Your N.H.S. Experiences

Most hospitals are running at full capacity , and can only get worse. I have been running my neighbour into the local hospital, where her husband is dying of cancer. She is registered disabled, after 5 weeks in the hospital, they sent him back home, they provided a bed in her living room,(toilet upstairs), and a commode, she just could not manage, even with nurses calling twice a day. Eventually he fell out of bed, and she had to call an ambulance, he eventually was found a bed in the hospice, and died last Saturday, but to watch someone die in those circumstances is mental torture. As had been said here, most of us would pay a little extra to keep our NHS going, KT

I have some mixed experiences of nhs and private treatment. Some years ago I had an operation for a perforated eardrum in an nhs hospital. The scarring never quite healed and the membrane in one ear became fragile. My ears wax up a lot but I could never have them sluiced out in the traditional way by a clinician at my local surgery, but had to see a ent specialist to have what they term as a Suction Clearance with no water involved. My first appointment with a specialist turned into a 'comedy of errors'. After waiting an hour beyond my appointment, I was herded into the consulting room with three other patients( so much for patient confidentiality), to be examined by an Asian gentleman who looked about three years older than Methuselah's Donkey, added to all this his English was that bad a nurse had to help with the dialogue. By then I'd had enough and left this circus. About a week later I received a call to see my gp who showed me a report from the 'consultant' stating that he'd taken me off his list and that I was considered a 'hostile patient' When I explained to my gp (young, pretty and White) the circumstances surrounding my walkout, she agreed to scrub my 'VNC'. My ear problem remained so I asked my gp to recommend somewhere in the private sector. ( I could afford to at that time- still earning good money) Popped along to my local private clinic near Bolton and got myself sorted. I used to visit annually to get my ears de waxed- started out at £60 a visit, my last go was £100. Now that I can no longer afford the luxury of private treatment I made enquiries and discovered I could now access the same procedure for zilch at my local health centre. The facilities and equipment are the same as the private sector and treatment is done by a highly trained clinician in a private room, plus I only waited a few days for my appointment. Also a thorough examination of the condition of my ears and advice for any future problems. The only difference between the two experiences was that she didn't keep calling me 'Sir' or be served Earl Grey tea in bone china cups. Gilly

Its been announced here on the IOW, that the health authority has rented a wing of a private nursing home, about 14-17 beds for approx £500,000 for 6 months , enabling them to free up beds in the hospital. What amazes me that 20 years ago we had two cottage hospitals, that did just that, elderly patients could rehab there, they were sold off, demolished and flats built there. Some bright spark in an office will come up with a brilliant idea soon , to buy a couple of hotels and turn them into cottage hospitals KT

Keith we in our area had a tax office brand new massive building 7/8 floors it was pulled down blamed for being a sick building{whatever that is} then some pencil neck came up with building a new hospital costing millions?? the building was sick anyway isn't that was a hospital is? who thinks these things up it was bootle tax office..jp

Today , everyone has the right to chose their own Hospital, if you do not like or get the treatment you want in your local Hospital you can chose another one that you think is better.
Some Hospitals are BAD, Some are very Good.
My local one is BAD, the last two times I have got dressed and walked out of the ward.
When I came back from the Antarctic in 2009 I waited for eight months for an operation on my shoulder where I had been injured by a bull elephant seal. I sent a letter to Andy Burnham, then the Labour Health Minister, asking why did I have to be in pain for eight months while I waited.
He wrote back saying "Dont you know you are not to write to the Minister? see your own MP." What a Git he turned out to be, Good Socialist.
When I had the operation, I had no ffod for three days, stuck in a corner bed with curtains drawn round me, wired up with tubes etc. When I tried to get up a BIG Fat Nurse, shouted "What do you think you are doing." ?. I said I have have had nothing to eat or drink for three days. She then got a dirty half full of cold tea off an immigrants bedside table and gave me that, That is all there is , she says. I was the only Englishman on the ward.Breakfast was two hours ago so nothing now.
I climbed out of the bunk pulled all the tubes out, phoned Anne to come and get me, and got dressed, I walked out, We got out of there and walking home I got hit by a car and ended up back in the same bed.had to have another operation on my knee.
In 2012 I had very severe pains in the gut, couldnt even stand up. I was taken by ambulance to the same local hospital, I was given pain killers on a drip.
Next day I asked for my BP Tablets, the Nurse said, "We do not give medication to drug dealers".
WHAT???, Everyone on the ward looked and pointed at me.
She says. Your son has been in here shouting that you have stolen tablets off his girl friend and you have been selling them, so no more medication for you"
I got dressed and walked home, A few weeks later I was in Honolulu and had the same pains again so went to the Queens Medical Centre there, They told me that I had four days to live without treatment. I had a gangrene gall bladder, severe Pancreatitus, Cholycistitus, I had two operations and they saved my life,
Lovely place, and the most beautiful Nurses, I left hospital there on Valentines Day 14 February 2013 and all the Nurses 12 of them lined up and gave me Valentine cards and a hug and a kiss off them all.
NOW my local hospital should have Diagnosed that ailment but all I got was accusations.
I wrote to the CEO of the hospital and got an apology from her, mistaken identity. BUT because of that I could have Died.
I now go to Salford Royal Hospita and Manchester Wythenshawe Hospital as they are far more superior and professional.
Cheers
Brian

