Comparing NHS and French Healthcare systems...

Hey ppl.

Not sure if this is a potential interview question, but whats the harm

The British and French Healthcare systems are quite similiar. Taxpayers money in both economies goes to a social security/National Insurance. Hence we sort of are insured in both countries for health ... but they're so different! Why are there fewer waiting lists in France?

The French also have things like reimbursements. But, in 2000 at least, France was ranked healthcare system no.1 by the WHO. Things have changed since then and apparently the French system is changing and becoming more expensive.

So, how are French healthcare systems different to NHS?

Reply 1

Mazaa

OP

5

Hey ppl.

Not sure if this is a potential interview question, but whats the harm

The British and French Healthcare systems are quite similiar. Taxpayers money in both economies goes to a social security/National Insurance. Hence we sort of are insured in both countries for health ... but they're so different! Why are there fewer waiting lists in France?

The French also have things like reimbursements. But, in 2000 at least, France was ranked healthcare system no.1 by the WHO. Things have changed since then and apparently the French system is changing and becoming more expensive.

So, how are French healthcare systems different to NHS?

Reply 2

xxxLucyxxx

i know people visit specialists a lot earlier on, without referral, the role of the GP is a lot smaller.eg if you were depressed you might go straight to a physciatrist rather than a GP
This is obviously very expensive and I have heard that the French are struggling to pay for their wonderful healthcare system
Also the amount you reimburse depends on your income
hmmm cant think of anything else

Reply 3

xxxLucyxxx

i know people visit specialists a lot earlier on, without referral, the role of the GP is a lot smaller.eg if you were depressed you might go straight to a physciatrist rather than a GP
This is obviously very expensive and I have heard that the French are struggling to pay for their wonderful healthcare system
Also the amount you reimburse depends on your income
hmmm cant think of anything else

Reply 4

Mazaa

OP

5

xxxLucyxxx

i know people visit specialists a lot earlier on, without referral, the role of the GP is a lot smaller.eg if you were depressed you might go straight to a physciatrist rather than a GP
This is obviously very expensive and I have heard that the French are struggling to pay for their wonderful healthcare system
Also the amount you reimburse depends on your income
hmmm cant think of anything else

Yep, but I think they changed that,

"3. From 2005, Patients will have to designate a GP ("généraliste") through whom treatment will be managed. He or she will decide on referrals to specialists etc. Patients wishing to consult specialists directly will still be able to do so but it will cost more."

Doesnt this make this exactly like the NHS? True the option is still there, is that the only difference? You also have to pay for hospital beds, so, isnt it just more expensive?

Im probably simplifying a complex situation too much...

Reply 5

Mazaa

OP

5

xxxLucyxxx

i know people visit specialists a lot earlier on, without referral, the role of the GP is a lot smaller.eg if you were depressed you might go straight to a physciatrist rather than a GP
This is obviously very expensive and I have heard that the French are struggling to pay for their wonderful healthcare system
Also the amount you reimburse depends on your income
hmmm cant think of anything else

Yep, but I think they changed that,

"3. From 2005, Patients will have to designate a GP ("généraliste") through whom treatment will be managed. He or she will decide on referrals to specialists etc. Patients wishing to consult specialists directly will still be able to do so but it will cost more."

Doesnt this make this exactly like the NHS? True the option is still there, is that the only difference? You also have to pay for hospital beds, so, isnt it just more expensive?

Im probably simplifying a complex situation too much...

Reply 6

space_aura

1

Mazaa

Hey ppl.

Not sure if this is a potential interview question, but whats the harm

The British and French Healthcare systems are quite similiar. Taxpayers money in both economies goes to a social security/National Insurance. Hence we sort of are insured in both countries for health ... but they're so different! Why are there fewer waiting lists in France?

The French also have things like reimbursements. But, in 2000 at least, France was ranked healthcare system no.1 by the WHO. Things have changed since then and apparently the French system is changing and becoming more expensive.

