Comparing U.S. and other medical systems

[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???