Free Day!

After a few full days spent learning about pharmacy practice in the UK, our schedule was rearranged a bit. We expected the weather to be nice here in London, well…at least not raining. What would be best to do with such a day? Well, free day of course! As we ventured out from our hotel we were met with brisk winds reminiscent of a blustery South Dakota day. Although the wind was cold, the rain stayed away.

Despite the mediocre weather, much of the group decided to take a trip to the English countryside to see Stonehenge, Bath and Avebury. The group traveled via train to Stonehenge, a famous prehistoric monument built of mammoth upright stones. The monument was thought to have been assembled between 3100 and 2200 BC. It originally consisted of a complete circle of stones weighing 45 tons a piece, each stood on end. The significance of the monument itself is a topic of controversy; the rock formation was created by people who were thought to have no written language and therefore the actual purpose of Stonehenge remains a mystery. From there, the group traveled to Avebury, a rock formation very similar to Stonehenge, but less frequented by tourists. The final stop of the countryside tour included a trip to Bath, a city known for its naturally occurring hot springs and the Roman bath houses. After a long day of sightseeing, the group headed back toward London.

Those who chose to stay in London for the day continued to explore the city. My group, including Andy, Mike, Obadiah and Jace, headed toward the London Underground en route to the Harley Davidson shop nearest our hotel. We were in search of Harley souvenirs for family members and Harley fans back home. Then we headed over to the Wimbledon stadium to try and catch a glimpse of center court. We then rode to the city center and took in a few of the major tourist sites yet unvisited, including the British Parliament buildings and Big Ben. After snapping a few obligatory tourist photos, we headed back to the hotel to relax for the night.

Having a free day gave us an opportunity to visit with British citizens regarding their views on their healthcare system. I had the chance to visit with a middle aged woman during my visit to the internet café. She spoke of her experiences within the healthcare system, although she has remained relatively healthy and has had no major health problems. The woman’s employer is one in a minority that offers access to private insurance. It is estimated that around 10-15% of British citizens carry private insurance, while the rest are covered by publicly funded healthcare programs. The woman spoke of enjoying the freedom provided by a private healthcare plan, with regard to choosing her own providers, while avoiding waiting periods often associated with publicly funded healthcare programs. The woman compared her experience with that of her grandmother, who has had to wait up to three months at a time for a series of elective surgeries.

The private insurance plan described sounded very similar to many found in the United States, with a set “copay” for office appointments and prescription medications. The woman reported that her cost for a routine prescription medication was around $20. For comparison, the cost for a routine prescription within the publicly funded system is around $14. Overall, the woman reported satisfaction with her healthcare experiences. However, as a member of a privately funded insurance plan, she is in the minority and her experiences may not be typical of a British citizen on a publicly funded plan. It was interesting for me to hear how others experience their healthcare system, and we will all be looking forward to visiting with other Britons during the rest of our stay in London.

-Adam Stoebner