Man of Honour
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- 17 Nov 2003
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- 36,747
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- Southampton, UK
Total wait time of two hours and you're complaining?
NHS wait times?
- Thread starter smogsy
- Start date
Total wait time of two hours and you're complaining?
Not necessarily complaining it just seemed strange that it took so long considering not so many patients. I'm grateful for the service received as always.
Before this I hadn't been to a hospital for at least 5 years+ so I don't remember any wait times to reference it to.
Only time I have been in A&E in the last ten years - heart palpitations, police called me an ambulance, took 30 minutes to arrive (was looked after by police in the meanwhile and am a low risk priority, so fair enough). Got to A&E, took 10 minutes for admission (was busy), hour to be seen initially, had ECG, x-ray, blood tests. Took about 4 or 5 hours in total. A bit longer than I'd have liked but I wasn't going to keel over and die immediately so I didn't mind, they need to prioritise and the tests took a few hours to be turned around. I think majority of NHS front line do a very good job.
However, working in the NHS, some things really annoy me, and most of it is down to backroom functions or the primary care trust back room functions (who are too far removed from patient care to know what effect they're having. The majority of my problems are because of mismanagement by the PCT. They are only small things (patient transport, car parking, comms networks etc) but they all add up and give our own organisation a bad name as we're reliant on those systems to give a good service. I can't see those improving for 5 years or so when hopefully NHS PropCo are embedded in and changing things and the CCGs have sorted themselves out commissioning wise.
However, working in the NHS, some things really annoy me, and most of it is down to backroom functions or the primary care trust back room functions (who are too far removed from patient care to know what effect they're having. The majority of my problems are because of mismanagement by the PCT. They are only small things (patient transport, car parking, comms networks etc) but they all add up and give our own organisation a bad name as we're reliant on those systems to give a good service. I can't see those improving for 5 years or so when hopefully NHS PropCo are embedded in and changing things and the CCGs have sorted themselves out commissioning wise.
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2004
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- 14,315
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- Peoples Republic of Histonia, Cambridge
Waiting lists are ultimatly there as a form of rationing. If the NHS intended to treat everyone a list is pointless. They hope people a) get better, b) lose intrest, c) lose the need, d) go private, e) die whilst on a list.
My experience with non emergency treatment is the cheaper it is the shorter the list.
My experience with non emergency treatment is the cheaper it is the shorter the list.
Associate
- Joined
- 19 Dec 2010
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- 176
Found a lump in my back. Went to the GP, he booked an ultrasound for the following week. Ultrasound happened, it didn't look too troubling. After 2 months got a call from the GP asking if I'd like it removed. I said yes, booked an appointment to get it looked the following week. Was assessed, and told it was straightforward so could get it removed the next day. It was.
I'm not generally a sick person so rarely deal with the NHS. I was perfectly happy with how it happened and it all seemed fairly slick. No idea how typical this is.
I'm not generally a sick person so rarely deal with the NHS. I was perfectly happy with how it happened and it all seemed fairly slick. No idea how typical this is.
People bred like rabbits, now the the patient load is straining at the seams and the NHS doesn't have the funding to employ the staff it needs for the amount of patients it has. That's what you really mean.
It's all very easy to criticise it from the outside, but when you're on the other side you'll see everyone doing their best but staff being cut left, right and centre.
Soldato
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- 31 May 2009
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- 21,471
I know, I do health service work, I am subject to these cuts, but with us they expect us to keep doing the same amount of work, but for 20% less next year. The joys of Northern Ireland, I am seeing a proper cut, again.
As we're paid on a fee per item basis, they'll get the same amount of work out of us also.
But it isn't what I really mean. If the truely expensive treatments were removed from availability, so people had insurance for it, or had to pay for it, money could be dedicated elsewhere. The NHS should stop fooling itself into thinking it can continue to provide everything everwhere for everyone, and people expecting it to happen in a short space of time.
As we're paid on a fee per item basis, they'll get the same amount of work out of us also.
But it isn't what I really mean. If the truely expensive treatments were removed from availability, so people had insurance for it, or had to pay for it, money could be dedicated elsewhere. The NHS should stop fooling itself into thinking it can continue to provide everything everwhere for everyone, and people expecting it to happen in a short space of time.
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Deleted member 651465
Deleted member 651465
My daughter fell and broke her ankle on New Year's Eve.
We knew it would be horrendous with all the drunk people, but honestly, waiting with a 2 year old (screaming in agony) while the police dragged some drunk bints out of A&E was infuriating.
4hrs later, when we walked out, there were still people that had clearly been admitted while under the influence, doing what I can only describe as "the walk of shame" out of the waiting room.
We knew it would be horrendous with all the drunk people, but honestly, waiting with a 2 year old (screaming in agony) while the police dragged some drunk bints out of A&E was infuriating.
4hrs later, when we walked out, there were still people that had clearly been admitted while under the influence, doing what I can only describe as "the walk of shame" out of the waiting room.
Generally in my experience the NHS has been very good.
One thing I have noticed is that the "service" can vary massively depending on which hospital you go to, I've got a choice of 3 "local" hospitals (20-45 minutes easy drive), one is an old one that is slowly being updated and service tends to vary depending on if you're in a "new" unit, or an "old" one.
One is a mid 70's (at a guess) one, and tends to be pretty poor imo.
One is a new one (late 90's at a guess) and whilst it doesn't have the same range of units as the first, seems to be more consistently good.
