Unit 9! Healthcaaree

Most of the time we feel well. We can play sports, go to work and enjoy our lives. But sometimes we just don't feel well. What happens then?
Some people have medical insurance but most people can't afford it and rely on the National Health Service, the NHS. This is provided by the government in Britain. The NHS has sent everybody in Britain a Self-Help Guide. This will help you diagnose what is wrong and find the best treatment. It covers things like headaches, coughus and colds, having a temperature or a stomach ache. For many people it could be all they need. You may need to go to the chemist to buy cough mixture or pills for a geadache. There are lots of medicines you can buy in the chemist buy for more powerful ones like antibiotics you need to have a prescription.
You can get a prescription from a doctor. Doctors work in surgeries or health centres. The doctor examines you first to find uout wha'ts wrong. Then they can write you a prescription for medicine to cure you.

If you can't get to a doctor, there are two other NHS services you could try. The first is NHS Direct. This is a phone service where a trained nurse will suggest the bes way to treat you. The NHS also provides Walk-in Centres in more than 60 locations in Britain. You don't need an appointment - you can just go in and wait until a doctor is available to teat you. Walk-in Centres treat minor illnesses like colds and flu, cuts and sprains.
For accidents (for example a broken leg or arm) or emergencies ( for example a heart attach), you hould go to a hospital which has got a specific Accident and Emergencies department. Doctors and medical staff can cure lots of illnesse now using suregery and teament with drugs.
But many people prefer alternative medicine. This can include many kinds of teatmen using both very old and very modern thechniques. One of the most common alternative treatments is the use of chinese herbs - these are completely natural medicine. Acupuncture - a Chinese technique using needles placed carefully in the body - is also popular Osteopathy - where the doctor manipulates bones and muscles - is another popular. osteoplathy - where the doctor manipulates bones and muscles - is also popular. Osteopathy - where the doctor manipulates bones and muscles - is another popular treatment.

Hopeflly these treatments won't be necessary. The best way to avoid getting ill is to have a healthy diet, get lots of exercise and take good care of yourself. YOU shouldn't then need to use the healthcare system at all!