Anger over 'US criticism' of NHS

American politician Sarah Palin doesn't like Barack Obama's new health plans

It's being called "evil" and a "death panel" where bureaucrats decide who lives and who dies. Any ideas what it could be?

Well, it's how the idea of Britain's NHS is being described over in America.

It's all part of a backlash against Barack Obama's planned changes to the US health system.

There's been an angry response from Newsbeat listeners who point out the UK is above the US in healthcare league tables.

Fiona from Derby says the NHS saved her life. "I almost died of Hodgkin's Lymphoma aged 20," she said. "I've since gone on to have two children. I'm owed their lives as much as my own."

'Hollow propoganda'

Gareth in Hampshire has had a personal experience of the health system in the US. "I lived in the USA and the healthcare system is designed for the rich," he texted.

"My two-year-old son had to go to the emergency room for a high fever.

"The hospital charged $10,000 (£6,076). He only had three injections and a quick check up."

John is a medical student at the University of Manchester. He thinks the adverts are just scare tactics. "The American adverts about our health service are just wrong," he said.

"The health service in the UK is scored way higher than that of the US. You just need to watch the Micheal Moore film Sicko to see that those adverts are hollow propaganda."

Mike in Dundee thinks these are American fear tactics. He said: "They're all so afraid of losing their own money they resort to attacking their only ally left in the world."

But Andrew from Rochester in Kent agrees with Sarah Palin.

He said: "The NHS should be scrapped. Why should hard working people be taxed to death to pay for healthcare for those who can't even be bothered to get out of bed and then have to pay even more for private treatment because the government has wasted all the tax income?"

This person didn't leave their name but says they've been ill for the past 11 months.

"I have seen countless doctors and been given loads of tablets. Nothing has helped but they refuse to test me because I'm not a high-risk patient because I'm not overweight.

"The last doctor I saw said they didn't know what it was and I'll probably have it for the next 10 years!

"The NHS just want to fob people off with tablets rather than actually care for their illnesses."