This is a post I’ve been wanting to write for a while now, an American’s view of a universal healthcare system. Once I became pregnant, the pregnancy and the subsequent delivery of Miss Maddie gave me the perfect opportunity to observe, partake in, and critique the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) on a large scale… something other than the occasional run to the GP (general practitioner, or doctor) for a runny nose. As an American I (like many others) have been fed a constant stream of misinformation on universal healthcare: it’s evil, it doesn’t work, it provides sub-par care, and you can never get the care or appointment when YOU need it most. Since Obama took office, this topic has had the lid blown off of it, with many Americans buying into the skewed GOP propaganda that, should America adopt a universal healthcare system, everything would fall apart and healthcare in the very sense of the word would become non existent.
I am writing this to tell you this is not the case. This is the story of my NHS care.
The Pregancy
When I first found out I was pregnant, I booked an appointment to see my GP and get the ball rolling on what would be the next 40 weeks under the care of the NHS. At the appointment I was confirmed pregnant, given a large packet of pregnancy information as well as a booklet that would become my maternity notes, and I was enlisted under the care of the midwifery team. The very next week I met Sue, the midwife who I would be seeing throughout my entire pregnancy. She went over both Mark and I’s health, family health histories, and what to expect in the way of care and appointments.
I was given all the standard pregnancy care one would expect: scans at 12, 20, and 34 weeks (and 7 weeks due to me not knowing when my last period was, 9 weeks as well due to a scare… more on that in a minute). I went in for two glucose tests to test for gestational diabetes risk, I was booked at the hospital for Ante-D injections due to my blood type. One test after the next was administered with no hesitation or delay, and at no out of pocket cost to myself.
When something outside the routine DID crop up, I got the care I needed. At 9 weeks I began spotting and had cramping. I called my GP’s office and had an appointment just two hours later. Following the appointment my doctor booked me in for an emergency ultrasound at the hospital the very same day, which showed that the tiny fetus was okay. At 34 weeks I experienced regular contractions, and called the labour and delivery ward to ask about it. They insisted I come straight in for monitoring, which I did. I was immediately set up on fetal monitors upon arrival, and kept until they were certain it was not preterm labor.
At 32 weeks, my blood pressure started climbing higher and higher, and it was recommended I go on maternity leave earlier than I expected (1 year maternity leave, another evil of a socialist system). With my elevated blood pressure, I began to see the midwife and GP on a weekly basis, each week getting my blood pressure monitored as well as a urine test for protein levels.
And when I went overdue, I was booked in at 42 weeks for my induction.
Labour and Delivery
I was admitted to a ward where I was given a prostaglandin in order to thin my cervix. This was the only bit of my entire care that I did not like: being on a ward with other women when my labor began. At the end of my 2nd night in hospital, I was screaming and crying so loud that they admitted me to the labour floor, to my own room, and gave me the epidural 2 cm before they normally administer it. While in my private room, my mom and Mark were allowed to stay with me the entire time. Also in the room at all times was a midwife, always there keeping an eye on me and Maddie. Whenever I started to feel the pain creeping back in, she would top up my epidural.
Because Maddie wasn’t handling the contractions well during pushing, I was prepped and moved to the theatre where I would be given a last try with foreceps before a c-section. Within 5 minutes two doctors, an anesthesiologist, and a team of midwives had me prepped and on the theatre table. They got Maddie out with the foreceps, revived her, gave her to me, and stitched me up.
For two days afterwards, I was on a ward with Maddie and two to three other women and their babies. Maddie and I were continually monitored by the midwifery team before being discharged to go home.
After care
The after care, much like the rest of the care I’ve received, has been phenomenal. A midwife came by our flat on days 2, 5 and 10 from being discharged from the hospital to check on us. When we didn’t have breastfeeding down, two additional appointments were made and midwives came by the flat and worked with Maddie and I until we perfected the art. I was told at every visit that any additional home visits could be made at any time if I felt I needed them. On day 10, the midwifery team discharged me from their care and into the care of the home health visitors, registered RNs who would take over visits from now until Maddie is 6 months old.
I’ve had two home health visits since, both the same lovely woman. She gave me books and pamphlets of information, everything from post natal care, to milestones, to vaccination schedule, and mom groups in my area. She checks Maddie at each visit, ensures we are still getting on with breastfeeding, and answers any questions I have.
I have my 6 week postpartum GP appointment booked in, as well as a 6 week check up for my stitches at the hospital. Maddie also had a 6 week appointment booked with both the GP and the home health visitor. And at any time, I have access to a 24 hour phone number to the midwifery team for any questions and concerns.
When I found my stitches to be infected, Mark called my GP and I had an appointment same day, less than two hours later. I had my antibiotics shortly thereafter, which were free.
All dental visits and prescription drugs are free to pregnant women and up to a year after birth (normally prescription drugs run about 5 to 10 pounds… still not alot).
The Costs
All midwife and GP appointments ………. £ 0
All prescription drugs ………. £ 0
All tests done at the hospital ………. £ 0
All blood work ………. £ 0
All scans ………. £ 0
The birth ………. £ 0
The epidural ………. £ 0
The hospital stay ………. £ 0
The home after care ………. £ 0
The cost of birth control pills ………. £ 0
once we’re ready
Total ………. £ 0
Conclusion: The care I’ve received under this evil socialist system has been nothing short of amazing. I am grateful to have been pregnant and given birth in a country where medical care is provided to all. I am grateful we didn’t have to declare bankruptcy or go into massive debt in order to have a child. And I am grateful that all the care I received was on par with if not exceeding any medical care I ever received whilst living in the US. Maddie and I are healthy and happy thanks to the NHS care we received. So don’t believe the propaganda: there is nothing wrong with socialized medicine.
Ratings: 1 = subpar 5= standard 10= exceeds expectations
Overall care = 9/10
Midwife care whilst pregnant = 9/10
Response time for emergencies = 10/10
Treatment by midwifery team = 10/10
Appointment needs and turn around time = 10/10
Wait times = 10/10
Ward care = 5/10 (reasoning : the team was overworked)
Private labor and delivery room care = 10/10
Hospital staff treatment = 10/10 (I am blessed to have been cared for by the sweetest midwives and anesthesiologist ever during my labor)
2nd ward afterbirth care = 5/10 (reasoning : the team was overworked)
Home visits = 10/10 (seriously, most convenient thing ever)
Originally posted to personal blog at http://www.awesomeville.co.uk
