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NHS saved my life, says Barack Obama’s stepmother
Kiran Randhawa and Paul Thompson in Washington17 Aug 2009
Barack Obama's British stepmother told today how she would never have seen her stepson become president had it not been for the NHS saving her life.
Kezia Obama suffered chronic kidney failure during a summer visit to Britain seven years ago.
The 66-year-old, who was living in Kenya, was visiting her daughter Auma, 49, and granddaughter Akinyi, 12, when she was taken to hospital.
She received life-saving surgery at St Thomas' Hospital and was later transferred to Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, where she had further treatment.
In pictures: Barack Obama and family visit the Grand Canyon
Two months later, Mrs Obama, who now lives in Bracknell, was finally discharged and decided to make Britain her home, saying its healthcare system had been her “saviour”.
“I was two weeks into my holiday when I started getting pains,” she said. “I went to see a doctor, who gave me some medication but he was not sure what I was suffering from. It was a week later, when I collapsed in terrible pain, that the condition was diagnosed.”
Mrs Obama, who is on permanent medication for her kidney problems and had two hip replacements at Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot, in 2004, added: “The NHS saved my life. I would have missed the greatest and proudest moment in my family's history if it was not for this country's healthcare system.”
She spoke as President Obama was on the verge of a climbdown over his $1 trillion health care reform. He is preparing to drastically water down his plans for a government-run health service. Amid overwhelmingly negative reaction to his proposals, White House aides signalled that Mr Obama was prepared to dilute the plan if it meant other health reform proposals were passed.
Mr Obama's plan for a government run insurance scheme to rival private companies had been compared to the NHS. It led to the NHS being dragged into a bitter row in America, with opponents of the Obama plan pointing to the “inefficiencies” of the British system in TV adverts.
The “public option” has led to Mr Obama being called a socialist and portrayed as Hitler by some critics.
Alaska senator Sarah Palin attacked Mr Obama's blueprint, claiming it will give too much power to “bureaucrats” to decide who gets treatment.
Mrs Obama, who was married to President Obama's father, Barack Snr, killed in a car crash in Kenya in 1982, said: “I'm furious at Ms Palin for suggesting the NHS isn't a fair system.
“It works very well because everyone contributes to it, and no one is discriminated against when they walk through hospital doors.
“The nursing staff who cared for me were second to none and without their dedication I wouldn't be here. If I'd been in the States, there would have been no guarantee of new hips, and I'd have simply had to put up with struggling to walk and suffering a lot of pain.”
Mr Obama told a meeting in Grand Junction, Colorado: “All I'm saying is, that the public option, whether we have it or we don't have it, is not the entirety of health care reform. This is just one sliver of it, one aspect.”
In pictures: Barack Obama and family visit the Grand Canyon
Reader views (9)
I do not think all visitors misuse the NHS. My husband (he is british) and I arrived in Kent for my father-in-law's funeral and found out that I was pregnant the day after arrival. I was quite sick and I was hospitalized for a few days. When I was discharged, I asked for the bill and was told that I did not owe any money.Just incase they had forgotten,although the sign on the bed said visitor from Canada, I told them that I was from Canada so I should pay but again I was told that I did not have to pay. The same nurse told me that her aunt comes over from America for her medical treatment. I was treated well although the doctors (2) made a wrong diagnosis. They said that the fetus was in the tube and I would die if it was not removed. I asked to be discharged and returned to Canada. The pregnancy was ok and I gave birth to my daughter. I still appreciate the kindness of the doctors and staff at the hospital. We are humans and mistakes can be made.
I love England. My grandparents were from Manchester, my sister studied law in London and I started nursing at The Royal Northern hospital in London. We spent many wonderful vacations in England and we have always been well.
- Maureen, Waterloo, Canada, 28/09/2009 16:30
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Open door britain "fantastic" lets all jump for joy whilst the world takes the mickey.
- Gary, Brentwood, 28/09/2009 15:30
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Came for a "holiday" and decided to stay? What the hell has gone wrong with this country? Bet your life she gets DLA as well as all the other benefits ill health awards you.
I've worked since 1966, therefore have paid my taxes, and National Insurance for over 40 years, my mother had to pay privately to have an angioplasti due to the "over whelming" amount of people wanting the same procedure. Let me assure you the "overwhelming" were not British.
This country stinks, if you are unfortunate enough to have been born and bred here!!
- Mrs, London UK, 28/09/2009 15:30
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It is not correct to say the NHS is saving these people. It is the National Health Insurance (NHI) that is the provider of universal free health services. No National Insurance, No NHS. In reverse no NHS, and NHI would still deliver the free health service.
The NHS is the Socialist dream of everyone being beholden to the state. NHI is the State ensuring that everyone gets cared for.
While other countries are have copied the NHI route and come up with better health care than us, no one has yet considered that the NHS has any merits to make it worth considering.
Our Politicians followed by the media have blurred, the achievements of the Insurance to mean the NHS, they are wide of the mark.
- Ian, Reading, England, 28/09/2009 15:30
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If she was visiting from Kenya did she really get FREE NHS service or was it paid for?
Part of the problem with the NHS is the abuse by non-UK residents taking 'operation' holidays getting free use of the resources so reducing funding and denying UK citizens NHS welfair which they may need because of serious illness.
I would like to think that the wealthy Obama family paid for this treatment, but my synical side thinks that it would be a usual case of take all, give nothing.
- Jock, London, England, 28/09/2009 15:30
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How nice, feel health care and residency and probably welfare for anyone that comes here on holiday. ELECTIONS PLEASE!
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London UK, 28/09/2009 15:30
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I have needed the NHS twice recently with kidney stone pains. At St Thomas's and St Mary's hospital I could not have rceived better attention and care anywhere in the world. Th staff were brilliant and (despite some reports) the hospitals were spotlessly clean. Long live the NHS!!!!!
- Frederick Pyne, LOndon UK, 28/09/2009 15:30
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Sorry luv, but that's what hospitals, doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff do, NHS or not. Sincere congratulations on your improved health, but what has that got to do with anything regarding Obamacare in the USA - or anything else for that matter?
- Rogan, Irving, 28/09/2009 15:30
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What comes out of this is that the NHI is brilliant, but that the NHS could be a lot better organised, with advice from France + Germany for instance. We shouldn't be afraid to criticise the bureaucracy [http://e.g. as to who gets the free care|http://e.g. as to who gets the free care] but we should absolutely defend our system against the shrill, ignorant and violent views of 'middle America'.
- Rome, London, UK, 28/09/2009 15:30
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