Howdy everyone!
I’ve read some things out there on the interwebs lately that I’d like to share with y’all. These are articles that made me think. They also made me feel a certain way after I read them. Individually, they would have been interesting on their own merits. However, when read together one after another, I think they do something to your brain that you should experience.
And let me just say, good luck with this.
First off, I read this post by Rogue Medic that linked to this post by BryanKellet.net entitled “Death Rate in London to Increase”.
As always, Rogue Medic has provided his genuinely valuable insight to the article and I am very much glad he called it to our collective attention. I suggest you read the original post first and then read the Rogue’s interpretation on it. While you’re at it, be SURE to read each and every one of the comments on Mr. Kellet’s article. Read them all, it’s very telling.
Including this one:
"560 frontline cuts is a huge number and your comments with regards to little yellow cars is spot on. Time to start investing in private healthcare company shares perhaps."
Uh huh.
It looks like the London Ambulance service is cutting 560 paramedics from their staff, decreasing available ambulances, and is shifting the focus to Rapid Response cars with a single-medic. While these cuts would be common-place in American cities these days (except of course, for the Rapid Response Cars); doesn’t the NHS support the LAS? Wouldn’t they be fully reimbursed for their care? I thought they had a well-funded healthcare system over there across the pond.
Then read this fascinating look at universal healthcare written by The Happy Hospitalist and posted on his site about a year ago: The Medicare Tomato – It is just an absolutely fantastic article that you need to read, now. If you’re not convinced, read this quote from the piece:
“A consumer came in today at 12:04 pm on March 7th, 2008. He did not complain of any tomato headache. He had no gas pains. He appeared to be in good spirits. He was not orange. His lips were drooling for a chance at free tomatoes. He appeared angered at the lack of options and declining quality. He was at one point found to be pointing and yelling profanities. He took 7.4 pounds of the super duper genetically altered tomatoes (verified by government scales) with a big fat giant grin on his face, yelling, "I ain't paying for it", all the way out the door.”
This guy’s one of us.
I’m withholding comments of a political nature right now. While I have strong feelings on the looming changes in US healthcare and the economy in general, I want to foster the discussion and see a broad cross-section of opinions in the comments section. I want to know what y’all think.
However, if you would like to read some of my articles on what my opinion is, feel free:
I’m not picking on my British EMS brethren here. I like the boys in green quite a bit, like my friend Insomniac Medic and @ukmedic999. To prove it, here’s some of my writing on the whole UK thing and how it’s good, too.
