NHS

[GeoffCapes]

Sorry to hear that @Harry I do echo your thoughts on the William Harvey, when I was rushed in there 3 years ago with food poisoning (and suspected meningitis) they were brilliant (apparently I was not with it).
According to my wife they had me assessed in 30 minutes and I was in intensive care shortly afterwards. 6 days later I was out.

The NHS are brilliant, the management are not so great. There are too many people taking salaries for doing the same as the person next to them.
Having worked with the NHS for many years, I know that to get something agreed it has to go through countless committees. I even had to write the tender document once for the tender of something only I could supply! Bonkers. There is so much wastage it's ridiculous. And sadly those on the frontline (doctors and nurses) bear the brunt of things which is due to wastage and mismanagement of those not involved in medical care.

 

[midlifecrisis]

Got my flu jab today, and it really was sign in, jab, out, . All booked online too, prompted by a text from the surgery.

Sadly no bravery badge or lollipop...

Yours Disappointed of Haywards Heath.

 

[Phil H]

Got my flu jab today, and it really was sign in, jab, out, . All booked online too, prompted by a text from the surgery.

Sadly no bravery badge or lollipop...

Yours Disappointed of Haywards Heath.

Oh that's so sad. Have this one on me:

 

[Scaf]

I feel as though we are somehow forbidden to criticise the NHS because they are almost saints.
The reality is of course there is much to complain about.
I am not saying they don't deserve a pay increase for the long hours etc but the media drive the agenda
(Next week it will be Celebrity Jungle and following that freezing Ukrainians in the depths of their winter following that another topic)
The NHS is poorly and has needed attention for a long time now but it is unaffordable in the present guise. Radical thinking is required and nobody has the guts to raise those thoughts as we cannot be seen to say anything against that institution

I think it’s perfectly acceptable to criticise the NHS, in fact we should all do so if it fails us.

But, we have to aim criticism at those that can make a difference- politicians for funding and management for the way it’s run.

I, like many owe their lives to the NHS, yet my mother in law lost hers because of their failings.

 

[Bebs]

I think it’s perfectly acceptable to criticise the NHS, in fact we should all do so if it fails us.

But, we have to aim criticism at those that can make a difference- politicians for funding and management for the way it’s run.

I, like many owe their lives to the NHS, yet my mother in law lost hers because of their failings.

I can’t agree with that entirely. Numerous times I have encountered incompetence or lack of knowledge from GP’s, GP nurses, NHS doctors and surgeons. Not going to go into all the specifics but I’ll give you an example;
I broke my jaw in three places. The NHS surgeons wanted to make incisions from the outside of my face in order to fit titanium brackets & screws into the bone to hold it all together. I refused as I did not want 3 massive scars on my face.
I was taken back to Denmark by family and operated on by the Danish ‘NHS’
The Danish surgeons performed this operation from inside the mouth, leaving no visible outside scars.
The Danish hospital made arrangements for the NHS to monitor progress (that I was biting together properly) so that I could resume work back in the U.K.
The NHS surgeons were all over me asking for permission to take X-rays of the work as they simply could not understand how this operation could be performed from the inside.
Remember, Denmark is country of 5 million people only.
I have plenty more NHS doctor/surgeon horror stories relating to myself but given I live in the UK presently, I’ll keep those to myself.

 

[Bebs]

I should have also mentioned, that when I was initially taken into A&E, the doctor sent me home after ‘feeling’ my face, saying there is ‘nothing wrong’
Two painful days later and my whole jaw was moving about I went back and insisted on an X-Ray… what an absolute shambles, total incompetence, I had 3 brackets and 16 screws fitted in Denmark… ‘nothing wrong!’

 

[safrane]

On balance, for every poor experience there are tens of thousands good ones... and I think that the vast majority on here have the funds to go elsewhere if they wish.

Much like having thier cars taken car of.

 

[spkennyuk]

On balance, for every poor experience there are tens of thousands good ones... and I think that the vast majority on here have the funds to go elsewhere if they wish.

Much like having thier cars taken car of.

I really dont think the first part of that statement is true anymore.

Seems now that everyone you speak to about the NHS has a horror story that has occured either to them or to one of their nearest and dearest.

While if you have funds you can go private for most things it really doesnt help you in an 999 emergency situation or you end up having to wait for 4 hours plus at your local A&E department.

The last time i had an ambulance called out (not for me) via NHS helpline it took over an hour and twenty minutes and still didnt arrive. At which point they asked me to drive the patient to the hospital.
I had suggested this in the first place but as it was a back injury they insisted on sending an ambulance to make sure no further injury occured.

