Thursday, October 05, 2023

how bad is European health care?

Headline:

WAITING LIST DISGRACE: Ukrainian refugees who fled to Ireland are flying back to warzone for medical treatment to avoid HSE wait misery

UKRAINIANS are flying back to their war-torn homeland for medical treatment — rather than endure the wait times here.

With more than 600,000 on lists, refugees are returning for essential healthcare despite the misery being inflicted by Russia and the excellence of Irish health staff.

One Ukrainian Victoria Aslan told The Irish Sun: “Literally, there are people leaving Ireland to go back into the warzone for treatment and I’m telling you it is very popular with the delays here.”

Ms Aslan came to Ireland almost 18 months ago following Vladimir Putin’s assault on her country and now helps her countrymen here by translating for them when they need healthcare in Ireland.

According to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, over 600,000 people (84,418 of those children) were on outpatient waiting lists here in August, with over 72,000 of those waiting more than 18 months.

Another 83,000 people were on waiting lists for inpatient care — with another almost 21,000 given dates to come in.

Ireland’s waiting list infection has spread to the dental industry with more than half of patients waiting more than three months for specialist care.

Victoria, who is based in Carrick-on-Shannon, co Leitrim, added: “Sometimes it is very scary when you don’t know the language and you need treatment and you have nobody to take care and mind you.”

Victoria, who was at a conference held by the Irish Patients Association this week, said the problem is particular acute for parents whose children need dental care.

She is planning to return home with her own daughter soon for this very reason.

A lot of Europeans (and Canadians) get huffy when you start talking about the wait-time problem in these countries. I don't question the quality of care that patients receive; the question is how soon they can get the care. 

I've linked to this video on Canadian health care once before.



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