NHS=Negligent Health Service

[CaptainRAVE]

Yes I was trying to disagnose what had happened to me. I feel better since starting BP medication. Sorry to hear about your father, I hope he's doing much better now

Thanks! Yes, he pulled through from his bypass and then suffered from a stroke needing brain surgery and a tumour removed not many years after. Surprisingly he’s pretty good these days! Especially having sat on the ambulance for 4 hours before a bed became free in order to treat him. That was then an A&E bed, he needed a specialist treatment bed, but of course that was full. This was years ago too, sounds much much worse in hospitals now.

 

[Hodders]

The NHS *CAN* stay free - we just need to finance it properly.

Our per-capita spending is so far below other EU contrties, we can hardly be surprised that we have such a poor level of service.

As has been said again and again, if we want a "Scandanavian" level of care, we need to pay a "Scandanavian" level of tax. If all the private health cover costs went direct to the NHS, (~£6 BN p.a.) it would make a meaningful difference.

As it stands, we pay enough tax to resent it, but not enough to feel it represents value for money. When you put £5 in a charity collection, you feel good about it. Why not when you pay tax? Simply because we don't trust the government to spend it sensibly.

Oh and Politicians should be banned from using private care and private schools. If it's good enough for us, it should have to be good enough for them.

So yes - we need a competant government and higher taxes.

 

[ANDREW GREEN]

Thanks! Yes, he pulled through from his bypass and then suffered from a stroke needing brain surgery and a tumour removed not many years after. Surprisingly he’s pretty good these days! Especially having sat on the ambulance for 4 hours before a bed became free in order to treat him. That was then an A&E bed, he needed a specialist treatment bed, but of course that was full. This was years ago too, sounds much much worse in hospitals now.

That all sounds incredibly traumatic and stressful for both him and all your family. Glad to hear he's in a better place.

I think it was short while before Corbyn took Labour leadership that Andy Burnham said the next election needs to be an argument of whether we're going to save the NHS or not. And really that would have been the most important referendum we've had in decades, which we've been denied.

 

[casaubond]

There are many issues with NHS , at all levels- hospital beds availability is one of them but I work in primary care and I can comment about that.

First things they have done after 2010 when Tory came to power - Andrew Lansley - remember him? - he reduced the number of intermediate care homes. In my community we had a care home with 36 beds , especially for patients that were medically fit for discharge - ie no active interventions needed such as surgery, intensive medical monitoring ..etc- but still unable to function independently in community. That care home is gone now, and the patients now spend their 1-2 weeks convalescence in hospital becoming ''bed blockers''

Secondly they have not increase the Primary care budget, the people who voted them in 2010 now are 12 years older with multiple co-morbidities . The Gov still allocates to your GP surgery between 120-140£ per year for ALL your medical care - unlimited appointments/ blood tests/ consultations. Etc. All other extra fundings have been directed to other allied organisations in community such as PCN/ HUBs..etc that is why sometimes when one calls his/her surgery they are directed there instead of an appointment with GP - this is where the government invested

Now , Labour will do one better , they will make the GP salaried by hospital trust. This is good for the GPs as there will be a waiting list for to see them in the same way there will be a WL to see an ophthalmologist for example. It will be the same as it was with OOH debacle in 2004, when, Labour again, decided the GPs are rubbish and let them get away from OOH duties. How good is the OOH in your area now?
What I do not understand is how the parities decided who can be their health secretary ? Why do they seem to choose the most incompetent MP / and definetely someone with NO idea/ experience how NHS primary or secondary care works?

 

[Blackjack Davy]

Another story to add to the list

A friends older brother (high 60's) phoned his GP on the 22nd Dec complaining of chest pains. He then collapsed on the 24th, was taken to hospital where they found he had had a heart attack. Luckily they had a bed and he stayed in hospital over Christmas and had a stent operation on the 28th.

A couple of hours before the operation his GP surgery returned his call....

We're in a strange place right now your only chance of seeing anyone face to face unless its an emergency is the nurse the GP is out of bounds, any other kind of interaction is done via following a webnote type service I get a text yesterday saying they want a blood pressure reading if you don't have a BP machine at home (I mean everyone has one of those right?) then visit the healthcare centre where theres a machine on the 2nd floor (I have no idea how to use one). i then have to submit the reading via said webnote. Its a DIY health service.

