It's said that the NHS waiting lists in the UK are getting so long that there'll soon be a year-long wait to get an abortion.

(Apologies for the dark humour.)

Actually, I had a very positive experience with the NHS a couple of weeks ago - I went in twenty minutes before my appointment with an ear infection, the GP saw me immediately, diagnosed, prescribed pills, and was generally very helpful... I was home even before my appointment was originally due to begin, and almost completely healed by the end of the week. And all for free!

The NHS could do a *lot* better, but when it's good, it absolutely shines. :-)

TCG, I think socialist medical systems, in the short run, can do *quite* well at that sort of minimal-care nuts-and-bolts sort of stuff.

I think about our current system in the US, and wonder why I can't just walk up to a doctor, point out I have an infection, and then go buy some cut-rate antibiotics. Or just skip the doctor. And who needs a doctor to put a cast on? There's no reason that needs to be a $700+, five-hour emergency room visit for so many.

The problems show up in more complicated cases.