When Americans visit the UK and use the NHS, thus taking advantage of our benevolent nature, they do so for a very nominal fee, if any. When a Brit visits the USA (or decides to stay on a visa) and decides that a visit 'to the doctors' is in order, what you get first is use of the Yellow Pages and then told to cough up tons of cash, up front for a consultation and then told to get lost if you can't pay. Not being able to afford it is almost certain. No exceptions to this rule. Therefore insurance is a necessity for Brits but not for Americans visiting the UK. Really, Americans usurping our medical establishments should be greeted by the same request. This has been put to the test and our 'treatment' har har, ****** me off.
Additionally, for Americans, they can use their US driving licences and drive as much and for as long as they like in the UK. They can for years, if they wish. Not the same for us and supposed 'international driving licences' aren't the case. Why?
Also, the photographing and fingerprinting of Brits after having stood in long ques for yonks at US airports should be made the case for them when making their jolly ways to see the land of their fathers or whatever dream illusion they are here for.
It's just that for some reason, Americans propagand this falsity of their country being exemplary....Give me a break! Compared to the UK, the lot of the average American is laughably inferior. This propaganda ****** me off too.

Not only just Americans should be treated with the same attitude what bothers me more are illegal immigrants and NHS tourists expecting a free ride on the system.... and also the do gooders saying its our duty to provide care. With an already stretched to the limit NHS, I cant see how this can go on.

Wow, interesting Callassa! Are you ****** off with Americans in general because of some personal experience or what? Something has obviously riled you up. There are many, many more immigrants in the UK other than Americans. You say they pay a nominal fee for medical treatment? At least they are paying something and not getting it for free like many other immigrant spongers in the country. Maybe you should be mad at the NHS for not charging enough? Shouldn't you be mad at UK airports for not having a better security screening system? Shouldn't you be mad at ALL people that abuse the system in the UK. There's plenty of other foreigners around to bash up on. I'm interested to know more about your really bad experiences with Americans. I agree with Mega_Monty, no one should get a free ride but look around you next time you are in the ER, I bet you won't see too many Americans waiting in the queue!

Well being that the NHS and US health system are completely different it's hardly fair to compare them is it.

The NHS does charge 'foreigners' for their treatment here (in a hospital at least - I'm not sure about Doctors and stuff).
Some countries around the world have an agreement with England and we don't charge the Individual - but the country if you like.

America is a country where we don't have that agreement but
because most Amercians have insurance anyway (because of their system back home) - the NHS recovers charges from the insurance co. Without judging anyone - I would imagine that if you can't afford insurance and you're american then you probably wouldn't be travelling in England anyway. (Yes I know that's a generalisation before anyone jumps on my case).

It's probably those where there's an agreement with the country who are ablt to abuse our system more.

Originally posted by Callassa
Compared to the UK, the lot of the average American is laughably inferior.

Why so?

If you mean that the average US citizen is poorly provided for when it comes to healthcare then you're right. In the UK we might have waiting lists and a postcode lottery to contend with, but at least we have the basic premise that an individual is entitled to treatment no matter what their financial situation.

In the US, if you can't pay then you don't get treated, that's the way it is. So if you're part of the top 30% of the population who control soemthing like 90% of the nationa wealth then you have nothing to worry about...but the sad fact is that more and more of the poor are unable to afford medical insurance. On top of this the US government has instigated policies that penalise the poor and leave them with no chnce of getting the most basic of medical care.

In the UK we are encouraged to accept tax-credits and the benefits the Welfare State entitles us to.

In the US there have been cases of companies refusing to pay decent wages and then firing employees who sign on to supplement their earnings as the companies see this as bad for their image.

In general, when it comes to healthcare and benefits we are far better off in the Uk.

Originally posted by Funke88
Wow, interesting Callassa! Are you ****** off with Americans in general because of some personal experience or what? Something has obviously riled you up. There are many, many more immigrants in the UK other than Americans. You say they pay a nominal fee for medical treatment? At least they are paying something and not getting it for free like many other immigrant spongers in the country. Maybe you should be mad at the NHS for not charging enough? Shouldn't you be mad at UK airports for not having a better security screening system? Shouldn't you be mad at ALL people that abuse the system in the UK. There's plenty of other foreigners around to bash up on. I'm interested to know more about your really bad experiences with Americans. I agree with Mega_Monty, no one should get a free ride but look around you next time you are in the ER, I bet you won't see too many Americans waiting in the queue!
REPLY>>>
You can't talk of immigrants in the UK the way you do above. You've shifted from the point which was; that visiting Americans can use the NHS for free, BECAUSE we in the UK see no issue. If you went to the USA and turned up for treatment anywhere they would want assurance (think of the implications of the word) before they provided any care whatsoever, whether emergency or whatever. Our system differs fundamentally. You are talking from a standpoint of being a RACIST, thus your comments not only are ill-conceived, they are contemptible. You confuse whom are UK citizens (people born in the UK of foreign parentage) with a perverse notion of 'immigrant.' You have taken the opportunity to seize upon a topic that merely highlights what is of one-sided economics so to contaminate it. If I were you I'd take a good look around and come to quick realisation that being British means multi-racial, multi-cultural, muti-ideological, etc. Because such categories contain users of the NHS and you hold racist views, what are you saying, that treatment should be withheld??? The issue in the USA is cost, absolutely nothing else. I suggest you climb back into your hole a hole soon to be filled in by multi-racial and well cared for, tax paying Brits.

I am neither a racist nor an American. I am a British citizen married and now living in the US. I still have a big family living in Sheffield. My father had a stroke and was in hospital for 4 months. My Auntie is a doctor at the Hallamshire. So I am fully aware about the NHS.
I am appalled that you call me a racist after the comments you made in your original post. I was merely defending Americans visiting the UK. No need to be abusive Callissa. Nobody respects
that kind of attitude.

Originally posted by mega_monty
Not only just Americans should be treated with the same attitude what bothers me more are illegal immigrants and NHS tourists expecting a free ride on the system.... and also the do gooders saying its our duty to provide care. With an already stretched to the limit NHS, I cant see how this can go on. you do know that now youll be called racist xenophobic etc by the lefties on here :mad:

This might br taking the thread a little away from the subject, but the threat posed to the NHS by the Private Finance Initiative is by far more pressing than a few US citizens using the service.

Quite frankly I find it laughable that people foam over immigrants being entitled to potentially life-saving treatment that they would demand themselves of the system the second they were diagnosed when at the same time the government is allowing the demands of big business to drain the NHS coffers and eliminate staff and beds at an alarming rate.

See past the prejudice and take in the larfer picture while you still have time.

Originally posted by Carmine
Quite frankly I find it laughable that people foam over immigrants being entitled to potentially life-saving treatment that they would demand themselves of the system the second they were diagnosed when at the same time the government is allowing the demands of big business to drain the NHS coffers and eliminate staff and beds at an alarming rate.

I think you'll find they are ****** as they are the ones funding the NHS.