[Paperweight]

They do the best they can with the budget they're given.

Private hospitals and health insurance are still allowed. Here in Canada, every public hospital still has a billing department for the uninsured & those with private insurance (foreigners, etc.) (I wonder if you can opt to pay to "skip the queue" here?)

[archie2]

What you're talking (skipping the queue) about is a two-tiered system, which I would be in-favor of but it is taboo to even bring it up in Canada (or at least, that has been my experience).

[tim333]

I'm in the UK and we have private and the NHS along side which kind of works. The NHS can be a bit rubbish in terms of long waits and the like.