No pay — no treatment

Seeing the problems the nHS has in england, with health tourists not paying for their treatment, brings back memories of an incident that happened to me in Australia.

Since 1998, i have regularly been visiting my brother in canberra, and in october 2010, i had flown out on an Singapore Airlines Airbus A380. in December a Qantas A380’s engine blew up. Singapore Airlines asked if i would change my return from late november to December — then it was changed to January 13, 2011. But that left me with a problem, as i am on Tamsulosin tablets for my prostate.

i had taken enough for the trip and a few more, but not enough to keep me until January. At a local chemist, i asked whether i could get some more and was told to see a doctor for a prescription.

Seeing the doctor would have cost me A$100 plus A$70 for a month’s supply of Tamsulosin. And after my long stay, i didn’t have that kind of money and so went without — in some pain.

Why can’t the nHS do the same in this country: no money, no nHS?

EDDIE ROlaND, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.