The NHS - Is it that bad?

[graj0]

I was having my usual whinge to myself about my doctors surgery and wondering if certain procedures could be improved. Last Thursday I had all the symptoms of an all too familiar water infection, I rang the surgery, I asked for advise as to whether an appointment was necessary and presented my symptoms. I was asked if I could come and give a sample, which I've done before and then waited 4 days for a result confirming that I did indeed have a water infection and I could have some antibiotics . . . . . 4 days too late in my mind, probably just me. I was a little apprehensive, thinking "here we go again", but my symptoms were the deciding factor. I don't know what other people's experience is but last Thursday I was getting urgent signals that I needed a wee every 15 minutes or so and sometimes the urge was so bad I was making a mess before addressing the porcelain and even then, finding I only had a thimble full.. So driving to the surgery (20 minutes) wasn't a decent option last Thursday, I managed on Friday because I was starting to feel better. Yesterday I rang for the results and the sample I provided was clear. Before the person at the surgery had the chance to ring up I had to tell her to hang on and ask "surely presenting the symptoms and not having an infection surely means I better see the GP? I've now got a telephone appointment which is OK, sort of, but I can dip a stick into a pot of pee, I shall ask in case it happens again, waiting 4 days can be so easily simplified with no effort required on their part, or am I looking at this in to simplistic a way.

It got me thinking about what we expect from an NHS and what we expect to get out of it. I don't see many signs of improvements but what am I looking for? I've had two emergency admissions in the last three years and everything has been terrific, fantastic, still wanted to get home as soon as possible though. Anyway, I found this URL and some of the numbers make interesting reading. Sorry it's probably only for England, but that's what happens when some countries in the UK want their own NHS. LOL

http://www.nhsconfed.org/resources/key-statistics-on-the-nhs

 

[JTL]

A few weeks ago my physio was going over past scans of my spine and noticed in a report that there was an anomaly on a nerve exiting my sacral bone.
With it was a reccomendation for an urgent rescan because this could mean I was going into cauda equina syndrome especially with other symptoms I was having and that have returned lately.
That scan with it's advice was around five years old.
When my doctor back at the surgery was informed she said why the hell does nothing ever get followed up in this place!
She's new to the surgery.
Phoned a specialist and said we have a possible case of cauda equina here that has been left unattended by this surgery or anyone else for a number of years and I feel it a matter of urgency you see this man as soon as possible.
Send him to see me right now.
So same day I'm seeing a consultant.
He gets on the phone to the scanning crew and shouts and screams at them rthat they will provide me with a scan within 72 hours or someone may well be getting sued.
II'm driving home and my wife takes a call .... can JACKTHELAD come in tommorow morning at 8am for a scan .... sure can.,
Next day I go for a scan.
I I've been back home an hour the phone rings ... can you come back to the hospital to discuss the results of your scan now?
Sure can.
Get there we have the discussion she is referring me as a matter of urgency to the neurologist in Liverpool .... urgent being within two weeks.
On my way home the phone rings can I be in Liverpool tomorrow!
I have that appointment and am referred oto another team in Liverpool .... urgently.
This was on a Friday.
Saturday afternoon I get a text telling me to be in Liverpool Monday morning.
Been to that one and now it's back to the snails pace awaiting to see the man who decides whether or not I have an op.
Quite a whirlwind but then the last three weeks nothing has happened .... I want my whirlwind back.

 

[JTL]

I live in North Wales by the way.

 

[Giverny]

Never had a particularly bad experience in hospital, other than A&E waiting times. I know that can't be helped, and I was incredibly grateful a few weeks ago when I was admitted following a grand mal seizure.

Was referred to neurology consultant and told I'd have to wait up to 8 weeks for my appointment. Called and asked what was the likelihood of me getting in any sooner than that, and they put me first in line to be called if anyone else cancelled. Sure enough, they called a few days later and I had my appointment last wednesday. Unfortunately, that's where my good run kind of ends.

Diagnosed with epilepsy and my medication is now in the control of my GP, who has proven himself dangerously incompetent on several occasions. Still waiting for the prescription that my neurologist said I should be starting right away... and now have to wait till this time next month for my EEG which is a bit naff.

So essentially, I've never really had any trouble with the NHS. It's always proven efficient in the hospital setting but I'd say not so much in the way of GPs.

 

[Totto]

Never had a particularly bad experience in hospital, other than A&E waiting times. I know that can't be helped, and I was incredibly grateful a few weeks ago when I was admitted following a grand mal seizure.

