That sounds unlikely as that blood pressure is within the normal range.
So, the NHS...
- Thread starter Malevolence
- Start date
That sounds unlikely as that blood pressure is within the normal range.
Deleted member 651465
D
Deleted member 651465
That’s pretty good tbh but you still can’t beat going private... even better if your employer picks up the tab.
Rang our internal medical helpline on a Friday, had an appointment with a consultant (that I’d picked) the following Tuesday and had an MRI scan for a suspected back issue on the Thursday. Results back within 2 weeks from there and further treatment a few days later.
Easily 16+ weeks for that on the NHS, which isn’t their fault but it is staggering what you can get when someone is picking up the tab directly.
Rang our internal medical helpline on a Friday, had an appointment with a consultant (that I’d picked) the following Tuesday and had an MRI scan for a suspected back issue on the Thursday. Results back within 2 weeks from there and further treatment a few days later.
Easily 16+ weeks for that on the NHS, which isn’t their fault but it is staggering what you can get when someone is picking up the tab directly.
Caporegime
Know exactly where you're coming from there. A former colleague of mine found a lump on her breast. Called the helpline, had an appointment the next day, biopsy 2 days after that, results back within 5 working days, operation 4 days later and then had a chemo/radiotherapy programme. She'd started chemo before she'd have even had her appointment with the NHS and the docs were confident they'd saved her life.
Caporegime
Yeah I’m sure they would be, they’re not going to say that “that several thousand pound bill we just charged you was totally not worth it”.
Caporegime
Didn't cost her a penny (minus tax deductions). The whole process was incredibly swift. People had barely noticed she was off sick before she was popping in to the office to drop in her sick note for her time off for chemo! The next time we saw her she was as bald as a baby.
Caporegime
Who paid the bill then? Her employer or insurance?
They’re still not going to say they aren’t the dogs danglies. In reality though they won’t have a clue if a few days either way will have made any difference. Most NHS trusts run one stop breast clinics anyway, though I don’t doubt it wouldn’t have been as quick.
They’re still not going to say they aren’t the dogs danglies. In reality though they won’t have a clue if a few days either way will have made any difference. Most NHS trusts run one stop breast clinics anyway, though I don’t doubt it wouldn’t have been as quick.
Soldato
- Joined
- 31 May 2009
- Posts
- 21,257
The nhs in certain parts of northern ireland have crumbled, and are currently falling to pieces.
Certain regions over the past ten and fifteen years have seen massive influx and population increase, but our local muppets despite only having a handful of trusts to adm8nister have managed no forward thought, no insite, no planning, no increase in provision of service.
The service here is beyond strain, i am unaware of any department with less than a years waiting list, some do not even have any routinue service scheduled at all, they will see red flag and urgent, but standard are placed on a list with no active clinics.
Thankfully our local structure means absolutely no one can be held accountable, as tribal boundaries are all that matter.
Certain regions over the past ten and fifteen years have seen massive influx and population increase, but our local muppets despite only having a handful of trusts to adm8nister have managed no forward thought, no insite, no planning, no increase in provision of service.
The service here is beyond strain, i am unaware of any department with less than a years waiting list, some do not even have any routinue service scheduled at all, they will see red flag and urgent, but standard are placed on a list with no active clinics.
Thankfully our local structure means absolutely no one can be held accountable, as tribal boundaries are all that matter.
Private healthcare insurance is cheap as the companies know that if **** hits the proverbial fan, they can just send these broken patients to an NHS emergency hospital to pick up the pieces.
If/when the NHS fails, and everything is privatised, you can bet your money that insurance premiums will skyrocket as these private insurers will need to plan for potential complications and their costs associated with it.
For all the NHS' flaws, you Brits don't know how good you have it...until it's gone...that is.
If/when the NHS fails, and everything is privatised, you can bet your money that insurance premiums will skyrocket as these private insurers will need to plan for potential complications and their costs associated with it.
