My Experience with the National Health Service

I've never had a view on national healt services until now. I just used to think the more people with health care the better. This past week my bottom retainer broke on one side of my lower set of teeth. Thinking I should have it taken out soon to prevent damage I called Scotland's NHS and explained the situation to a call in service line. The person receiving my call was happy to help. So, she forwarded me onto the next hotline. At the new hotline I was forwarded to the dental hotline. Then, kindly, I was told by the dental hotline that the E.R. and their doctors wouldn't want to opperate on orthodontists' work. The person than told me that to get it removed in Scotland I would need to wait 2-3 months to register with a dentist (two towns over, 30 minutes by bus), maybe longer, and then be recommended onto an orthodontist. Myabe next year I said to her and I told her i'd give the E.R. a try any way. Being notified that it could be taken out only by the time I was back in the USA, I decided to call my home orthodontist. He said to me to just fly him over here, or take it out with a pair of plyers. Well, I worked the plyers a while until I decided the E.R. was worth the trip. At the E.R. I was greeted by a big locked door and a buzzer. Upon buzzing I was asked if i had an appointment. I sai d no and proceeded to explain my issue inside. I was told that same as the person on the hotline had said. To have their orthodontist opperate on it I have to register with a dentist and be recommended. I went home feeling alright and eventually worked off the retainer with a bit of pain. After experiencing the national health services I have decided that private health care isn't a bad thing. Neither are national health services as long as private sectors exist. I would love for people to receive what they need, but I also would like people to continue to receive what they want. I wouldn't have minded an open, unlocked door. Also, my emergencies don't tend to have appointments.