Reply to: One silver lining to Brexit - the NHS as it exists will probably disappear

[SueEllen]

Yes. In this case it was the hospital that was being slow. They sent a letter fairly quickly to tell me I would have an appointment in the future - just lied about how far in the future of would be.

I'm sure other people have better experiences with the NHS, but my advice to anyone else who has a zit, is to go private or just put up with it. Not worth risking death for.

Today they stuck a canula in my hand that they didn't even use! All that ouch for nothing. Then they whined about how much it cost while I stood there bleeding.

Sounds like your local hospital is tulip.

Mine is good. You just need to make sure you are at a GP's practice who will refer you to it....

[hugebrain]

Are you sure your GP referred you immediately? I have spoken to and heard many people plus experienced myself a GP deliberately delaying referring to a specialist. In some peoples case they were told the GP had referred them on but discovered they hadn't.

Yes. In this case it was the hospital that was being slow. They sent a letter fairly quickly to tell me I would have an appointment in the future - just lied about how far in the future of would be.

I'm sure other people have better experiences with the NHS, but my advice to anyone else who has a zit, is to go private or just put up with it. Not worth risking death for.

Today they stuck a canula in my hand that they didn't even use! All that ouch for nothing. Then they whined about how much it cost while I stood there bleeding.

[SueEllen]

I know (hope) that I'm having a private MRI scan on Monday.

I know that if the doctors hadn't waited seven months to do approx 20 minutes work, my condition wouldn't have had time to worsen and I wouldn't be in pain and looking at more operations to come.

I know from the doctors/nurses perspective they're making a lot more money than if they'd kept me healthy. How much do 70 appointments cost the taxpayer?

Are you sure your GP referred you immediately? I have spoken to and heard many people plus experienced myself a GP deliberately delaying referring to a specialist. In some peoples case they were told the GP had referred them on but discovered they hadn't.

[vetran]

It's not that simple. For example in domestic abuse situations the family "interpreter" is often the abuser.

I do wonder why interpreters can't use skype? Also don't they use a service to transcribe the conversation for records so any 'reimagining' of the victims words would be spotted quickly.

[vetran]

I checked the opening times of the town centre pharmacy where I get my prescription, and it turns out they only open 9-5pm Mon-Fri. Not even Saturday morning. Good job I'm unemployed.

I agree Re: improvements. My GPs being doing text messages for the last year or so, many years after the hospital half a mile up the road started doing it. They also have a touchscreen check in system so you're not there queuing to see a receptionist, I order repeat prescriptions online, and when you phone up they now tell you that if you want an urgent appointment they'll take a number and a doctor will call you back to assess your need. So it does seem they're finally embracing the 21st century in many ways; only 15 years or so after they should have done it.

None of this fits the narrative of the NHS dying due to Tory budget cuts, though I accept this is just my experience of one area.

There will be one Pharmacy open late at night in your area (Should be in the local free paper and on each Pharmacy window - your late night Pharmacy is XYZ). Our Doctor attached one is open to 10pm M-S, 8pm Sundays.

Yes the check in screens are great,the hospital doesn't have one.

Our change was when the old owner of the practice retired & sold up. New chap seems to be determined to speed everything up and make some real money. Maybe if they made a 'perfect example practice' and rolled it out they would have more success.

That does lead some credence to the theory that the NHS needs to change its attitude as the solutions are there.

[tomtomagain]

WTF are we paying for the interpreters? If you don't speak English, you bring someone with you who does.

It's not that simple. For example in domestic abuse situations the family "interpreter" is often the abuser.

[The_Equalizer]

served != severed. I'm just being an

And I should check my posts. No wonder I was in the plebs group for English at school.

[amanwhoisquiet]

It's a same day service. That, or do you mean hospital referrals? In which case I've no idea how many are referred. A counter argument would be at least they are not clogging up A&E unnecessarily.

served != severed. I'm just being an

[The_Equalizer]

That'll cut down the wait lists.

It's a same day service. That, or do you mean hospital referrals? In which case I've no idea how many are referred. A counter argument would be at least they are not clogging up A&E unnecessarily.

[scooterscot]

The one problem with the German system is the excellent service follows the money. Here in Munich you'll find all the specialists because that's where they can make the money. Whereas if you're out in the sticks or less well known cities... Come Autumn the Arabs are everywhere for some sort of surgery. But also we see the occasional Brit come over for some specialist treatment not available in the UK, even if they are private.

[hugebrain]

You think a lot, but what exactly do you know?

I know (hope) that I'm having a private MRI scan on Monday.

I know that if the doctors hadn't waited seven months to do approx 20 minutes work, my condition wouldn't have had time to worsen and I wouldn't be in pain and looking at more operations to come.

I know from the doctors/nurses perspective they're making a lot more money than if they'd kept me healthy. How much do 70 appointments cost the taxpayer?

[VectraMan]

Local doctor is getting better. Text reminders for appointments which they have assured me has got attendance up ( I mentioned how handy it was and they said it was working and they had fewer missed appointments.

Appointment waits are down a bit. Blood is taken at the doctors not the hospital.

Joined pharmacy so fewer - you need to go back to the doctor moments. (was funding changed for pharmacies because they seem to be popping up everywhere).

generally a much nicer service.

I checked the opening times of the town centre pharmacy where I get my prescription, and it turns out they only open 9-5pm Mon-Fri. Not even Saturday morning. Good job I'm unemployed.

I agree Re: improvements. My GPs being doing text messages for the last year or so, many years after the hospital half a mile up the road started doing it. They also have a touchscreen check in system so you're not there queuing to see a receptionist, I order repeat prescriptions online, and when you phone up they now tell you that if you want an urgent appointment they'll take a number and a doctor will call you back to assess your need. So it does seem they're finally embracing the 21st century in many ways; only 15 years or so after they should have done it.

None of this fits the narrative of the NHS dying due to Tory budget cuts, though I accept this is just my experience of one area.

[amanwhoisquiet]

Sixty people seen on a first come, first severed basis and works very well.

That'll cut down the wait lists.

[The_Equalizer]

You think a lot, but what exactly do you know?

The previous (of seven years) was a cardiologist. Some of the Locum stuff - 48 hour weekend shift - paid for a nice holiday. The private hospital round the corner was known as 'the till on the hill'.

Blair managed to get doctors' salaries lifted across the board - especially if you were a GP. Basically New Labour's negotiators were shi7e.

[vwdan]

I think a lot of the problems in the NHS are deliberate. Doctors drag their feet to cause delays, so they can make you go private and they can charge double for the same thing. (even if you don't pay, the NHS will).

Or like the pretend junior doctors strike. The overtime payments are so high that they just made ludicrous demands so they could take a few days off. Then when the system was backed up they cleaned up on overtime.

Everyone thinks they are saints, but doctors are just like contractors!

You think a lot, but what exactly do you know?