For all the NHS' flaws, you Brits don't know how good you have it...until it's gone...that is.
Caporegime
Insurance picked up the bill.
They were good with me when my knee went too. Called them up and had an appointment with a knee specialist 3 days later (same guy that treats footballers and rugby players when their knees go). Had an MRI 2 days after that. 3 days after that was back with him to discuss the results and literally the next day was having physio.
Of course they're not going to say they suck but seemingly what she has was very aggressive.
Caporegime
Fair play then, I can’t imagine what it’s like to be waiting in that situation. Scary and frustrating.
Caporegime
No doubt but she couldn't praise them enough. She said she barely had time to worry as she flew from appointment to appointment.
Soldato
My personal experience has been mixed in recent times. I cut the side of my finger off last year, and they handled that fairly well, although the minor injury clinic referred me to A&E where I had a 5 hour wait to have it glued and dressed and then was referred back to A&E to have the glue removed, with another 5 1/2 hour wait.
The NHS butchered my Dad during his hip replacement. The surgery resulted in a leg length mis-match of just under three inches, and the surgeon coincidentally 'retired' 3 days and ended up holding the chair of a high profile professional medical body. Post-op they overdosed him on Klexane, despite the administering nurse questioning the dose, and had to conduct emergency surgery to save his leg, but couldn't prevent permanent nerve damage and paralysis from the knee down. They then falsified the medical records to try and hide the overdose. The doctor found responsible for doing that was reprimanded. The whole situation accelerated the onset of his Parkinsons which then, ironically, reduced the compensation payment after we sued them for negligence at the suggestion of the chair of the Trust, as his life expectancy was now substantially lower. The quality of the remainder of his life is now ruined.
On the other hand, their care for his various heart conditions has and continues to be superb.
Evidence from others suggests that the NHS is largely good, and people appreciate it because generally it fixes them and makes them feel better. But people abuse it, and there are dark situations such as the above.
The NHS butchered my Dad during his hip replacement. The surgery resulted in a leg length mis-match of just under three inches, and the surgeon coincidentally 'retired' 3 days and ended up holding the chair of a high profile professional medical body. Post-op they overdosed him on Klexane, despite the administering nurse questioning the dose, and had to conduct emergency surgery to save his leg, but couldn't prevent permanent nerve damage and paralysis from the knee down. They then falsified the medical records to try and hide the overdose. The doctor found responsible for doing that was reprimanded. The whole situation accelerated the onset of his Parkinsons which then, ironically, reduced the compensation payment after we sued them for negligence at the suggestion of the chair of the Trust, as his life expectancy was now substantially lower. The quality of the remainder of his life is now ruined.
On the other hand, their care for his various heart conditions has and continues to be superb.
Evidence from others suggests that the NHS is largely good, and people appreciate it because generally it fixes them and makes them feel better. But people abuse it, and there are dark situations such as the above.
I never really had any experience with the NHS but recent events i have nothing but praise for them. In the space of 2 months we have experience 3 different NHS trusts and all have been amazing. No expense spared and nothing but excellent service from the staff, nurses and surgeons especially.
On more than one occasion nurses and surgeons have done more than there shift to help, some having only a few hours sleep over a couple of days, everything has been carried out with speed. I no have a whole new respect for the NHS staff.
On more than one occasion nurses and surgeons have done more than there shift to help, some having only a few hours sleep over a couple of days, everything has been carried out with speed. I no have a whole new respect for the NHS staff.
Soldato
That's bang on. At the moment we are in a situation where the private companies are cherry picking the easy procedures that are straightforward. Knees, hips, scans, MRI's, etc. What people don't realise, is when it does in some cases go wrong, the private companies wash their hand or you and throw you back to the NHS. These small private hospitals in lovely grounds with free car parks with doctors and nurses that are all teeth and smiles as they take your credit card details, are pretty limited in what they can do and have pretty narrow skill sets and facilities for what they can do. (they tool up to do a specific procedure and that's it)
My uncle recently had a knee replacement that was farmed out from the NHS to a private hospital. It went well until 3-4 hours after when the wound burst open in dramatic fashion. Only problem was that the surgeon had gone back to his day job in the NHS and it became a mad scramble as to whether they would ship him out to the NHS or find a surgeon.
