Just months after American mum Molly moved to Birmingham from Texas, she got an ear infection, which forced her to make use of the NHS for the first time – and one thing immediately surprised her
Getting sick is never fun but, when you become in need of medical attention while in a different country, it can be even more stressful than usual. While all countries will have its own rules and ways to go about getting healthcare, the UK famously has the National Health Service, better known as the NHS. It is the second largest single-payer healthcare system in the world, with only the Brazilian Sistema Único de Saúde being bigger.
It’s primarily funded by the government from general taxation, which allows it to offer most of its services free of charge for all residents. However, when American, Molly, woke up one morning to find that she had an ear infection, she got nervous as it meant she had to figure out how to work the NHS for the first time, as she had only just moved to Birmingham with her husband and their toddler a few months prior.
“Recently I got an ear infection. I thought ‘s***, I gotta figure out the NHS’,” she recalled in a TikTok video, sharing that she had no idea what to expect when she called her GP that morning.
Warning: Below video may contain offensive language
“I’m expecting to have to pay $150 (£111) at least to be seen by a doctor,” she said. However, she went on to reveal: “But I called at eight, someone called me back at 10 and over the phone they said ‘yeah it sounds like you have an ear infection’ and for £10, I had medicine in my hand at 11.30am.
“I know the system’s not perfect but, as an American, this really took my breath away,” Molly said.
She went on to write in the caption of the video: “Would’ve cost like $300 (£222) in the States.”
Several people soon took to the comments section of Molly’s video, with Brits sharing their thoughts, while other Americans seemed bewildered by what Molly had said.
“The NHS isn’t perfect but we are so blessed to have it,” one viewer commented. A second person wrote: “We’re very lucky to have an NHS, people don’t appreciate it enough.
“During the pandemic I had a stroke. NHS ambulance and hospital admission, CT Scan and given ongoing medication all within five hours. Nothing to pay,” another person shared.
To this, Molly replied: “In the US that would bankrupt a person.”
A Scot also entered the comment section and shared: “I love how over here in Scotland you just get a prescription from the doctor, show it to the guy in the chemists, and just get your medicine for free.”
Meanwhile, another American asked: “There was no in person doctor appointment needed?! Did the £10 include the telemed visit AND prescription, or will they send you a bill for the visit?”
They were then surprised to learn that only the prescription cost £10, and that everything else had been free of charge.