A Six Year Toothache

From an op-ed buried in Saturday's Sun Times:

Britain's system of socialized medicine is enough to make your teeth hurt -- literally. Its citizens rely upon the government-run National Health Service that is designed to provide free access to every medical service, including dental care. But like all socialized medicine schemes, it has produced long lines, a shortage of medical professionals, and shoddy care.

William Kelly, a resident of a working-class suburb of Manchester, represented the frustrations of many Britons when he plucked out one of his own teeth last year. Why? Because the pain had become intolerable, and the wait to see a dentist was unbearably long. When he spoke with the New York Times last summer, Kelly had been unable to get a dentist appointment for six years.

A cautionary tale. Good Tribune editorial on Illinois here.

Related post: Heartless Socialized Medicine