I think we are in a situation where folk just take it all for granted. In many parts of the country A&E has become a log jam because the system is failing due to lack of money/planning. They never stop to consider what things really cost or what's involved when they simply dial 999 when dad's had a heart attack, they just assume the resources are in place and it all happens by magic.
Soldato
My recent experience of the NHS is not so positive.
Without going into medical thread specifics, two conditions (a sore eye and some loss of finger motion/partial numbness) which have niggled for a couple of years have gone into a GP - Specialist - GP referral cycle. See the GP, that needs referral - either the hospital or a satellite clinic, who decides the condition isn't serious enough (despite causing discomfort in the first instance and slightly reduced dexterity in the other) so you get a discharge notice back to the GP. Wait a few months to go back to the GP and either the cycle starts again or they tell you to go and live with it.
I had exactly the same thing a few years back with a mole on my side. Specialist did a visual check and decided not cancerous and pretty much sent me on my way with a chiding. In years gone by they would still have taken it off. In the end I did it myself with a combination of wart remover and DIY surgery (though I stopped short of self-cauterisation
).
Maybe part of the problem is, if you don't visit the Doctor very often and otherwise appear to be in good health, i.e. no bits hanging off, is they don't believe there's anything wrong and you're swinging the lead so to speak. They also seem very good at palliative treatment of the symptoms but not eliminating the cause.
Without going into medical thread specifics, two conditions (a sore eye and some loss of finger motion/partial numbness) which have niggled for a couple of years have gone into a GP - Specialist - GP referral cycle. See the GP, that needs referral - either the hospital or a satellite clinic, who decides the condition isn't serious enough (despite causing discomfort in the first instance and slightly reduced dexterity in the other) so you get a discharge notice back to the GP. Wait a few months to go back to the GP and either the cycle starts again or they tell you to go and live with it.
I had exactly the same thing a few years back with a mole on my side. Specialist did a visual check and decided not cancerous and pretty much sent me on my way with a chiding. In years gone by they would still have taken it off. In the end I did it myself with a combination of wart remover and DIY surgery (though I stopped short of self-cauterisation
).Maybe part of the problem is, if you don't visit the Doctor very often and otherwise appear to be in good health, i.e. no bits hanging off, is they don't believe there's anything wrong and you're swinging the lead so to speak. They also seem very good at palliative treatment of the symptoms but not eliminating the cause.
Soldato
I went to my GP in mid February for a routine annual blood test (I take blood pressure meds). I asked for a prostate check so the PSA test was added to the usual checks. I am 65 years old and had never had a prostate check before. The PSA test showed high levels, 2x the normal for my age so I had a repeat test six weeks later which was worse, 3x the normal level.
I was referred to the local urology clinic (Ward 8 Leighton Hospital, Crewe) within a week and then put on a list for a prostate biopsy. The next day I was contacted and could I attend the next day for the procedure to take place. This is exemplary service in my opinion, all the staff were kind, friendly and helpful.
It is too soon to say what the results were, the biopsy was a week ago and the results are due within 14 days however I am not sympomatic of anything except that my prostate is enlarged which can be an age related thing, it does not appear cancerous.
I have huge respect for the NHS, in not many countries could you get quite such a quick and professional service. As to the prognosis, it is what it is, I have lived 65 years, another 5, 10, 15 or 20 would be good but only if lived well.
I was referred to the local urology clinic (Ward 8 Leighton Hospital, Crewe) within a week and then put on a list for a prostate biopsy. The next day I was contacted and could I attend the next day for the procedure to take place. This is exemplary service in my opinion, all the staff were kind, friendly and helpful.