 

[cheesefest]

Due to issues i can’t put down here, I have my smear test at the hospital. Should had it done Sept or early October. Heard nothing. Rang up the gyne department - after about 30 times - a nightmare dept to ring. Discovered that I have been discharged! It’s a three yearly test. Said have to go back to see a GP to get referred again!

Waited to see GP for another reason. Which was only 10 days later.

Why on earth would the gyne department discharge me when I should be on their books?

There are women who have more issues with the lady side of life and could miss out getting diagnosed early and getting treatment early.

Hospital departments all should have an email address for patients to contact as ringing is impossible. Esp if you are become unwell the day before or wake up.

Hospitals moan about people missing appointments! Well allow them to contact you easier that people can change appointments etc

 

[Minstadave]

Due to issues i can’t put down here, I have my smear test at the hospital. Should had it done Sept or early October. Heard nothing. Rang up the gyne department - after about 30 times - a nightmare dept to ring. Discovered that I have been discharged! It’s a three yearly test. Said have to go back to see a GP to get referred again!

Waited to see GP for another reason. Which was only 10 days later.

Why on earth would the gyne department discharge me when I should be on their books?

There are women who have more issues with the lady side of life and could miss out getting diagnosed early and getting treatment early.

Hospital departments all should have an email address for patients to contact as ringing is impossible. Esp if you are become unwell the day before or wake up.

Hospitals moan about people missing appointments! Well allow them to contact you easier that people can change appointments etc

If you've been discharged when you shouldn't have been speak to PALS at the hospital and they will do their best to sort it and liase with Gynae.

Our trust uses a electronic system, Drdoctor.co.uk, for rearranging/cancelling appointments, yours may too.

 

[cheesefest]

If you've been discharged when you shouldn't have been speak to PALS at the hospital and they will do their best to sort it and liase with Gynae.

Our trust uses an electronic system, Drdoctor.co.uk, for rearranging/cancelling appointments, yours may too.

University Hospitals of Leicester is my NHS trust. Can’t find a list of trusts that use the website you mentioned

 

[Minstadave]

University Hospitals of Leicester is my NHS trust. Can’t find a list of trusts that use the website you mentioned

I don't think Leicester use it. I worked there a few years ago and didn't hear it mentioned.

 

[Chris Wilson]

Don't forget it was Labour who scrapped out of hours working for GP's, which they took more than full advantage of! We have a newly built surgery complex not far away, but the GP's have done a runner and old and toddlers alike have to go to Wem to be seen, some 7 miles away, with a next to zero public transport network. What the hell is happening at the new complex is anyone's guess, not a lot, no patients are seen there any more. My take is it will be redeveloped for something else, and some GP's will make a killing, which is 100% contrary to the wishes of those that financed its building and statements for its continual usage for and by the local community.

I would love to see unadulterated figures for GP face to face appointments with their patients, pre and post the virus. They refused the government such statistics and should have been forced to submit them or have their salaries chopped. In fact they need their salaries chopping anyway, they are having a laugh. Most of this **** is political as the proper old school GP's have ben replaced by agitators and the work shy. (I can hear the screams now, but when did a GP last do a house call at 10.00 PM, which was common pre Labour's interference). People shouldn't hold them in such awe and esteem, times and work ethics have changed and the blame is far from 100% the government's fault.

 

[cheesefest]

I don't think Leicester use it. I worked there a few years ago and didn't hear it mentioned.

Typical!

Which hospital did you work in?

 

[cheesefest]

My GP is now face 2 face at practice unless covid related or housebound (permanent and temporary)

Shame on those GP practices that still only do consultations over phone or camera!

 

[Minstadave]

Typical!

Which hospital did you work in?

All of them. Royal, Glenfield and the General on and off for 5 years. In Paediatrics/Paeds Cardiac Intensive Care and Neonates though.

 

[OllyM]

Does BMI get factored into health insurance costs in America? Or is the average person paying increased premiums for the overweight? While we are not to the same excess in this country, far too few incorporate physical activity into their daily schedule in this country and this puts a burden onto the NHS.

