Reflections on the NH "Service?"

Hospital consultant gets plumber in because his central heating system is leaking and his WC is blocked. Plumber examines CH system and WC and says," I'll write up my report and contact you in about 7 days time and let you know my diagnosis and what needs to be done. Meanwhile just turn off the heating and try a few asprins down the WC."

Daughter (Doc suspects pleurisy) gets sent to hospital fror X-ray. Consultant needs 7 days to send report to doctor. Grrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Think I understand that one Dave, not too sure though.

All the best to your Daughter.

 

No wonder people use the casualty department as a means of speeding things up.

 

Never use the casualty Dept weekends.
I was thrown out at 5am.
And spent the next two weeks trying to contact someone to tell what happens next.

 

Speedy recover to your daughter, Dave. The severity of pleurisy is dependant on it's origin; had the Consultant suspected the worst case scenario, I'm sure it would have been a different story.

Nonetheless, *you* keep an eye on her and any signs of deterioration and call an out of hours Dr or an ambulance!!

 

Disgusting Dave, hope your daughter is sorted out promptly. xx

 

When my step dad had a stroke, he was sent away from his doctors with advice to take paracetamol.

11 hours later, he collapsed, and was rushed to hospital. When he was being 'treated' for his stroke, it was like something out of a horror film. The ward absolutely stunk, I saw a naked man left on a trolley in the corridor, and when my step dad tried to mumble to us that they weren't giving him his nicotine patches, he was dismissed as being 'confused', until I actually looked and saw that there was no patch on him, and no tell tale rectangular sticky marks where one had been. That sounds like a trivial point, but nicotine withdrawal has a very real physiological effect on the brain, the last thing a stroke victim needs.

I'm afraid the NHS is a farce.

 

I remember when my uncle who brought me up after my mother died was having medical difficulties, the doctors told him he had heartburn ... he died of a heart attack in the living room! I don't have a lot of faith in the system and although I have paid into the NHS for 23 years I wouldn't go back and would take my chances here, which I understand are better than there. That, or I would go privately and don't have insurance.

 

THey saved my life when I had my daughter but they left it to the very last minute to get her out, which was no easy task as I was fitting. So mixed feelings regarding nhs. Hope ur daughter gets better soon - just keep taking her back to docs untill ur happy I always say parents know their kids the best.

 

Have to say the care our family have received in various visits has been generally very good, both through A&E and in referral. My mum went to see her GP about 10 days before Xmas and got a phone call from the hospital he referred her to that afternoon offering an appointment 3 days later!

 

I'd just like to say, after my last very negative post, that I think the individual staff members on the NHS 'shop floor' are general top notch people. I think it is the system itself that is a farce. The awful things I saw when my step dad was dying in hospital were all characteristic of too few staff absolutely rushed off their feet.

 

At the age of 26 (im now 30) After 6 months of tests for stomach problems and having my gall bladder removed I continued to have problems and eventually had a CT scan. At that point it was discovered that I had a malignant tumour on my right kidney. Within 3 weeks I had part of my kidney removed and now have a 14 inch scar to show for my troubles. It was eventually discovered that I have Crohn's disease. The cancer was incidental and was giving me none of the problematic symptoms that crohns certainly does.

Definitely think the treatment I have had from oncology has been first rate and very lucky having a great hospital in Clatterbridge has been helpful.

I often think that compared to other countries we are lucky even though we pay for the privilege. Can certainly relate to some of the other stories though having experienced similar with my father in law.

 

I must say I always chuckle when people say the NHS is 'free' because it is anything but that. One pays for it through the taxes they pay when they work ... I can't explain how anyone gets it free who hasn't worked (cough, cough).