This is a list created by the Reddit user hblask (who gave me permission to repost) which archives a series of news articles, both statistical and anecdotal, which show the many failings of the NHS and other socialised medical systems around the world. He’s been keeping this list of articles archived in a Google Documents file for a while, adding to it regularly, and I figured it deserved some more exposure. A list like this is a useful starting point whenever somebody claims that the NHS is “the pride of Britain” or that socialised medicine is a natural moral evolution of the “horrors” of the dreaded voluntary market. Feel free to post additional articles in the comments and I will add them to the list.

Statistical/systemic

UK surgeons raise the alarm on waiting lists (4/5/11)

NHS Director dies on due to waiting list at hospital she oversaw (3/31/11)

NHS providing substandard care to seniors (2/14/11)

Wait times in Canada jump to 127 days (12/6/10)

Maternity care on verge of breakdown in UK (1/1/11)

Sick Americans live as long as health British (11/3/10)

Greece opts to amputate to save money on special footwear (10/9/10)

Lack of drug availability endangers preemies (10/1/10)

Elderly left to starve at NHS hospitals (8/29/10)

Adjusting outcomes for non-healthcare related items

Canadian study on wait times and what to do about them

NHS to make cuts to basic services (7/24/10)

Cash Crisis In UK leaves patients without beds (7/18/10)

Thousands denied routine cancer drug in UK (5/6/10)

Socialized medicine in the US: VA’s persistent mismanagement (4/19/10)

800,000 mistakes by the NHS regarding organ donations (4/10/10)

Delays increase due to funding crisis in UK (3/20/10)

A quarter of NHS hospitals fail to meet basic hygiene standards (3/19/10):

British newspaper reports on serious persistent shortages (8/26/09)

British newspaper reports on a study of substandard care throughout the UK (8/27/09)

British report on denial of life-saving drugs (4/29/09)

British children going to hospital instead of dentist due to shortages (4/12/09)

Scotland has long delays in cancer treatment (3/21/09)

Emergency care inadequate in UK (3/17/09)

Children in UK wait up to two years for a wheelchair (3/4/09)

Less than 10% of UK hospitals tested passed basic hygiene rules (11/24/08)

Canadian dies in waiting room, isn’t found for 34 hours (10/24/08).

A report on worldwide deficiencies in countries with socialized care (3/18/08)

A third of stroke patients in UK receive substandard care (5/9/07)

Anecdotal:

Man turned away from hospital 4 times, left to die. (3/16/11)

Swedish hospital mistakes leads to penis amputation (10/29/10)

UK Woman denied lifesaving surgery for living two streets away (4/21/10)

8 year old boy dies in UK after being refused an ambulance (4/23/10)

NHS Patient denied care for seeing an unapproved doctor (4/18/10)

NHS patient ignored for 11 hours, denied water (3/26/10)

Canadian politician chooses to get care in US to bypass waiting list in Canada (2/23/10)

Socialized medicine failures around the world (4/11/09)

British newspaper reports on shortages of dentists in UK (2/16/09)

UK doctors let living, breathing preemie die (9/10/09)

British politician cares more about sports than failing system (8/14/09)

Pregnant woman dies in Japan after being turned away from seven hospitals (10/24/08)

Waiting for care for serious condition in Canada (5/14/08)

Canada denies coverage of drug routinely covered in the US (8/6/07)