of people who don't need to be there ... give them access to a family doctor!!!

[sparks19]

Yes I know I don't post in the Dog House, but I still know that this doesn't accord with your political view ... but there is something that can be done about the ER being full of people who don't need to be there ... give them access to a family doctor!!!

but if the family doctors aren't taking patients... what can you do? I mean here in the US they are because not everyone has one and with this population if it becomes "free" then they are going to become over run. there jsut aren't enough doctors for the demand and when everyone starts flocking to the doctors for every sniffle and sneeze and bruise they get full and overworked. this is what happened in London. People started going to the doctor for every little thing and they filled up... so they started walk in clinics... now because of the family doctor shortage the walk in clinics can be just as long a wait as the ER.

They can't work around the clock and can only handle so many patients. when the patient load gets to be too much they stop taking new ones. I know even some pediatricians here aren't taking new patients because they are filled.

and.. again... after hours if you need help where else can you go but to the ER.

[Killearn Kitties]

but if the family doctors aren't taking patients... what can you do? I mean here in the US they are because not everyone has one and with this population if it becomes "free" then they are going to become over run. there jsut aren't enough doctors for the demand and when everyone starts flocking to the doctors for every sniffle and sneeze and bruise they get full and overworked. this is what happened in London. People started going to the doctor for every little thing and they filled up... so they started walk in clinics... now because of the family doctor shortage the walk in clinics can be just as long a wait as the ER.

They can't work around the clock and can only handle so many patients. when the patient load gets to be too much they stop taking new ones. I know even some pediatricians here aren't taking new patients because they are filled.

and.. again... after hours if you need help where else can you go but to the ER.

Forgive me for being so thick, but I just don't get that. People here don't go to the doctor for every sniffle, sneeze and bruise, so why would they do that anywhere else?

Does the Canadian system really make no provision for out-of-hours consultation? The British system does.

[sparks19]

Forgive me for being so thick, but I just don't get that. People here don't go to the doctor for every sniffle, sneeze and bruise, so why would they do that anywhere else?

Does the Canadian system really make no provision for out-of-hours consultation? The British system does.

I don't know WHY they do that... but they do. I've seen people taking their kids to the walk in clinic because they were sick but the kid spent the entire time running around the office. I've also known people who have skipped out of work and then gone to the doctors to try to get a note SAYING they were sick when they weren't and to get a note you have to see the doctor.

Oh yeah.. it really does happen. People go in for everything and anything and then get mad when someone who is REALLY sick gets taken in before them.

no there is no after hours consultation. if you are sick or injured after doctors hours... you go to the hospital... especially if you don't have a family physician.

I remember the doctor I had for a while (she was the only one taking patients in ALL of london and there was a reason she had openings...because she was the worst doctor I have ever encountered) she was closed on Mondays, open tuesdays, half day wednesday, full day thrusday and closed on Friday, saturday Sunday. because she had SO few in office hours it could take two WEEKS to get in to see her. One time I was going to have my yearly woman exam done and apparently they are only allowed to do a certain amount of PAP's in a month (don't get that but that's what I was told) so I couldn't get an appt with her for THAT particular thing for THREE months. so yeah... no after hours visits at ALL

[Marigold2]

Does anyone who lives out of the US want to trade their healthcare system for ours??? ANYONE???