Was referred to neurology consultant and told I'd have to wait up to 8 weeks for my appointment. Called and asked what was the likelihood of me getting in any sooner than that, and they put me first in line to be called if anyone else cancelled. Sure enough, they called a few days later and I had my appointment last wednesday. Unfortunately, that's where my good run kind of ends.

Diagnosed with epilepsy and my medication is now in the control of my GP, who has proven himself dangerously incompetent on several occasions. Still waiting for the prescription that my neurologist said I should be starting right away... and now have to wait till this time next month for my EEG which is a bit naff.

So essentially, I've never really had any trouble with the NHS. It's always proven efficient in the hospital setting but I'd say not so much in the way of GPs.

I'm so sorry to hear this Giverny. Hubby has epilepsy since the year after the stroke he had at the age of 48 but nothing as bad as the grand mal attacks, only Jackson.

Have you started on meds yet? You see some of the more common drugs tend to lead to deficiencies of different kinds, among them low thyroid so if you are not on Levo already I recommend you get thyroid hormones tested as soon as possible. Also vitamin B12 and vitamin D. It can be useful to have these readings to compare with at a later date.

Hubby is seen yearly by a neurology consultant as nobody in Sweden would expect a GP to be able to handle epilepsy. Can you self refer yourself back to the neurology department?

A ketogenic diet can help, not only kids but adults too. Google "epilepsy ketogenic diet adults" if you are interested in this.

 

[dtennant9]

When I was admitted to hospital during my diabetes diagnosis the admissions ward were good but you could tell that they were so overstretched. Was an interesting evening.
The diabetes clinic at my hospital are fantastic and it is also useful having the facility that they will call you back to discuss concerns etc and give me advice. I've also had cause to call NHS 24 a few times in the last couple of years and they have been excellent in helping me, especially the time I was away from home and forgotten to take my Lantus with me.
The GP and pharmacy have messed up my stuff a few times and they don't seem to communicate but I've always managed to iron things out with them. One of the calls to NHS 24 was caused by the pharmacy but also my own fault for not checking my order when I picked it up.

 

[CarbsRok]

My GP has always been fantastic, care second to none. As soon as it reaches hospital level things go t*ts up big time. I now refuse point blank to go to the hospital for anything.

 

[graj0]

Been to that one and now it's back to the snails pace awaiting to see the man who decides whether or not I have an op.
Quite a whirlwind but then the last three weeks nothing has happened .... I want my whirlwind back.

I hope everything is sorted in the whirlwind manner that you deserve.

It's always going to be a big problem because of the size of the organisation, the sorts of treatments that we expect them to do and funding.

My friends son qualified last year as an SRN (I hope that's what they call them these days). He works at a big London Hospital and spends most of time explaining to agency nurses what the procedures are, never mind looking after patients.

Accounting practices mean that it's easier to fund agency nurses (where there's a middle man creaming off a healthy profit I assume) than to have a good old fashioned state educated, state registered nurse.

 

[graj0]

I live in North Wales by the way.

He He, my father is from the Swansea Valley, a village called Godrergraig. I have a very dear friend in Cardiff where Welsh is the first Language, their all went to welsh schools etc etc. He didn't make me happy when he reminded me that that in Wales you don't have to pay for car parking, whereas in England we do. I've always been skeptical about the word "United" in United Kingdom.
Still doesn't help you with your condition, I just hope it gets sorted, before they re-introduce car park charges. Bit of tongue in cheek there, being half welsh myself, and usually very proud of that fact, I'm allowed to be a bit cheeky.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Other than the poor dietary advice I have never had the slightest problem, either with my GP's practice (Health Centre based) or my local hospitals. My breast cancer care was second to none. No waiting for treatment, short waiting times for results, and wonderful caring consultants, nurses and support staff. The admin side of things was a bit dodgy at times though. Because cancer treatment causes low immunity my GP always came out to my home rather than have me waiting in the surgery with all the associated bugs in there. She even came once unexpectedly to see how I was doing - she said she just happened to be passing.

I have nothing but praise for everyone I have had dealings with in the NHS. I've certainly had more than my money's worth.

 

[JTL]

He He, my father is from the Swansea Valley, a village called Godrergraig. I have a very dear friend in Cardiff where Welsh is the first Language, their all went to welsh schools etc etc. He didn't make me happy when he reminded me that that in Wales you don't have to pay for car parking, whereas in England we do. I've always been skeptical about the word "United" in United Kingdom.
Still doesn't help you with your condition, I just hope it gets sorted, before they re-introduce car park charges. Bit of tongue in cheek there, being half welsh myself, and usually very proud of that fact, I'm allowed to be a bit cheeky.

Free prescriptions too no matter who or what you are.
Free university as well.
I'm an English man married into a welsh family.

