[Trigirl]

We often have threads on here comparing healthcare in NZ and UK. I can't comment on the comparison as I've never needed care in NZ and the occasional NHS care I've had in the UK has always been adequate if nothing more. So before I get flamed for it - this is not intended to be a comment on the difference in care between the two countries - its just something I read and wanted to share.

So anyway this story was on the front few pages of the "Extra" section of the Independent this morning. Janet Street-Porter's sister kept a diary of her NHS "care" while she was suffering terminal cancer.

A warning - I found bits of it extremely upsetting to read and if you have family/friends with cancer you may also find it upsetting.

http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/features/article1988136.ece

[wiki]

What a truly sad article.

My mother died of bowel cancer in NZ five years ago and had the most immense support from the district nurses and doctors.

Perhaps it helped that my parents were well known in a small town, but I know of other people in Southland who had wonderful help too.

They were also hugely helpful to those of us who were trying to care for mum. I was lucky in that my UK employer gave me indefinite leave to go back to NZ and I was able to live at home and help my Dad for seven weeks before Mum died.

I also spent a lot of time with my Grandma in Manchester and her hospital treatment was always pretty reasonable, compared to some of the horror stories I heard. But she died three years ago, and I've no doubt that the NHS is struggling more and more each month.

I've been lucky to only go to the doctor about six times in the nine years I've been in England - I always wonder if there would be less strain on GPs and therefore hospitals if there was a token £5 charge for appointments (although I'd keep it free for home visits)

[pieeater]

My dear Mother in Law died of bowel cancer in the U.K. in 1999.There was a botched operation scenario.We had small children at the time and my wife being a Nurse was pretty much her primary carer.They were extremely hard and harrowing times.I am a big fan of the N.H.S.As I see it,it has suffered from abuse from all levels for many many years now.What can be done about this is too big a question for the likes of me to answer but it won't get any better without the publics' support,something that when I was back in the U.K.over 5 years ago I felt was distinctly lacking.My elderly parents are still in the UK.they have their own ailments for which they are recieving excellent treatment.I sometimes wonder how my 75 year old father would have gone on over here for care,as in his own words.'they have done every thing they can for me'and he credits the local hospital for saving his life a couple of years ago.

[westies]

Having lived in the UK and worked in the NHS for a number of years, I now live in Auckland and work within the system here, I can say both countries have equal amounts of problems, and neither is better than the other.