We really hated having to take out private health insurance when we moved to Ireland. There is a public health service here, but it only provides free care for maternity services and for children up to the age of six. Other services are subsidised or free for those on benefits - but waiting times are horrendous for routine surgery etc. Emergency care is free, but everyone pays for prescribed medicines etc. Over 70's can visit the doctor free, but everyone else pays €50 per visit.
I fear a similar system is creeping in, in Britain...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I think some form of health insurance is the way forward. I believe the UK is unique in having free health care and it is not sustainable in a heavily populated country like ours. The scheme in Ireland sounds reasonable to me.
I grew up on Guernsey where there has never been 100% free Health Care. I think it now has a 3-tiered system, according to your financial status. As you say, it looks as if the UK is heading towards a similar type of cover. Another area of care that is very limited or nonexistent is foot care, I have to go to a chiropodist every 5 weeks to be able to walk. I am not aware of a private Foot Clinic locally where foot surgery is carried out. Also, Skin Care, if your problem is not life-threatening, just live with it. There is a skin clinic in Truro, but how do you check to find out if it is registered and legitimate? You hear about so many quack setups because there is virtually no monitoring.
@Joyce Goldenlily, if you are online, you should be able to look at the skin clinic's website where they should detail any professional bodies they belong to. Then double check with the organisation.
At the moment I don't need a chiropodist but sometimes have a pedicure when my beautician will also trim my toenails and pare any rough skin - cheaper and much more pleasurable!
I would totally agree, but someone who knows what they are doing needs to have a look in the ears to assess what the problem is, might be, could be. As in my case. Impacted wax and a polyps or skin tag.
My daughter had her ears checked recently because she thought she had a build-up of wax. She has an interior ear canal infection requiring steroid drops which only a Dr.can prescribe.
I wish a pedicure would solve my problem. As I have aged, so have my toenails. They are now so hard and thick that I cannot deal with them. They have become misshapen and I think removal is an obvious solution. It turns my stomach to think of the procedure but I would be out of pain and misery and no longer a burden on the NHS if they performed it. I did have a chiropodist qualified to carry out this op. but she moved to France and I moved away from the area. She used to run a monthly surgery for what were classified as minor ops.
That is such a shame @Joyce Goldenlily and sounds very painful. I don't know if toenails can be completely removed however, wouldn't they always keep trying to grow?
No. If any nail is removed correctly, the base of the nail removed, they do not regrow. Another very common nail problem is ingrowing toenails which are excruciatingly painful and really difficult to deal with. At one time the whole nail would be removed but now it is possible to have the side of the nail removed, leaving the bulk of the nail intact. If left, the nail can curl around and grow into the ball of the toe, piercing the skin on the underside. Obviously, that can then lead to infection.
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I fear a similar system is creeping in, in Britain...
The scheme in Ireland sounds reasonable to me.
As you say, it looks as if the UK is heading towards a similar type of cover.
Another area of care that is very limited or nonexistent is foot care, I have to go to a chiropodist every 5 weeks to be able to walk. I am not aware of a private Foot Clinic locally where foot surgery is carried out.
Also, Skin Care, if your problem is not life-threatening, just live with it.
There is a skin clinic in Truro, but how do you check to find out if it is registered and legitimate? You hear about so many quack setups because there is virtually no monitoring.
At the moment I don't need a chiropodist but sometimes have a pedicure when my beautician will also trim my toenails and pare any rough skin - cheaper and much more pleasurable!
My daughter had her ears checked recently because she thought she had a build-up of wax. She has an interior ear canal infection requiring steroid drops which only a Dr.can prescribe.
I did have a chiropodist qualified to carry out this op. but she moved to France and I moved away from the area. She used to run a monthly surgery for what were classified as minor ops.
If left, the nail can curl around and grow into the ball of the toe, piercing the skin on the underside. Obviously, that can then lead to infection.