 

[Lamont D]

The politics of it all is the biggest problem!
The people who run or have a major influence (ie power brokers- politicians) don't use it, they go private!
If everybody had the same provision of care within the whole health industry, you would see a better NHS!

I've had my battles! Systems not working!
Too many chiefs and not enough Indians!

 

[DeejayR]

If I get run over or have a heart attack I'll almost certainly get top treatment.
Otherwise, if for example I need a new kidney or a knee joint, it's a bit of a lottery.

 

[Robinredbreast]

Our NHS, we have it and lots of counties in the world would be biting our hands off to have it.

But, as we do have the NHS, A & E, plaster room, plaster nurses, A & E, granddaughter sent home with some sort of virus, when she was at deaths door later that night., A& E ,my elderly dad, I thought I was going to scream. I hate to say this but my view on the NHS, recently, is it would really need of a huge injection of sensible and capable management, qualified staff, money, resources and more basic training.

Of course not everyone will feel this way at all and that is wonderful, but it's the negatives that seem to come up first, the bad things seem to linger.

RRB

 

[jay hay-char]

For all its faults, I am a big fan of the NHS - there aren't many countries that offer the kind of comprehensive, free healthcare that we enjoy as a matter of course. Also, a recent survey of various countries concluded that the NHS provides one of the highest quality healthcare services in the World, at one of the lowest per capita costs. I would hate to have a chronic condition (like diabetes) in places like the US where I would be effectively uninsurable, and at the mercy of well-meaning but frankly awful public health institutions.

The NHS has its problems and I am sure that many things could be run more efficiently and effectively, but I still think it's great. Now, if they could just re-think their advice on diet for diabetics .......

 

[Janiept]

For all its faults, I am a big fan of the NHS - there aren't many countries that offer the kind of comprehensive, free healthcare that we enjoy as a matter of course. Also, a recent survey of various countries concluded that the NHS provides one of the highest quality healthcare services in the World, at one of the lowest per capita costs. I would hate to have a chronic condition (like diabetes) in places like the US where I would be effectively uninsurable, and at the mercy of well-meaning but frankly awful public health institutions.

The NHS has its problems and I am sure that many things could be run more efficiently and effectively, but I still think it's great. Now, if they could just re-think their advice on diet for diabetics .......

I agree it is brilliant until it goes wrong which unfortunately it seems to quite often these days.
My own recent personal experience - I started having trouble breathing in August and went to see my GP, informed her that the symptoms were the same as when I had PE (blood clots on lungs) 14 years ago, but she dismissed it as anxiety. No tests. Nothing. I struggled on for a month until one day I got so desperate that I went to A&E (the sin so many people are committing these days) and was diagnosed as having multiple PE again and told I was lucky to be alive. A&E staff are absolutely brilliant but further down the line it all seems to fall apart.
Perhaps we older (ok, not that old ) folk remember a time when it was all seamless and that's why we see the problems in a different light?

Edit: And today I attended an appointment at a distant hospital (cost a fortune in travel fees) to see the lung consultant. 'Sorry Mrs ** I don't know why you are here, everything was taken care of when you attended the heart/lung clinic. Ok I am going to discharge you from this clinic. I wonder how much that wasted appointment cost?

 

[Bluetit1802]

I agree it is brilliant until it goes wrong which unfortunately it seems to quite often these days.
My own recent personal experience - I started having trouble breathing in August and went to see my GP, informed her that the symptoms were the same as when I had PE (blood clots on lungs) 14 years ago, but she dismissed it as anxiety. No tests. Nothing. I struggled on for a month until one day I got so desperate that I went to A&E (the sin so many people are committing these days) and was diagnosed as having multiple PE again and told I was lucky to be alive. A&E staff are absolutely brilliant but further down the line it all seems to fall apart.
Perhaps we older (ok, not that old ) folk remember a time when it was all seamless and that's why we see the problems in a different light?

Was it seamless in the old days? Not in my experience. I still remember the gloomy old fashioned out patients and waiting literally hours to be seen, and, following a road accident (aged 16) with a badly torn calf, bleeding everywhere, I was left on a trolley for hours in a mouldy looking corridor with the public walking past until a doctor not much older than I was came to sort me out and put 45 stitches in my leg - in the corridor. That was 1964. OK it was a Saturday night. I have several other examples of The Not-so-Good Old Days. The improvements are incredible.

 

[dannyw]

I tend to find the NHS is awesome dealing with emergencies but seem to struggle with the routine stuff.

 

[noblehead]

The NHS isn't perfect by any means but thank goodness we have it.

 

[Janiept]

I coudn't agree more @noblehead .