1st World Country, 3rd World Government - NHS

Sometimes you get surprised that a country like UK should have practices that you get to see in 3rd world countries. In fact it is worse, because in 3rd world countries jumping queues, paying bribes and other tactics works whereas in UK, under the pretext of being a 1st world nation these things are not possible. As a result you end up in a situation that neither works in the 1st world nor the 3rd world.

National Health Service
At a certain GP Practice in London, if you go in at 8:30AM for an emergency appointment, the response is your appointment is at 12 come back then. I think someone needs to explain to them that an emergency means immediate attention, and if you are telling someone to come back 3 hours later for an emergency appointment it defeats the meaning of the word. In fact to get any appointment takes forever and once you get an appointment if you want to get an expert opinion it takes 3 appointments with the GP before they can make sure it requires expert opinion and refer you to one. By then it is almost 2 months and for all that you know your ailment has cured itself or gotten worse.
What would happen in the 3rd world is:

If you are getting delayed at one hospital you can go to the other.

You or someone you know would know someone (and this can go on and one) who would know someone influential to help you get straight to the doctor in case of an emergency and promised the best treatment.

If you think you have to go to a specialist you don’t go to a GP, you go straight to a specialist, who the influential person above will arrange so that you don’t have to wait and utmost care will be given to your treatment.