No.

I'm not sure honestly. I do know that some of them will provide their "clients" with apple watches and other things to try and help them stay fit / track their health. I would imagine its much like pet insurance. They won't treat you for pre-existing conditions on a new policy and if your general health/age is in the danger zone cover will be more expensive.

I would love for the NHS to stay "free" for all but it simply can't and its our own fault. Peoples health in this country is a joke in general and we are far too scared to tell them its their own ******* fault.

That's not how it works at all, since the Affordable Care Act became the law of the land health insurance companies can't exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions, refuse you coverage or charge you higher premiums. Most people get insurance through their job and in my experience they charge everybody the same - my policy just adds a supplement if you smoke but nothing else. Standalone insurance through the exchanges does get more expensive as you get older (although there is a cap on the premium difference) but Medicare takes over at 65.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Hospitals moan about people missing appointments! Well allow them to contact you easier that people can change appointments etc

Even me working in an hospital, I have major difficulties contacting departments.
In our Legal Department we pick the phone up within 3 calls, if not we feel we have failed.
About two months ago I tried all day from my work phone to contact appointments to cancel an appointment, in the end I walked to the department and cancelled it there but still got a phone call the day after the appointment saying I had DNA'd, I walked straight back up to take that off my record (I have no idea if it is removed).

I would say at least once a month we will get calls from patients trying to cancel because they are that concerned about letting the hospital down so Switchboard puts them through to Legal.
We just have to tell them to keep trying.

 

[cheesefest]

If the NHS use a better solution for patients to cancel appointments, then the % of missed appointments will go down dramatically.

 

[cheesefest]

How long does it take for hospitals to be informed of a death?

Colleague’s FIL died first week in Dec, at home. Her husband got through the post yesterday, a letter dated 20th Dec for an appointment end of this month.

 

[Minstadave]

If the NHS use a better solution for patients to cancel appointments, then the % of missed appointments will go down dramatically.

You'd hope that but it doesn't bear much resemblance to reality sadly.

 

[Kill_Phil]

Well you just had a GP on 5live defending rishis choice of using private care. Surprise surprise when asked, that she only does 1/3 of her work in the NHS and 2/3 private

 

[Werewolf]

We're in a strange place right now your only chance of seeing anyone face to face unless its an emergency is the nurse the GP is out of bounds, any other kind of interaction is done via following a webnote type service I get a text yesterday saying they want a blood pressure reading if you don't have a BP machine at home (I mean everyone has one of those right?) then visit the healthcare centre where theres a machine on the 2nd floor (I have no idea how to use one). i then have to submit the reading via said webnote. Its a DIY health service.

Our practice has had one off to the side of the waiting room for ~15 years, with simple, clear instructions.

Blood pressure is one of those things that is incredibly simple to do and there is really no point in having a 10 minute appointment (that might require you to wait for an hour or more past the time*) with a nurse or a GP, when you can do it yourself in a couple of minutes either at the surgery at any time they're open without a wait, or at home.

It's one of the things that has changed that I can completely understand the reasoning behind, and why, our GP's tend to be a bit surprised when for example as happened Tuesday in a call I was able to give them my dad's pulse and 02 reading, and blood pressure from about 20 minutes before the call's due time, they still booked him in for another appointment (face to face) for today.

These days having things like a blood pressure machine at home, is like having a half decent thermometer or pulse oximeter if you've in any of the vulnerable groups, it's part of the standard first aid box imo given you can get all 3 of those for under £50 (although i've just bought my nephew and his partner an expensive in ear thermometer because they're expecting a baby and the model I ordered is suitable for babies and adjusts the warning range for age).
I remember when covid first hit and everywhere seemed to be out of thermometers because apparently most of the population didn't have one, which shocked me as it's been considered a basic "at home" diagnostic tool for decades and one of the first questions that GP's have asked when you've taken a child in for an appointment because they're ill has always tended to be "have they had a temperature".



*Given GP's and nurses won't throw someone out halfway through a consultation if they go over the allotted time and it only takes a couple of "emergency" or "needs more time" patients to throw the appointments off by a lot.