Are your local doctors this bad?

One of the underlying principles of the NHS is that it is free at the point of entry, previously people have queue jumped by having an initial private consultation early and then getting onto the NHS list sooner. This is being stamped out because it creates a two tier system where those that pay compromise the care of those that don't.
 
It seems a bit backwards to me that a system struggling for money doesn't allow people to pay. :D

So we end up with only having the choice of either inferior service or being ripped off.
 
seek said:
It seems a bit backwards to me that a system struggling for money doesn't allow people to pay. :D

So we end up with only having the choice of either inferior service or being ripped off.
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The NHS rations its services by waiting lists, if people could pay to skip to the front of the queue you'd end up in a situation where people that can't afford would end up waiting longer and longer for treatments they need. The waiting times are bad enough already.

People that take up private healthcare still fund the NHS and by going private lessen the burden on NHS resources, so there is no drive to provide a middle-ground from that point of view.

Whether or not private healthcare is a rip-off is another debate, the is competition in the market and people are willing to pay a lot of money to have their operations in a nice private hospital with a surgeon who you can call on their mobile phone day or night.
 
Minstadave said:
People that take up private healthcare still fund the NHS and by going private lessen the burden on NHS resources.
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Apart from the fact that nursing staff whose training has been paid for by the state are diverted to the private sector. Also consultants who away at private hospitals are not able to supervise junior medical staff.
 
footman said:
Apart from the fact that nursing staff whose training has been paid for by the state are diverted to the private sector. Also consultants who away at private hospitals are not able to supervise junior medical staff.
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The "training" doesnt then imply a lifetime of servitude. Fair enough they work afew years, but after that the "Training debt" is all but repaid and they work wherever they want. If you want to pursue that line of discussion, the same can then be said about almost every other sector.

As for all the "we pay our taxes" brigade, you dont realize that if you want a "private" level of service, you will have to pay a whole lot more than current.
Go on, do the math, you'll realise that almost all the taxes you pay into the NHS can effectively be negated by one hospital stay. Not to mention if you need a lifetime of medication.
 
I got a letter yesterday to tell me I may have to wait 18 months for an appointment at a clinic. Luckily I am not seriously ill but other people who need this service are and that long a wait could kill them. :(
 
Luckily both myself and the missus are fairly healthy so it can be years in between visits to the GP. The service does vary - we lived down in South Wales (Bridgend) for a few years and the GP surgery was very good. Since moving back to Swindon three years ago unfortunately I can't say the same. Waiting 7 - 10 days to be seen (and that's any doctor, not a specific one) is the norm and even the nurse is booked up days ahead.

Last year I had an operation to remove a pilonidal sinus (don't Google if you're squeamish) and while not life threatening does require careful after-care. The recommendation from the hospital was that it was dressed by the practice nurse every other day for two weeks. However on ringing the surgery I was told the first appointment to see the nurse was over a week away. Explaining the situation cut no ice, nor did asking if a doctor could dress the wound (apparently that is beneath them). The only suggestion was to visit the "walk-in" clinic in Swindon town centre but this was hardly practical having to sit for what could be a lengthy period on the fresh wound. So effectively left to our own devices as the surgery wouldn't even give us dressing pads. Not surprisingly the wound got seriously infected which then meant the surgery had to prescribe some particularly strong, nasty antibiotics.

My wife had a similar experience after starting to suffer quite badly from tinnitus - the response from the GP was, "Go home and live with it."

I know the GP's must get jaded with the same old hyperchondriacs coming in week after week but they need to look beyond that and provide a decent standard of care. And of course there's no point complaining as they simply point to the notices about code of conduct towards surgery staff (even if being polite and constructive). Quite frankly, you get better attention at the vet when the cat is ill. Same day appointment, professional courteous service. Yes you do pay privately for that, but we are paying for the NHS through our NI contributions, it may be free at the point of contact but they are still getting our money!
 
I'm sorry but my brother has had exactly the same thing and it is not "not surprisingly" at all. If you managed to get it infected I suggest you read up on caring for a wound properly. It'll help you out on many occasions in life.

It's also pretty amusing you expect a doctor to dress your wound. If they had to routinely dress wounds everyone would be moaning about not being seen because of all the dressings they are doing. It also just so happens to be one of the reasons nurses are employed in GP practices.
 
I've been waiting 6 months to hear if I'm having ligament reconstruction. Haven't been able to run since then and have constant aches, pains and cramp. Hear this Friday if I get the surgery.. I share your frustration.

I take solace in that it could be worse. My brother has CFS and the local trust refused him treatment because of lack of resources. All I have is a knackered ankle, he has an illness which will probably be for life and they couldn't give two *****.

