London (CNN)Donald Trump's habit of testing the US relationship with Britain took a new turn Monday when he attacked the UK's National Health Service, claiming it is "going broke and not working."
The US President hit out on Twitter minutes after a segment aired on Fox News that highlighted winter strains on the UK health care system. Trump accused Democrats of pushing a similar universal healthcare system for the US.
NHS problems
NHS funding is one of the most hotly contested topics in British politics and Trump's comments highlight a sensitive subject in the UK -- how to maintain universal access to health care at a time of rising costs and demand.
On the one hand, the system is creaking at the sames. Hundreds of non-emergency procedures were canceled amid a winter flu crisis which pushed the service to its limit.
However, it delivers far better outcomes than in the US, for less money. According to OECD data, the UK spends an average of $4,192 per head of population, for a universal system. Life expectancy in the UK in 2015 was 81.56.
The American healthcare system is the most expensive in the world: $9,892 per head, yet 28 million have no health insurance and life expectancy in 2015 was 78.7.
In the 2017 fall budget, the UK government announced £6.3 billion (about $8.2 billion) of new funding for the NHS in England, including £2.8 billion over the next two years for day-to-day services and £3.5 billion of capital investment by 2022-23.
But some commentators say there needs to be a fuller rethink. A 10-member panel set up by the Liberal Democrats, a centrist political party, has called for a ring-fenced tax to fund the NHS, stating that an extra £4 billion should be spent next year, with an extra £2.5 billion for both 2019 and 2020.
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Part of the reason they have better health outcomes is the emphasis placed on primary care VS reactionary care that we have in the US. This leads to less of a need for interventions, which cost a boat load, and leads to a longer meaningful life with less disease burden. They also don't fool around with the hundred thousand dollar end of life care that we provide here in the US, where the majority of that bill is racked up in the last several months of a persons life. That being said, it is awfully nice to be able to get your elective procedures done when you want them...assuming you have insurance :)
This is only concern about those people who are suffering from this issue.......Govt. taking action against it.