Access to cancer care in the UK

Being sick in the United Kingdom has advantages and disadvantages.  Supporters will cite that out-of-pocket costs are generally low, coverage is universal, and the price of health care to the government is lower. One question is, what is the quality of care received?  Critics cite that access to cutting edge, innovative treatments is often restricted or…

Will a VA scandal happen in England?

The VA scandal of long wait times is now well-known. Part of the reason why patients were left off official wait lists–ironically–was because VA senior staffers wanted to reduce wait times. Senior VA staff monitored wait times closely to check for any upticks. Some of the VA management at the Phoenix hospital believed the only…

Patients demand for on-demand care

As patients are becoming used to quicker turn-around times in other retail industries, expectations regarding health care waiting times are rising.  As PwC reports: Heightened desire for “on-demand” healthcare in the form of telemedicine, mobile health, social media and retail clinics has fueled the move toward healthcare anywhere, anytime. Nearly one in four consumers surveyed…

“Do Medicare patients have longer waits to see doctors than those with commercial insurance?”

…and three other questions about physician care. Do Medicare patients have shorter waiting times than those with commercial insurance? In the 2010 survey, among those seeking an appointment, most beneficiaries (75 percent) and most privately insured individuals (72 percent) reported “never” having to wait longer than they wanted for an appointment for routine care. Another…