NHS Rant

Ace Modder

Ace Modder

Ace Modder

Soldato
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8 Sep 2003
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23,105
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Was 150 yds from OCUK - now 0.5 mile; they moved
So my wife has been suffering for about 18 months with pains in her lower belly area.
Her GP put her on numerous diets, like lactose free, gluten free etc. Nothing seemed to help!

Her pain was getting worse and worse.
Until this March when she ended up in A&E as her doctor couldn't help her any more as he had run out of ideas. She ended up on a ward for 4 weeks, it took them over 3 weeks to work out that the nerves which connect to the muscles that contract and push things along in her bowels/intestines etc had died and the muscles were not doing their job.
The only solution is to have a pace maker fitted in her lower back to do what the nerves should be doing.

Anyway, she was referred to the specialist for this treatment. She has been taken back into hospital 3 or 4 times since March because the pain became unbearable etc for her. (note she is on morphine daily for the pain at home) She has been unable to attend work since March, she has tried to go back a few times, but her employer doesn't want her there because she is not really fit for work.

Anyway - 6 months later and she still has not had the initital appointment to see the specialist - 6 MONTHS!!!!!!!

What a joke the NHS are! The thing is though, she was taken to hospital via an ambulance 2 days ago and spent 36 hrs in hospital, and then sent her home again, unable to really do anything and said she has to wait for the specialist appointment. She has tried to call the consultants secretary, numerous times, and never been able to get any answer about her scheduled appointment.

The cost for ambulances, and a total of around 8 weeks stay in hospital (fragmented stays) since March much be adding to the costs for her care. If they just did the op immediately all these unneccessary costs would be ended. Imagine this situation x 50,000 people - no wonder the NHS doesn't have enough budget, they could save loads if they dealt with people in a much more timely manner.

And her quality of life is poor at the moment too due to the daily pain she is in. She either tries to sleep all day or is that full of pain killers she is like a space cadet for much of the day. Seriously not fair.
 
I feel your pain OP, I really do. Had a similar experience with family members. Whilst not the same level as your wife, I have been suffering with my right knee for 20 (yes, TWENTY) years. Never had an x-ray.
I know I need an x-ray, but all the doctors do is send me to physio which takes months to get seen and the constant "keep taking ibuprophen" line.

Work colleague had the same with his knee. In the end (lucky for him I guess) he got taken out during playing football and ended up really twisting it. Because of that, he had an x-ray which showed underlying damage requiring an operation. Perhaps I should do the same.

My poor old dad bless him was told he needed a certain expensive medication. He paid for this throughout his working life. The year he retired and got it paid for, the doctor told him he no longer needed it. Ah, the stories he could tell. Last time he went to the doctors the receptionist refused him an appointment because he wasn't sick enough. Highly educated those receptionist are you know!

anyways....yeah, the NHS has never been very efficient which I thought was the point in all those middle/senior managers?

I understand the public sector quite well, and know the massive differences between it and private. They always moan about the lack of government investment yet I see wastage everywhere. Take the IT director for example. He pays hundreds of thousands of pounds per year on licencing and support for something no longer used. It's because of a legal contract. I'm sure the NHS is the same (buildings rent?)....that money could pay for extra staff yet we have people here being made redundant because of the finances. Crazy! oh, and the CEO is on £135,000 plus car, plus massive pension, plus bonuses. He's the highest paid in the county for his role. Go figure.

Friend of a friend had a tumor on her spine.....was missed for over a year despite her telling them something wasn't right. Luckily it wasn't canerous but has led to mobility issues. They are researching into it more and may go down the legal route which I know puts a bad taste in peoples mouths. It does tie up with the OPs point how if something was done quicker it would save a huge amount of money.

I really hope your wife gets sorted out soon OP. Not nice to be in constant pain. Have you thought about going private? It sometimes is the only option, even if it means having to take out a loan. Quality of life is everything.
 
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It really is ridiculous these days.

A family friend is currently going through a formal complaint, which thankfully is being taken seriously. She has a history of cancer and found a lump in her breast that grew over a few days.
She called her GP surgery and explained the situation only to be told that it didn't warrant an emergency appointment and would need to book a 'routine' appointment, first available in 6 weeks.
 