So, how are French healthcare systems different to NHS?

Hey you may find this useful if comparing foreign healthcare systems. I certainly did and brought it up at one point in my Cardiff interview when asked what could be done better in the NHS.
However you may find it completely irrelevant!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4460098.stm

Reply 7

space_aura

1

Mazaa

Hey ppl.

Not sure if this is a potential interview question, but whats the harm

The British and French Healthcare systems are quite similiar. Taxpayers money in both economies goes to a social security/National Insurance. Hence we sort of are insured in both countries for health ... but they're so different! Why are there fewer waiting lists in France?

The French also have things like reimbursements. But, in 2000 at least, France was ranked healthcare system no.1 by the WHO. Things have changed since then and apparently the French system is changing and becoming more expensive.

So, how are French healthcare systems different to NHS?

Hey you may find this useful if comparing foreign healthcare systems. I certainly did and brought it up at one point in my Cardiff interview when asked what could be done better in the NHS.
However you may find it completely irrelevant!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4460098.stm

Reply 8

Mazaa

OP

5

Thanks I found something on the BBC website for france as well .. what I dont get is the difference in the French and UK systems ... the differences to me seem very subtle (pay for hospitalisation, private/public ratio etc.)

Are there any realy differences now that people choose one GP and go to a specialist through a GP?

Reply 9

Mazaa

OP

5

Thanks I found something on the BBC website for france as well .. what I dont get is the difference in the French and UK systems ... the differences to me seem very subtle (pay for hospitalisation, private/public ratio etc.)

Are there any realy differences now that people choose one GP and go to a specialist through a GP?

Reply 10

Bobbie W

The french system works, the NHS doesn't. Not to play up our french neighbours the two systems are fairely similar except 1) they arent as buracratic they dont have 3 ward managers per ward for example 2) and this is the big one they arent running at 97% capacity. The running down of the health service in the late 90's took a system that was fine at 75% and was designed for 85% capacity and shoved it into a continous crises situation, something the system was designed to cope with only for a short length of time. Add in the extra bururacracy and you have a problem which is less doctors have less time to see more patients.

Reply 11

Bobbie W

The french system works, the NHS doesn't. Not to play up our french neighbours the two systems are fairely similar except 1) they arent as buracratic they dont have 3 ward managers per ward for example 2) and this is the big one they arent running at 97% capacity. The running down of the health service in the late 90's took a system that was fine at 75% and was designed for 85% capacity and shoved it into a continous crises situation, something the system was designed to cope with only for a short length of time. Add in the extra bururacracy and you have a problem which is less doctors have less time to see more patients.

Reply 12

Mazaa

OP

5

Bobbie W

The french system works, the NHS doesn't. Not to play up our french neighbours the two systems are fairely similar except 1) they arent as buracratic they dont have 3 ward managers per ward for example 2) and this is the big one they arent running at 97% capacity. The running down of the health service in the late 90's took a system that was fine at 75% and was designed for 85% capacity and shoved it into a continous crises situation, something the system was designed to cope with only for a short length of time. Add in the extra bururacracy and you have a problem which is less doctors have less time to see more patients.

OK is it just the beaurocracy? And also, under the EWD (European Working Directive), dont doctors working hours get cut even more?

Reply 13

michaela_banana

9

I'm really pleased that I didn't get probed about this at manc after i said i wanted to do european studies! Really pleased!

Reply 14

Mazaa

OP

5

michaela_banana

I'm really pleased that I didn't get probed about this at manc after i said i wanted to do european studies! Really pleased!

Lucky!!! Ugh I said I was interested in healthcare systems .. i am really, sort of. Im absolutely sure they will ask me that at interview ... >sigh< I knwo about them but if they ask me why the French system apparently works and the NHS doesnt, Im not going to know what they say... mind u that is a very complex q, but they might want to hear something ...

Comparing NHS and French Healthcare systems...

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