It's a vicious, snowballing circle and nobody can escape. The lawyers tell you they can get you $$$ from the "incompetent" medical personnel - just sue. The Doctors' malpractice insurance premiums soar... the doctors start to charge exhorbitant rates for their services. The lawyers tell you that they can get you $$$ from the "incompetent" medical personnel to offset that huge medical bill.... just sue. I know there are problems with the medical system in the UK, but compared to what we have here in the USofA, you guys are doing miraculously well. That $2500 for 3 hours story is not a joke. My 3 days in hospital for angina, after all tests and "specialist" fees was over $75,000.