Off Topic Surgeons at the edge of life... BBC 2

Did anyone watch this programme. How lucky we are to have such brilliant people in the NHS. The programme was quite amazing. If you missed it, try and watch it on catch up....

 

Amazing programme

 

Amazing program. Amazing surgeons.

 

Excellent program. Superb teamwork. The whole crew have nerves of steel, and total trust in each other.
The advances in technology and technique in the medical field are amazing. Long may it continue.

 

I was about to go to bed when I read this recommendation but I immediately went on iPlayer. I have a medical fascination anyway and my eldest daughter is contemplating a possible study choice in medicine. But wow that really was excellent and can't wait until next week. Echoing Canada's comments completely. Its not all successful of course but the work these amazing people do, including the whole team, makes me feel very very humble.

 

Yeah it was OK, but the surgeons were far to up themselves, ****s

 

Half of them are sadists.

 

I spent a day in hospital yesterday. I had an op to sort out a leg problem. The surgeon and the nursing staff were brilliant - Brits, Asians, Africans, Poles, Portuguese - a truly wonderful (if severely challenged) 'Inter-National Health Service'.

Without the NHS, I would have (at least) lost my leg, if not my life; but, certainly, any wealth I might possess.

 

I worry about the NHS, when they have signs around the place saying "Warning. Thieves operate in this Hospital". I'd much prefer it if they used more honest surgeons.

 

Brilliant Sir Stan

I love all who work in the NHS who I have met

 

It was a fabulously uplifting programme. The skill shown by the surgeons and the bravery of the patients were remarkable. Actually, the bravery of the surgeons was pretty amazing too.

 

Hey, I got moderated!!! That's quite impressive. I linked Jeremy Hunt keeping his job to the programme and that bit has been removed from my post. I'm guessing someone thought it was political.

 

It's just the wrong place to air your political views. No offence.

 

But did they say you're fit to play O'G....?

 

What I find weird is GP's are called Dr. But surgeons are referred to as Mr.

 

Here's the reason -

In most other parts of the world all medical practitioners, physicians and surgeons alike, are referred to as Dr while in the UK surgeons are usually referred to as Mr/Miss/Ms/Mrs. This is because, from the Middle Ages physicians had to embark on formal university training to gain possession of a degree in medicine before they could enter practice. The possession of this degree, a doctorate, entitled them to the title of ‘Doctor of Medicine’ or Doctor.

The training of surgeons until the mid-19th century was different. They did not have to go to university to gain a degree; instead they usually served as an apprentice to a surgeon. Afterwards they took an examination. In London, after 1745, this was conducted by the Surgeons' Company and after 1800 by The Royal College of Surgeons. If successful they were awarded a diploma, not a degree, therefore they were unable to call themselves 'Doctor', and stayed instead with the title 'Mr'.

Outside London and in the largest cities, the surgeon served as an apprentice like many other tradesmen, but did not necessarily take any examination. Today all medical practitioners, whether physicians or surgeons have to undertake training at medical school to obtain a qualifying degree. Thereafter a further period of postgraduate study and training through junior posts is required before full consultant surgeon status is achieved. Thus the tradition of a surgeon being referred to as Mr/Miss/Ms/Mrs has continued, meaning that in effect a person starts as Mr/Miss/Ms/Mrs, becomes a Dr and then goes back to being a Mr/Miss/Ms/Mrs again!

 

We had a blue light excursion to A&E on Saturday; it started with the District Nurse, who called a Paramedic, who called ambulance. Once inside the ambulance, emergency treatment had to be administered, which took about 20mins. From the nurse arriving for her routine appointment to us walking into A&E, and experiencing the excellent handover, all took about 1hr 20mins. He was in good hands throughout; young people, meticulous in their professionalism and patient focus.

We parted company with the lad for about 20mins. (due to the flu precautions) and rejoined my son in High Acuity were he was undergoing a whole raft of tests.

After about 2hrs a Doctor appeared and asked a whole batch of questions and then he disappeared. He reappeared about an hour later and explained the test results were good and that it was a blip from trying to become 'normal' too soon. All in all it was a 5hr wobble that could have shaken us badly, but their calm composure was catching. Thankfully.

Since the 14th December when this kicked off there have been so many different types of medical professionals who have played their part; some I can name (by discipline) others are out of sight, doing tests, making judgements, determining way forwards to advise the supervising consultant.

It's like the layers of an onion, there always appears to be more, only the tears, for us were joy - sadly some we met were not so fortunate. A layman might think they understand perfectly well what is happening in our hospitals, but they don't; regardless of their profession. I am far from certain there are more than just a few medical professionals who could claim that anything like fully.

 

This story just reinforces my view that the NHS is brilliant in emergency or near-emergency situations, but lets itself down delivering routine out-patient care. I've heard and experienced endless stories of long waiting times between appointments, notes being lost, consultants cancelling/not turning up. A close relative spent a full year being passed from one specialist to another trying to resolve a knee problem. Eventually private treatment at £1500 solved the problem. Guess who the private consultant was? Yep, one of the NHS ones seen during the previous year.

I don't blame the staff particularly, I just think certain bits of the NHS are becoming too big, unmanageable and as a result unfit for purpose. Just wish I had the answers...