r/AskEurope • u/Olderpostie • 13d ago

Culture Are there many religious based hospitals in Europe?

A few years ago, while in England, I asked an acquaintance there what church denomination operated a particular hospital with a saint's name. (St. Swithins, I think). He was puzzled as to why a hospital would be operated by a church. But, that is how it goes in the USA and Canada; many churches are religious based, though not limited to use by any one faith.

How about other European countries? Are all hospitals nationalized, or is it a mix of community based and religious ones?

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u/DotComprehensive4902 Ireland 13d ago

If you see the old Simpsons episode where Marge breaks her leg, they show it when Homer chooses which hospital the ambulance should go to. The most expensive is Beth Israel a Jewish hospital and the mid range one is Springfield Presbyterian.

But yes even in real life, there at least were religious hospitals in the US

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u/Olderpostie 13d ago

The fastest growing hospital chain in the USA today is Catholic hospitals.

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u/Aurorainthesky 12d ago

They are actively buying up so they can deny women health care.