The good thing about medical care in the UK is that it is largely free (unless you pay taxes). The bad thing is that you get what you pay for.

The Beeb reports from East Kilbride, Scotland:

A 55-year-old man died alone after twice calling 999 only to be told by call handlers an ambulance would not be sent for him.

999 is the British 911.

Brian Hurton had an aortic dissection – when a tear opens up in the body’s main artery – on 18 November last year.

He told emergency services he couldn’t breathe and thought he was going to collapse. They said to call back later if he didn’t feel better. When he called again, they said they were busy so a clinician would get back to him. Then he died.

Britons can be grateful that at least they don’t have the Canadian version of socialized medicine. Calling 999 might result in a euthanasia team being dispatched to their door.

On a tip from Steve T.