Band of Slugs

NHS Under Fire From Republicans

The National Health Service has been under attack from some Americans who are holding the system up as evidence that Barrack Obama’s health reforms are a bad move. Britain’s free at the point of delivery system has been used by the President’s opponents to show how a “socialized” system would be bad news for patients, providing a low level of care.

Britain’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has been called a “death panel” because it decides if certain drugs are affordable for the system. It is thought a similar panel would emerge following health care reforms in America.

One US newspaper recently suggested that Professor Stephen Hawking “wouldn’t have a chance in the UK”. In response to this, whilst collecting an award in Washington Professor Hawking said “I wouldn’t be here today if it were not for the NHS”.

It is of course pretty hilarious that the person who wrote that was unaware that Hawking was born in Britain and has spent his entire life in Britain. Guess it’s that American voice machine he uses – but that’s no excuse.

Another really vocal member of the anti-NHS movement is some Tory who won’t be named here.

Happily, there have been a great many calls of support for the NHS. Gordon Brown and his missus have joined a pro-NHS campaign on Twitter. The help received by David Cameron’s family has been well documented, as he says he “supports the NHS 100 percent”.

It looks like the NHS is going to get some serious stick from certain quarters of the American establishment over the next few weeks.