NHS. Time to go?

[ctdctd]

No to scrapping it, but it does need serious reform.

My father is 85 and was diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer 6 months ago. He lives on a low income with no savings in London but is very independent.

In the last 6 months he has been referred for outpatient care at three hospitals and has probably had 20 appointments + 3 in patient stays for "tests". His notes have not followed him on some occasions and he has had to tell them what is wrong with him several times. Probably 75% of the appointments could have been completed over the phone. Instead he has to book patient transport which usually runs late so he misses his slot and carts him back home several hours after he is ready.

After 6 months of tests he still has not received any treatment. All the options (Bladder removal, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, catheter etc) have been put to him several times but nothing has been done. One operation slot was booked and cancelled 2 days before the due date. Nothing has been re-scheduled yet.

Each hospital is carrying out expensive intrusive tests, often repeats of earlier ones, and then passing the buck. No one is taking ownership of his medical problem and sorting it out. GP (different one each time) does not want to know.

I see him at the weekends sometime and he is fading away due to the incompetence of the NHS and stress of trying to deal with his condition.

If I did 3rd line support the way they treat elderly patients, my chances of staying in contract would be slim at best!



Sorry - mini rant over.

[escapeUK]

Its not what you want to hear, but at his age he will be given low priority for treatment. Im not saying this is right or wrong, but if I were you id be looking at private options.

[amcdonald]

No to scrapping it, but it does need serious reform.

My father is 85 and was diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer 6 months ago. He lives on a low income with no savings in London but is very independent.

In the last 6 months he has been referred for outpatient care at three hospitals and has probably had 20 appointments + 3 in patient stays for "tests". His notes have not followed him on some occasions and he has had to tell them what is wrong with him several times. Probably 75% of the appointments could have been completed over the phone. Instead he has to book patient transport which usually runs late so he misses his slot and carts him back home several hours after he is ready.

After 6 months of tests he still has not received any treatment. All the options (Bladder removal, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, catheter etc) have been put to him several times but nothing has been done. One operation slot was booked and cancelled 2 days before the due date. Nothing has been re-scheduled yet.

Each hospital is carrying out expensive intrusive tests, often repeats of earlier ones, and then passing the buck. No one is taking ownership of his medical problem and sorting it out. GP (different one each time) does not want to know.

I see him at the weekends sometime and he is fading away due to the incompetence of the NHS and stress of trying to deal with his condition.

If I did 3rd line support the way they treat elderly patients, my chances of staying in contract would be slim at best!



Sorry - mini rant over.

HAve you gone to your MP, I think publicity of his situation might be worth a try. He who shouts loudest and all that...

[Old Greg]

Its not what you want to hear, but at his age he will be given low priority for treatment. Im not saying this is right or wrong, but if I were you id be looking at private options.

Another option is to go with him to the next appointment. Book an appointment over the phone with the hospital PALS team for an hour before the appointment. Email your PALS contact before you see them outlining all your concerns. Emphasise the cancelled operation. PM me if you like. I've. spent my life working / contracting in the NHS.

[OwlHoot]

Here's a graph of international expenditure on healthcare. Our system is reasonably cheap.

Well the Turks seem to do alright, and that graph shows they spend much less than us.

So why can't we abolish the NHS and adopt the Turkish system?

[TimberWolf]

Well the Turks seem to do alright, and that graph shows they spend much less than us.

So why can't we abolish the NHS and adopt the Turkish system?

Everyone knows that it's either the NHS or the evil American system. No in betweens are allowed.

[TimberWolf]

You are a moron. Here's why I think that. HTH, HAND.

That's a selfish viewpoint, dodgyAgent is right about you isn't he.

[sasguru]

No to scrapping it, but it does need serious reform.

My father is 85 and was diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer 6 months ago. He lives on a low income with no savings in London but is very independent.

In the last 6 months he has been referred for outpatient care at three hospitals and has probably had 20 appointments + 3 in patient stays for "tests". His notes have not followed him on some occasions and he has had to tell them what is wrong with him several times. Probably 75% of the appointments could have been completed over the phone. Instead he has to book patient transport which usually runs late so he misses his slot and carts him back home several hours after he is ready.

After 6 months of tests he still has not received any treatment. All the options (Bladder removal, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, catheter etc) have been put to him several times but nothing has been done. One operation slot was booked and cancelled 2 days before the due date. Nothing has been re-scheduled yet.

Each hospital is carrying out expensive intrusive tests, often repeats of earlier ones, and then passing the buck. No one is taking ownership of his medical problem and sorting it out. GP (different one each time) does not want to know.

I see him at the weekends sometime and he is fading away due to the incompetence of the NHS and stress of trying to deal with his condition.

If I did 3rd line support the way they treat elderly patients, my chances of staying in contract would be slim at best!



Sorry - mini rant over.

The treatment of the elderly on the NHS, in London in particular, is a disgrace. I have personal experience of this with a relative.
The NHS is not fit for purpose in this respect and needs urgent reform.

[d000hg]

You are a moron. Here's why I think that. HTH, HAND.

You might want to qualify which of the diametrically opposing views you are calling moronic, for the benefit of those who don't want to read your link

[ctdctd]

Another option is to go with him to the next appointment. Book an appointment over the phone with the hospital PALS team for an hour before the appointment. Email your PALS contact before you see them outlining all your concerns. Emphasise the cancelled operation. PM me if you like. I've. spent my life working / contracting in the NHS.

Thanks OG,

I went with him pre op to an appointment which seemed to go well. That hospital then referred him back to the original one saying he was too much of a risk to operate on.

6 weeks on, the original hospital is "investigating" the same operation.