There may be more than one answer. Give your reasons .

In major emergencies such as road traffic accidents , most people in Britain are treated under the National Health Service , known as the NHS . If you are badly injured , you will be taken by ambulance to Accident and Emergency .

Once any bleeding has been stemmed , you will be x-rayed to see if you have broken any bones . If you have fractured your femur or patella , you may be operated on by an orthopaedic surgeon fairly quickly. If you have done serious damage to your pelvis, you may need to be transferred to a large city hospital where surgeons specialize in complex fractures and pelvic reconstruction . Many unlucky motorcyclists require specialist surgery and often their legs are put in traction until they enter the operating theatre .

Soon after the operation, the patient is usually introduced to the physiotherapist . Some patients are put on a special machine which gently moves their knee and hip joints . If progress is maintained, they will be mobilized - moved from bed to wheelchair and then to zimmer-frame or crutches. When they are walking on crutches, they will be taught how to climb steps. Providing their surgical wounds have healed and once they are no longer in pain , they can look forward to their discharge from hospital.

Dialogue

A: Would you ever consider taking out private health insurance?

B: I think it's a very sensible idea!

A: But you are already paying for the NHS through national insurance. Why should you have to insure yourself twice?

B: That's a very good question. The reality is that the NHS covers people in major emergencies, but the service is under too much pressure to give adequate support.

A: Can you be a bit more specific?

B: Certainly. There're thousands of people who are in great pain. Some are waiting for minor surgery while others are waiting for treatment at pain control clinics.

A: But under the patients' charter, hospitals are meant to treat you within a certain time.

B: Well, you know how they get round that one. They make you wait for monthsbefore they put you on the waiting list.

A: I don't think it's as bad as you make out. According to government statistics, waiting lists are coming down.

B: That may be true for certain operations such as hernias where you're sometimes in and out of hospital within a day. They rush you through the system because they're short of beds. Then they hand you over to some elderly relative with a weak heart and expect them to look after you. They call it "care in the community".

A: But there're lots of back up departments such as Social Services and Occupational Therapy.

B: Have you ever tried contacting these departments and filling in their forms? Getting them to take quick action is virtually impossible.

1. "Governments should provide a first class National Health Service for everybody so that nobody would want to pay for private treatment."

2. "Most nurses are overworked and underpaid." Do you agree?

3. "People who have damaged their health through smoking or drinking should be at the back of the queue for expensive treatments."

4. Do people have the right to smoke when children in the same house or colleagues in the same office have to inhale the smoke?

5. "Everybody should be compulsorily tested for HIV to allow the authorities to monitor and counter the spread of AIDS."

6. "Alternative therapies should be recognised and licenced under the NHS to include (a) acupuncture (b) homeopathy (c) aromatherapy & massage (d) meditation (e) yoga (f) hypnosis and (g) faith healing." Do you agree?

7. "Western doctors prescribe drugs and medicines too freely since they do not have time to treat patients as individuals." Do you agree?

8. Being a foreigner in this country can I get health treatment? What documents would I need to provide?

CROSSWORD