That person spent the next two weeks in hospital and weeks after on crutches. Most of that time in agony.

The one thing that got my goat in the last few years with the local NHS. I had the misfortune to end up at A&E during the height of covid lockdown.

Tbf they were doing a great job in difficult circumstances. Only patients allowed in unless an interpreter was required or a parent and child. Everyone 2 meters apart. Wait time was only 2 hours. Vending machines all turnes off. Every safety measure being taken. A few worried looking pensioners waiting for their partners in the car park. Every guidline being followed by the patients.

Next thing three people turn up at reception. Mother, father and their child i assume with some flowers and chocolates for the staff to say thank you NHS. What did reception do ? They sent out two nurses and the receptionist to take them off the people and say thank you. At which point the mother dropped her mask to give a speach about what a fantastic job the NHS were doing risking their lives to help others.

Where the trio should have been sent away with a flea in their ear that didnt happen. It wasnt a necessary journey for them and topped it off by handing something over that at least 4 people touched while i was sat waiting that could have been contaminated with covid. The stupidity of the three visitors was one thing but that was then compounded by the two nurses and receptionist.

Why was i at A&E ? Well thats another NHS horror story which i wont bore you with but could have easily been avoided if the NHS had not pratted around for a week.

 

[CatmanV2]

I really dont think the first part of that statement is true anymore.

Also my perception, but we can't tell because the reporting is lacking (IMHO)
C

 

[Felonious Crud]

Got my flu jab today, and it really was sign in, jab, out, . All booked online too, prompted by a text from the surgery.

Sadly no bravery badge or lollipop...

Yours Disappointed of Haywards Heath.

I had mine in the local pharmacy. Strolled in, asked if they were doing them, sat down, jabbed and out. Same with the 2nd covid booster. Straight in and out.

That said, I know well how stretched the NHS is. My experiences at the local pharmacy are sadly atypical.

 

[CatmanV2]

I had mine in the local pharmacy. Strolled in, asked if they were doing them, sat down, jabbed and out. Same with the 2nd covid booster. Straight in and out.

That said, I know well how stretched the NHS is. My experiences at the local pharmacy are sadly atypical.

Similar to my experience. Which was a St John's Ambulance guy.....

C

 

[safrane]

I really dont think the first part of that statement is true anymore.

Seems now that everyone you speak to about the NHS has a horror story that has occured either to them or to one of their nearest and dearest.

While if you have funds you can go private for most things it really doesnt help you in an 999 emergency situation or you end up having to wait for 4 hours plus at your local A&E department.

The last time i had an ambulance called out (not for me) via NHS helpline it took over an hour and twenty minutes and still didnt arrive. At which point they asked me to drive the patient to the hospital.
I had suggested this in the first place but as it was a back injury they insisted on sending an ambulance to make sure no further injury occured.

That person spent the next two weeks in hospital and weeks after on crutches. Most of that time in agony.

The one thing that got my goat in the last few years with the local NHS. I had the misfortune to end up at A&E during the height of covid lockdown.

Tbf they were doing a great job in difficult circumstances. Only patients allowed in unless an interpreter was required or a parent and child. Everyone 2 meters apart. Wait time was only 2 hours. Vending machines all turnes off. Every safety measure being taken. A few worried looking pensioners waiting for their partners in the car park. Every guidline being followed by the patients.

Next thing three people turn up at reception. Mother, father and their child i assume with some flowers and chocolates for the staff to say thank you NHS. What did reception do ? They sent out two nurses and the receptionist to take them off the people and say thank you. At which point the mother dropped her mask to give a speach about what a fantastic job the NHS were doing risking their lives to help others.

Where the trio should have been sent away with a flea in their ear that didnt happen. It wasnt a necessary journey for them and topped it off by handing something over that at least 4 people touched while i was sat waiting that could have been contaminated with covid. The stupidity of the three visitors was one thing but that was then compounded by the two nurses and receptionist.

Why was i at A&E ? Well thats another NHS horror story which i wont bore you with but could have easily been avoided if the NHS had not pratted around for a week.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree, and of course the UK does love to moan about most things.

Some research here.