It is too soon to say what the results were, the biopsy was a week ago and the results are due within 14 days however I am not sympomatic of anything except that my prostate is enlarged which can be an age related thing, it does not appear cancerous.
I have huge respect for the NHS, in not many countries could you get quite such a quick and professional service. As to the prognosis, it is what it is, I have lived 65 years, another 5, 10, 15 or 20 would be good but only if lived well.
I think you're missing the other poster's point which was about facilities when something goes wrong... the surgeon might well be the same person who could have carried out the procedure had you requested to be referred to him/her on the NHS (albeit with a slightly longer wait) but if something goes wrong in a big NHS hospital then there are intensive care facilities etc.. on hand whereas if you're at some small private facility then you're potentially going to be sent in an Ambulance to the big NHS hospital anyway.
No we don't live in a totalitarian state, people are free to change employers!
Associate
+1, I have always had positive experiences from the NHS.
Associate
- Joined
- 11 Aug 2011
- Posts
- 682
This is exactly what is perplexing me. I have spoken to the surgeons secretary; who told me that I have been referred back to my GP for this reason.
This morning I've had a go on my father-in-laws GP obtained BP monitor and I scored 112/82.
Part of me is wondering if this is a delaying tactic so that they don't fail the 18 week treatment target so badly.
It's a postcode and service lottery tbh. Here in Lincs A&E services are on their knees, ambulance coverage is terrible and being a large rural county it's appalling the lack of ambulances we have active at any one time.
A work colleagues husband had a stroke while driving recently, it took 2 hours for the ambulance to turn up and only just got there within the 'window' to get the drugs administered. I've said before how my old man had a fall and a suspected broken hip and the ambulance took 7 hours to get there.
Another friends wife (who is a nurse) just recently had a fall and broke her shoulder, Lincoln A&E sent her home with pain killers, as they had no space to see her, with a promise to ring her in the morning about getting her in. They didn't call, my friends then spent the next few days chasing, trying to get an answer - which ranged from you need it operating on to no, we're not going to operate, but just leave it. In the end, 5 days later they got a call saying your being operated on tomorrow. It's just chaos.
I went for a GP appointment on the 11th Apr and need some injections from the nurse, the 27th is the soonest they could do it..
On the other hand, my dad just had colon cancer detected on his 2 year health check, and it's been all done and sorted within 5 weeks, just had the op to cut it out on Tues. Though even with that, they had all the scans, was told it's fine it'll just be keyhole surgery, cut the slice of bowel out, stitch up - job done. Only then to be told a week later, no we were wrong, we now think it's gone through the bowel and you need spleen and half your bowel removed and will have a stoma bag. So rather distressed by that for the last few weeks, it turned out they changed their mind again on the day of the op and have just cut out the section.
A work colleagues husband had a stroke while driving recently, it took 2 hours for the ambulance to turn up and only just got there within the 'window' to get the drugs administered. I've said before how my old man had a fall and a suspected broken hip and the ambulance took 7 hours to get there.
Another friends wife (who is a nurse) just recently had a fall and broke her shoulder, Lincoln A&E sent her home with pain killers, as they had no space to see her, with a promise to ring her in the morning about getting her in. They didn't call, my friends then spent the next few days chasing, trying to get an answer - which ranged from you need it operating on to no, we're not going to operate, but just leave it. In the end, 5 days later they got a call saying your being operated on tomorrow. It's just chaos.
I went for a GP appointment on the 11th Apr and need some injections from the nurse, the 27th is the soonest they could do it..
On the other hand, my dad just had colon cancer detected on his 2 year health check, and it's been all done and sorted within 5 weeks, just had the op to cut it out on Tues. Though even with that, they had all the scans, was told it's fine it'll just be keyhole surgery, cut the slice of bowel out, stitch up - job done. Only then to be told a week later, no we were wrong, we now think it's gone through the bowel and you need spleen and half your bowel removed and will have a stoma bag. So rather distressed by that for the last few weeks, it turned out they changed their mind again on the day of the op and have just cut out the section.