The Brits have national health care, which for the uninsured masses of Americans must sound like pure bliss. And yet. In a recent Telegraph report, a new mom complains about her treatment by the medical establishment after giving birth. I'm inclined to take the issues raised in this article seriously.
Except honestly I could not get through the first paragraph without laughing in disbelief. After leaving the hospital "six days after giving birth" she became upset when the home visiting midwife failed to show up. Six days?? Home visiting midwife? As if.
Can you imagine? Complaints in the States look more like "I left the hospital 24 hours after my c-section and didn't see my doctor again for 6 weeks." or "I was given an epidural without my consent and then discharged 10 hours later."
I'm willing to believe that nationalized health care is at times frighteningly substandard. But even "only" six days in the hospital after the birth of a child, seems grand in comparison to the less than 24 most women get Stateside. So buck up, British women, you could have it worse. You could live here.