Activity in the NHS | The King's Fund (kingsfund.org.uk)

 

[lifes2short]

I should have also mentioned, that when I was initially taken into A&E, the doctor sent me home after ‘feeling’ my face, saying there is ‘nothing wrong’
Two painful days later and my whole jaw was moving about I went back and insisted on an X-Ray… what an absolute shambles, total incompetence, I had 3 brackets and 16 screws fitted in Denmark… ‘nothing wrong!’

couldnt agree more with both your posts, "General Practitioners" are in my experience incompetent, don't really diagnose issues correctly and are far too quick to brush off real medical problems and simply send you on your way with pain killers, lots of stories i could tell you as well that would shock how incompetent they are

 

[midlifecrisis]

couldnt agree more with both your posts, "General Practitioners" are in my experience incompetent, don't really diagnose issues correctly and are far too quick to brush off real medical problems and simply send you on your way with pain killers, lots of stories i could tell you as well that would shock how incompetent they are

Maybe they're under too much pressure to quickly diagnose the issue in the short appointment time.

 

[lifes2short]

Maybe they're under too much pressure to quickly diagnose the issue in the short appointment time.

possibly but still no excuse for not diagnosing serious issues correctly, many moons ago I trusted quacks and would spend time to correctly diagnose but now I dont trust any of them and this is from later life experience

 

[philw696]

€25 to see the doctor here and so far have always got an appointment on the day.
We also pay into a mutual which is very good and fair.
My ex wife and daughter are both in the NHS and I'm told things are not easy at all.

 

[GeoffCapes]

I think Covid highlighted the amount of people who clog up the system for no good reason.

Those who weren't actually ill didn't make appointments to see the doctor.
I've a friend who is a GP and the some of the stories why people have gone to the doctor are ridiculous. Hangovers being one of the worse!

 

[Delmonte]

A subject very close to me at the moment. My Mum in law is 81 Yr old cancer patient (with myeloma). She lives on her own, 100 miles / 2 hr drive from me & Mrs. Myeloma, in time, seems to attack the bones / joints.
This week, it flared up, she was in agony, could hardly move around or lie down. Didn't sleep for 2 days, trying to ****** bits of sleep sat in a chair.
Got so bad my wife had to leave work (she works full time) drive to hers, stay with her. GP will not see her except by phone appointment. Wife rang her an ambulance to get her to hospital. Took 6 hours to come. Once at hospital, spent rest of the day and night in a "overflow" room with loads of other patients (no beds available in wards or rooms) and eventually had a scan late that night. From scan, they "can't see anything", sent her home next day (yesterday) with a pocket full of morphine.

My wife is still at her place today. But she needs to be at work here really. And she is far from being a medical professional.

Mum in law is sat in a chair at home, confused in pain and doped up. No way capable of looking after herself.

There seems to be no care available.

Where we are today is: I just do not know what to do.

 

[lifes2short]

A subject very close to me at the moment. My Mum in law is 81 Yr old cancer patient (with myeloma). She lives on her own, 100 miles / 2 hr drive from me & Mrs. Myeloma, in time, seems to attack the bones / joints.
This week, it flared up, she was in agony, could hardly move around or lie down. Didn't sleep for 2 days, trying to ** bits of sleep sat in a chair.
Got so bad my wife had to leave work (she works full time) drive to hers, stay with her. GP will not see her except by phone appointment. Wife rang her an ambulance to get her to hospital. Took 6 hours to come. Once at hospital, spent rest of the day and night in a "overflow" room with loads of other patients (no beds available in wards or rooms) and eventually had a scan late that night. From scan, they "can't see anything", sent her home next day (yesterday) with a pocket full of morphine.

My wife is still at her place today. But she needs to be at work here really. And she is far from being a medical professional.

Mum in law is sat in a chair at home, confused in pain and doped up. No way capable of looking after herself.

There seems to be no care available.

Where we are today is: I just do not know what to do.

it is truly shocking some stories you get to hear about and feel for you, pensioners who have taken a tumble with serious medical issues/broken bones waiting hours on end outside in gardens and streets for ambulances, it's like we're a third world country, just gobsmacking

 

[GeoffCapes]

it is truly shocking some stories you get to hear about and feel for you, pensioners who have taken a tumble with serious medical issues/broken bones waiting hours on end outside in gardens and streets for ambulances, it's like we're a third world country, just gobsmacking

Care outside of hospitals is next to non-existent in this country.

My Dad has mixed dementia, and his decline is becoming more accelerated. Is there any care available for my poor mum who is his full time carer? Who I might add is absolutely shattered. She's no spring chicken at 76. She's seen a Dementia care liaison person twice in 4 years!!!! And still hasn't received any help.

The local day centre for people with Dementia to give carers a break for a few hours has closed due to funding cuts.
I worry, that all of this will kill my mum before my poor old dad dies from his disease.