my mother was taken in for the camera no big deal?? she had to stay in the procedure was cancelled that day 3 days later no food laxatives and plenty of them then she was forgotten about after 10 days wait for the procedure no food to week for anything we thought she had been getting food as she was about 10ft away from the sister station after the procedure we were called into a room and told her liver and kidneys had failed and they had given her medicine that might get them going again I asked and what if the medicine dos not work? 24 hours we were told she had left I felt as if I had been hit with a bat everything failed on her she passed away the next day the real kick in the balls when the test came back she did not need the camera in the first place... how can I explain these things that go on little did I know the same hospital would save my life on 3 occasions in the next couple of years is the health service a lottery is age the barrier of healing she was a fit 81 year old lady that had no need to die like that starved and overdosed with anaesthetic but still someone somewhere could have done better and I was bitter towards the staff till one day 8 medical staff climbed into the back of an ambulance with me in the bad way and nursing me back to what I am today with all the aftercare some do slip through the net mam was one of them I lost my father when I was young and promise my father on his deathbed I would always look after her and sometimes I think I failed them both by trusting others?? jp

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Originally Posted by Jim Brady

!8 to 30 year olds have the same right to use the NHS for free just like us all.This age group are not all out of work and have a good deduction made from their wages/salary each week /month to support the upkeep of the NHS for all those unemployed and pensioners just like we did when we were young.A young lad out drinking last week was punched by a yob,the lad fell and cracked his head on the floor.He got up went home went to bed his father went to call him for work the next morning and he was dead.He had a fractured scull and bleeding on the brain,he'd been drinking it's a pity he never went to A&E.A very liberal minded doctor was on TV last week,he said people come to A&E because they need to see a doctor or feel that they need to see a doctor and they are quite entitled to visit A&E if there is no alternative open to them.Many young people could be visiting A&E because they have suffered injuries from an attack by a third party and do need treatment,the amount that are there for drunkenness only is quite small.The problem with A&E which I have suffered myself is the chaos caused by young people who have been drinking and you do feel in a vunerable situation.It is not normally the "patient" that is causing the problem but the gang that they have brought along with them.The solution is restrict the "patient" to one minder,they are not so clever or loud when not in a gang this would soon alleviate some of the problem.
Once you start bringing in charges for one thing it's the thin end of the wedge and will lead to other charges,keep the NHS free.
Regards.
Jim.B.

For those who have had to much to drink introduce the "drunk tank" even in town centres (enough empty shops) stick them in there and keep them away from A&E.

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Jim, I agree if a person is injured through a drunken lout being seen of course. You say don't charge yobs that come to A@E With gangs and bring in the drunk tank, Unfortunately mate it isn't all drink , Not like it was a lot of it is what they thrown down there throat before going out the house and also what they pop or throw up there nose. Things have changed and if we don't support the N.H.S. Know one else will. Do you really want to loose the N.H.S. Because if these torys get there way it will be restricted. They have already withdrew some cancer treatment, A recent survey showed that 1 in 6, 18 to 25 year olds are becoming stay at home kids of a weekend, That is a very sad state of affairs and has to be addressed let me rephrase yes a lot of young drinkers are responsible, Unfortunately they don't know there limits 24 hour drinking is not working in this country as far as the youth goes any chief constable the country over north or south or in the middle, They cant all be wrong. Regards Terry. :(

Manu countries in the wst have a problem with an aging population, we are all getting older and medicine advancements sees people living longer. The problem is two fold, not enough resources put in place by govs of all sides over the years since the end of WW2. The second is the shorthae of nursing staff and doctors. The number taking up the prfessions is not keeping up with the increase in population. The problem with niurses is that there is not the desire to take it up, there are so many other job opportunities now, the hours of work and conditions sre something the younger generation will not accept. Doctors are also in shortgae for similar reasons, it appears the drive to be a doctor is not there anymore. Many govs are looking at ways to improve the situation but it is a long term problem.

Terry your post mentioned charging 18 to 30 year olds who turn up at A&E comotosed through drink.How much are you going to charge them for the treatment?who is going to collect it?it would end up costing more to collect it than the fine itself.I wonder just how many a week nationwide turn up at A&E's through drink,I'm not talking about having an accident through drink like falling over a splitting a head open.You ask me do I want to loose the NHS,I belong to a body that is fighting to keep the NHS FREE AT THE POINT OF USE..once you start slipping in little charges for this and for that it isn't free anymore.The NHS has never been free we paid for it through our N.I.Stamp and people working today pay for it through weekly/monthly deductions from earnings.The government are happy to hear old people and young binge drinkers taking the blame it takes the blame from them for the mess the NHS is in through the cut backs.I am attending haematology clinics at the moment and I am going into the Royal for a 4 hour job next month and I can only say that I cannot praise the treatment enough that I am receiving from the NHS.By the way I hope IDS doesn't log onto this site otherwise he will be cutting your money (you offering £5 pw from your benefit)
Regards.
Jim.B.

I was talking to an American last year, he was on holiday in the UK the year before, and his wife was taken ill, she was taken to hospital and treated, and what amazed him was no charge was made. My wife worked in a school, and the school operated an exchange teacher scheme with USA teachers, and one openly admitted that him and his wife deliberately started a family while here as it was free medicals and hospitalisation , so i think in these type of cases a charge should be made. Our NHS is something we should all be fighting to retain KT