My Dad's treatment throughout the time he was fighting cancer, bar his radiotherapy which was on the dot every single time, was disgusting.

Cancelled appointment after cancelled appointment, misdiagnosis after misdiagnosis, being told they needed to remove his bowel ASAP or the cancer would spread then postponing the operation for two months and finally being told he would be given drugs to slow his breathing and help him through his final hours yesterday and only receiving them 90 minutes later, half an hour before he died, because of another admin error.

My mum was also diagnosed with heart failure three years ago and sent home by mistake. She died two days later.

I ****ing despise the NHS.

Edit: Just this second received the blue badge my Dad was due 4 months ago. What a sick ****ing joke.
 
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Ace Modder said:
So my wife has been suffering for about 18 months with pains in her lower belly area.
Her GP put her on numerous diets, like lactose free, gluten free etc. Nothing seemed to help!

Her pain was getting worse and worse.
Until this March when she ended up in A&E as her doctor couldn't help her any more as he had run out of ideas. She ended up on a ward for 4 weeks, it took them over 3 weeks to work out that the nerves which connect to the muscles that contract and push things along in her bowels/intestines etc had died and the muscles were not doing their job.
The only solution is to have a pace maker fitted in her lower back to do what the nerves should be doing.

Anyway, she was referred to the specialist for this treatment. She has been taken back into hospital 3 or 4 times since March because the pain became unbearable etc for her. (note she is on morphine daily for the pain at home) She has been unable to attend work since March, she has tried to go back a few times, but her employer doesn't want her there because she is not really fit for work.

Anyway - 6 months later and she still has not had the initital appointment to see the specialist - 6 MONTHS!!!!!!!

What a joke the NHS are! The thing is though, she was taken to hospital via an ambulance 2 days ago and spent 36 hrs in hospital, and then sent her home again, unable to really do anything and said she has to wait for the specialist appointment. She has tried to call the consultants secretary, numerous times, and never been able to get any answer about her scheduled appointment.

The cost for ambulances, and a total of around 8 weeks stay in hospital (fragmented stays) since March much be adding to the costs for her care. If they just did the op immediately all these unneccessary costs would be ended. Imagine this situation x 50,000 people - no wonder the NHS doesn't have enough budget, they could save loads if they dealt with people in a much more timely manner.

And her quality of life is poor at the moment too due to the daily pain she is in. She either tries to sleep all day or is that full of pain killers she is like a space cadet for much of the day. Seriously not fair.
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Sent you trust.
 
Sorry to hear AM.

Hopefully it wont be too much longer. It is disgraceful.

It seems to be a product of state mind. While I support the NHS, I am certainly not averse to changes being made. Some sweeping, some not.

The NHS is generally good for minor things, but major things not so much. While I cannot recall the early history of the NHS or its times in the 70's/80's I do think from what I've heard that Tory governments are not a good thing for it. Equally Labour throw money at it to readily to plug heavy leaks.

A family member uses BUPA and he has had to use them twice. Both times he was dealt with almost immediately.

The NHS isn't free, as such we can and should expect better. Hope your wife gets sorted *thumb up*
 
I was gonna say can you not go private?

Health is one of those things that sadly money is a key too. Debt is debt. Who cares if you have it or even default on it as long as you/she are well at the end of the day.

Its no life for you or her to be on that strong meds all the time. Im sorry for you both.
 
deuse said:
Sent you trust.
Click to expand...

Thanks replied to you.

Bassmansam said:
I think its hood for things that are immediately obvious, but if its not ohh boy.. it can be terrible.
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Yup, 100% agreed

jonneymendoza said:
Go private if you can. NHS is a sinking ship
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I wish we could, the cost for the op etc and all the aftercare she would need from the op works out at around £18k, we don't have that kind of money available to us. Insurance is useless, because for pre-conditions they are not covered
 
Does this not fall under their 3 month target? I'd perhaps make a compliant here, as they do get fined for delaying referrals like this.
 
Of course a public service isn't as good as it could be, there's no repercussions to giving bad service, patients can't go else where and the NHS can't go bust. If my company does a bad job, our customers go to a competitor and we then go under and lose our jobs. People like the NHS because it helps people who otherwise would struggle to pay for health care, but I don't want charity for my health care, I want excellence.
 
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