In Britain, people all receive free medical treatment. Anyone who feels unwell may go to the doctor in a National Health Service hospital or in a “group practice” formed by several National Health Service doctors who are paid by the state.

Among the National Health Service doctors, some are specialists, others are general practitioners (普通医生).

Do the British think such a medical service (the National Health Service-NHS) nice?

Many patients complain about it nearly every time they go to see the doctor. They say, “ I spent an hour waiting to see the doctor, and when my turn came, he gave me only three minutes and said there was nothing wrong with me.”

What about the doctors and nurses then? Many doctors complain they have so many patients that they do not have enough time to look after any of them properly. Nurses complain that they are overworked and underpaid.

In England many National Health Service hospitals are old-fashioned and overcrowded, and, because of the shortage (缺乏) of beds, patients often have to wait a long time for operations.

Do the rich people complain? No. They prefer going to private doctors or those specialists in Harley Street---the famous “doctors’ street” in London. When the rich people are ill they go to a private nursing home, or they may hire a private room in an ordinary hospital.