tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post113812701689657731..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: The Cost of Preventative HealthcareIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138214942312459822006-01-25T18:49:00.000+00:002006-01-25T18:49:00.000+00:00Joe Manchin, the current governor of West Virginia...Joe Manchin, the current governor of West Virginia, had a piece in his State of the State speech about preventative health care. He's trying to set up a system whereby people can sign up for something like $1/day to an insurance that would allow them access to check ups, etc. as a way of reducing health costs. The theory being that if you can nip something in the bud, it's a lot cheaper for all concerned. Given the costs of health care for the large numbers of uninsured in the States, it seems like a step in the right direction.<BR/><BR/>Anyhow, you can read a bit more about it in his column at: http://www.wvgov.org/FullColumn.cfm?id=281Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138196093544489022006-01-25T13:34:00.000+00:002006-01-25T13:34:00.000+00:00Sorry my previous comment reads as more curmudgeon...Sorry my previous comment reads as more curmudgeonly than I intended. As anonymous says, I expect they'd have picked up anything serious. It was the 'style over substance' of the report that most bothered me.<BR/><BR/>But I do recall being summoned to my GP's surgery for a 'well man' session. This was with a nurse I think and it consisted of questions about lifestyle and family medical history - these are apparently the most reliable indicators. I scored low and so didn't go on to the next stage.<BR/><BR/>This seems an admirable idea but clearly isn't done everywhere in the NHS. But where does practice freedom balance with central government interference or postcode lottery with oppressive bureaucracy? I’m sure you have a view!<BR/><BR/>And I hope you get an all clear....Hughes Viewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01192390547169979749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138194736211628992006-01-25T13:12:00.000+00:002006-01-25T13:12:00.000+00:00Further to my letter above re strokes. My friend i...Further to my letter above re strokes. My friend in Scotland can get a regular full check up. It was found that she had early type two diabetes and she is now being treated before any damage was done. I would like to know why this is available in Scotland but not in England.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138146398489122222006-01-24T23:46:00.000+00:002006-01-24T23:46:00.000+00:00I also tried to get a full check up a few years ag...I also tried to get a full check up a few years ago and was told it was not possible. A year later I had a very minor stroke, I only knew what it was because they run in our family and I was very aware of the signs. My GP was quite dismissive and only took blood tests. Thanks to private insurance I had all the necessary tests which proved I was correct. The tests cost in the region of £1000 and I was put on medication which will, I hope, prevent another TIA.<BR/>My mother was taking these mini strokes for years but was never diagnosed or treated and we didn't know, just though she was getting older. Eventually she took a massive stroke resulting in two months in hospital and three years in a nursing home. I think that is a pretty obvious cost/benefit analysis don't you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138140542073197442006-01-24T22:09:00.000+00:002006-01-24T22:09:00.000+00:00If you want detailed precision you will need somet...If you want detailed precision you will need something wrong with you.<BR/><BR/>Hope for a few pleasing generalitiesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138127750104874942006-01-24T18:35:00.000+00:002006-01-24T18:35:00.000+00:00Oh, well that 's just made my day!!!Oh, well that 's just made my day!!!Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138127618780545202006-01-24T18:33:00.000+00:002006-01-24T18:33:00.000+00:00I hope you think more of your BUPA check-up than I...I hope you think more of your BUPA check-up than I did of mine (which I didn't have to pay for - my benevolent employer coughed up).<BR/><BR/>The tests seemed impressive enough however the report was long on text but short on detail – the sort of thing a management consultant might produce after he’d borrowed your watch to tell you the time. What little there was that I hadn’t told them (‘we were pleased to learn that you drink less than forty pints a week’) had so many caveats that it seemed pretty close to worthless to me. And it completely failed to find any cause for my grumpiness.....Hughes Viewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01192390547169979749noreply@blogger.com