Throughout my entire study abroad experience, I became very acquainted with the medical system in the United Kingdom. My interactions include refilling medications, basic health checks, and even hospitalization. The medical system was vastly different than in the United States, and where that was most seen was in the hospital. It was a significant adjustment as I had to wait for an ambulance for a while. I was a non-emergency after arriving at the hospital and receiving an initial examination and basic treatment. I was put in a hallway to wait for a bed due to the overflow of patients needing treatment. The medical staff were busy aiming to take care of everyone despite the limited resources. I spent three days in the hospital to receive enough therapy so that I would be stable on my own. After treatment, I received my bill. As I was a temporary international resident, it was reasonable considering the length of my stay and the resources I used.
In reality, while the total price of my hospital stay was significantly less expensive than if I was in the United States, the quality of care was lacking. It took hours for an ambulance to arrive, so I lay in bed in agony, waiting for them. After I got to the hospital, the doctors would not listen to what my concerns were, wanting to get me out of the examination as fast as possible. They then wheeled me into a random corridor without explanation and told me to wait. I was in a wheelchair for nine hours, shivering with an extremely high fever and being ignored as the hospital was overcrowded, and there were no beds available. I was delirious from my illness and high fever and in so much suffering, but I was essentially forgotten because there were not enough resources to help me, let alone the people who were worse off than me. Eventually, a kind nurse got me a bed with proper medication and explained what was happening as I was a foreigner in a strange place in a highly vulnerable state. His kindness calmed me down from a high position of anxiety and fear, allowing me to start the healing process finally.
Sadly when I talked to the people from my host culture, they said it was normal. Despite healthcare being free, the quality suffers as a result. They explained how hospitals are overcrowded and underfunded. As a result, many of them have had to use private practices quickly to be seen by medical staff.
This experience opened my eyes to the pros and cons of healthcare throughout the world, not just in the United Kingdom and the United States. While we pay a lot for healthcare, the quality and treatment are better. However, free healthcare helps those who could not afford it otherwise. Seeing both perspectives opened my mindset to people with different opinions and views as I was able to experience both sides.