I have noticed when I've had (or family have had) the choice of where to go for appointments, the newer one seems to have a 2-3 week wait for most things, whilst the oldest about 5 weeks, and the middle one about 6-8.
What I will say, is that whenever we've had an urgent need to treatment all the hospitals ans surgeries have been very good indeed.
Ranging from a cancer scare for one relative, who was in the hospital for a scan the next day, to an eye problem where another relative was in hospital with an urgent referral the same afternoon (it was something like book an appointment for the doctor that morning, see the doctor before lunch, at the hospital by about 3:30).
Where it does fall down somewhat is with weekend stuff, largely because I suspect, of the influx of retards who drink themselves silly, get hurt and make a problem at the hospital - on one occassion the GP ended up prescribing a relative very strong pain killers to let her manage at home over the weekend, because they knew the hospitals were going to be crammed with self inflicted idiots* (I would say injuries, but I'm not sure if getting so drunk you need your stomach pumped, or are found unconscious counts as injuries, but it certainly counts as idiocy).
Oddly enough the only times I've had to call an ambulance or the police have all tended to be due to drunks, either passed out in the cold weather/obviously unsafe to be left alone and on a busy road, or when they've fallen and hurt themselves (and in the latter case it seemed the first responder knew the person from past experience).
*I have nothing against people drinking, or even getting drunk, what I tend to object to is when they do it, and hurt themselves or start causing problems for everyone else.
One thing I have noticed is that the "service" can vary massively depending on which hospital you go to, I've got a choice of 3 "local" hospitals (20-45 minutes easy drive), one is an old one that is slowly being updated and service tends to vary depending on if you're in a "new" unit, or an "old" one.
One is a mid 70's (at a guess) one, and tends to be pretty poor imo.
One is a new one (late 90's at a guess) and whilst it doesn't have the same range of units as the first, seems to be more consistently good.
I have noticed when I've had (or family have had) the choice of where to go for appointments, the newer one seems to have a 2-3 week wait for most things, whilst the oldest about 5 weeks, and the middle one about 6-8.
What I will say, is that whenever we've had an urgent need to treatment all the hospitals ans surgeries have been very good indeed.
Ranging from a cancer scare for one relative, who was in the hospital for a scan the next day, to an eye problem where another relative was in hospital with an urgent referral the same afternoon (it was something like book an appointment for the doctor that morning, see the doctor before lunch, at the hospital by about 3:30).
Where it does fall down somewhat is with weekend stuff, largely because I suspect, of the influx of retards who drink themselves silly, get hurt and make a problem at the hospital - on one occassion the GP ended up prescribing a relative very strong pain killers to let her manage at home over the weekend, because they knew the hospitals were going to be crammed with self inflicted idiots* (I would say injuries, but I'm not sure if getting so drunk you need your stomach pumped, or are found unconscious counts as injuries, but it certainly counts as idiocy).
Oddly enough the only times I've had to call an ambulance or the police have all tended to be due to drunks, either passed out in the cold weather/obviously unsafe to be left alone and on a busy road, or when they've fallen and hurt themselves (and in the latter case it seemed the first responder knew the person from past experience).
*I have nothing against people drinking, or even getting drunk, what I tend to object to is when they do it, and hurt themselves or start causing problems for everyone else.
I remember being abandoned in hospital for hours after an ECG, went to costa coffee for something to eat, came back to my bed 20mins later, no one had been to see me so I left. I still wonder sometimes whether they noticed that I'd gone home.
Usually you only get it once & that's it,but it is uncommon to do so, immune systems not working right.
Getting chickenpox & pneumonia is a very rare complication.
Varicella pneumonia is the most common cause of death in adults who get chickenpox.
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im not bashing NHS, here just wondered what your experiences are? not A&E just referrals really.
now, i've not used NHS much
little rant
Now I've been in Serious pain since December, Cant lift my /shoulder90% of the time. Sometimes it gets stuck in position & if the bed cover touches it. its like someone is stabbing me. my fingers are also nub half the time.
my arm fell out of bed hanging the other day. took me 10+ minutes to try and get back in bed without pain, didn't work.
worst if someone makes my jump And my shoulders go up im in pain for hours!
tablets don't help heat pads don't work.
rant over
little research: i think damaged nerve.
have to wait for another week
whats your experiences?
Why not bypass the NHS and go straight to a physiotherapist directly as a private patient? You have to pay but it's only like <£50 a session.
Where do you think your private healthcare provider is going to tell you to go, if you need emergency treatment?? lol
My policy covers A&E treatment, so I would suggest it wouldnt be to sit behind the Saturday night boozed up detritus that usually is found clogging up A&E.
Can I ask you what your policy covers, and which hospital this is offered at?
Edit: let me clarify what I mean. Private cover that includes "A&E" in reality includes the so-called Emergency Care Centres. In some private hospitals this can be quite good up to and including things like chest infections and even a 'mini stroke'. Most centres are actually closer to minor injury units howver - ie cuts and sprains.
If you're happy with that and then good luck to you.
Where are you going to go if something serious happens? You know, like a heart attack, a pulmonary embolus, a ruptured aneurysm?
The answer is the good old NHS A&E
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Aye, as most Private hospitals have zero A&E, any many will resort to the NHS A&E if something goes badly wrong with a patent out of office hours (Private hospitals in the UK are mainly set up to deal with the "easy" routine stuff that can be scheduled).