The NHS get some bad stick but they do a lot of good too. One of my friends wouldn't be alive if they hadn't treated his cancer. I just wonder if it depends on the trust you fall under.
 
malc30 said:
Last year.
I called an Ambulance out to myself for the first time in 42 years because I had Serious pain around the gut area in JANUARY, I got my Specialist appointment in SEPTEMBER 10 days AFTER I passed the Kidney stone that had been disabling me for 3 days out of Every ten days. :( For 3 days out of every 10 I sat in Agony & nowt was done by anybody.
Once you actually get to see a Professional then they are Superb but getting to see one is almost Impossible.
My Local Doctor & Surgery have been brilliant, Been with the same Doctor for around 15-16 years but once again the Dude is just to busy.
I always feel sorry for those that work in the Health care business as the system destroys there spirit.
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Jesus man, that must have been dreadful. Knew a chap who had the same, used to work with him, and although it was my day off when it happened, just other members of staff recounting how much he screamed when he collapsed on the floor made me feel pretty sick.
 
Voltjunkie said:
I'm sorry but my brother has had exactly the same thing and it is not "not surprisingly" at all. If you managed to get it infected I suggest you read up on caring for a wound properly. It'll help you out on many occasions in life.

It's also pretty amusing you expect a doctor to dress your wound. If they had to routinely dress wounds everyone would be moaning about not being seen because of all the dressings they are doing. It also just so happens to be one of the reasons nurses are employed in GP practices.
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Comment noted but should just add...

Every effort was made to keep the wound clean including salt baths and changing the dressing daily (as best we could) but given proximity to the, ahem, waste chute, it's not exactly the easiest location. It's even possible the infection was already present in the wound from the hospital.

The hospital certainly expected the GP surgery to undertake the re-dressing of the wound. I don't care whether it was a nurse or doctor who did the dressing, ultimately it was supposed to be an integral part of the after surgery care and the practice should be geared up to cope. That's why I pay (considerable) taxes and NI.

Anyhow as I said that's just one example of your NHS tax dollars at work in Swindon. In line with many other sentiments expressed on here I now see the GP as a last resort beyond self help and medication, long gone are the days of personal service and the caring family doctor.
 
footman said:
How on earth does working in the NHS equate with a "lifetime of servitude"?
I regarded it as a privilege, working alongside dedicated colleagues.
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There are many who believe that just because nurses and doctors were trained, they need to work for the NHS eternally for a paltry salary, just to "repay" the training.
 
I frequent doctors constantly, I have to go to the doctor/hospital without a doubt every month with a new problem, infact the average is every week/2weeks something goes wrong with me, think i've got something wrong with my immune system.

Ear problems, burst ear drumb.
Glandular fever, lumps on neck
bad rashes, hands swelling
umonia (can't spell it)
gall stones (gall bladder removed)
pancreatitus
my liver is damaged, i have an alcoholics liver aparantly and I don't even drink.
tonsolitus (schedueled to get tonsoles removed)
constant flu's and colds and fevers.

And im only 19, that's just to list a few of the things over the past couple of years. It's started to get worse, problem after problem. Current problems are the liver, tonsolitus, glandular fever. Also for some reason seem to be suffering from acne, no pussy spots tho, red scaring all on my face.

Doctors take the **** with me, they make me wait 2 months for blood tests to come back, then appointments another 4 months. Got my tonsolectumy coming up in 2 months thats after a 6 month wait.
 
Vern1961 said:
long gone are the days of personal service and the caring family doctor.
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Unfortunately I and many others (including doctors) couldn't agree more.

When it all became about cost and targets (some doctors actually have targets of how many diabetic reviews to do a week etc.) the level of service any human being is able to provide fell in line with that.

Blame the pencil pushers.
 
Aint been to the doctors in over 4years now and just as well, havnt re registered since I moved to uni :p

My GF's GP is appauling though they only take appointments for that day so there's a rush of people calling at 8:30am, miss that and unless its super urgent (theyll probably just say go to A&E anyway) you're told to call back tomorrow morning, put it this way, my GF called at 8:50am once, no appointments left, asks if she can I get one for the next day at ANY time, told to call back tomorrow.

So if you work the nightshift or early mornings you're chances of getting an appointment without pre planning to be on a break/awake at 8:30 are pretty slim.

She's switched GP now.
 
Voltjunkie said:
Unfortunately I and many others (including doctors) couldn't agree more.

When it all became about cost and targets (some doctors actually have targets of how many diabetic reviews to do a week etc.) the level of service any human being is able to provide fell in line with that.

Blame the pencil pushers.
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Unfortunately, when you're income is dependent on the boxes you submit, it isnt then surprising that the outcome isnt as you describe.

If doctors practiced the "old fashioned way", they would quickly be unable to pay their staff and themselves. I accept there will be a minority who are exploitative of the system to maximise profits. To practice the "old fashioned way" in the current climate would also extract a significant mental and physical toll on them, since the workload and patient expectations have increased significantly.

These doctors, when they emigrate, suddenly transform back into caring "old fashioned" docs. I wonder what that tells us....
 
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