Great Britain has a state-run health care system, having taken over virtually all medical care at little or no cost to the individual. That’s what many people in this country would also like to see eventually. But now the incredibly expensive British system has to save costs. Here are some of the ways the British government will save money:
* Restrictions on some of the most basic and common operations, including hip and knee replacements, cataract surgery and orthodontic procedures.
* Plans to cut hundreds of thousands of pounds from budgets for the terminally ill, with dying cancer patients to be told to manage their own symptoms if their condition worsens at evenings or weekends.
* The closure of nursing homes for the elderly.
* A reduction in acute hospital beds, including those for the mentally ill, with targets to discourage GPs from sending patients to hospitals and reduce the number of people using accident and emergency departments.