A rant about the NHS

[smhbcfc]

I had an operation on 30 June to remove a cholestoma from my inner ear - because it was close to my brain this needed to be done in a Neuro Centre - was done in Southampton by 2 surgeons - one a ENT Specialist and one a Neuro (in case fluid leaked from my brain). The operation lasted 7-8 hours and I have an "impressive scar" (my wife's words).
Initially they said I could be in hospital for 10 days, but fortunately my operation went well and I was out a bit quicker.
I now have to learn to walk again because the disease destroyed my balance organ in that ear (and will be off work for 3 months) and I have lost the hearing in that ear.
Anyway - to cut a long story short, the treatment I had in hospital was absolutely top drawer - my surgeons kept me informed of what was likely to happen (knew in advance about the hearing loss and vertigo) and the nursing staff were amazing (though being woken up every hour to make sure I was ok was not fun!)
So what do I think of the NHS - my personal recent experience means I think it's an amazing institution with a lot of dedicated people working in it

 

[pirate49]

Many good things about the NHS hospitals, but the care of the elderly
in these hospitals is often second rate. My late mother spent some
time in the wards high up in the old BRI, and I have to say that the
care was poor and the surroundings dingy.
I can't understand how nurses wear their uniforms to and from work.
It's no good washing your hands if what you wear has been exposed
to the filth around us.

 

[invermeremike]

I can remember a trip to Houston in the Excited States many years ago when a man entered the hotel lobby with his wife who was in wheelchair, and clearly a short time away from death. Later that evening I decided to take a dip in the pool to relax after my long trip from Canada and I noticed the same man in the jacuzzi where he was crying his eyes out and in obvious deep distress. I engaged him in conversation and he was ready for a friendly smile and conversation. His story ripped my heart out because his wife was told by a well known American clinic that if he brought her from somewhere in New England where they lived to their clinic in Houston they had a new treatment that would save her life.

He sold their home to finance her hospital bills prior to travelling to Houston, and was prepared to use up the residual on the so-called life saving treatment available in Texas. I saw him a few days later and asked how things were going and he told me that he had run out of money and the treatment was discontinued by the clinic due to his lack of funds. He was travelling home penniless and homeless with his wife who was clearly even nearer death and my anger at the U.S. medical system for treating such a desperate man in such a manner has grown from that incident. The U.S. health system will suck you dry and discard you the minute you run out of funds without even a second glance. I often think about that poor man and how he was treated in a system that only cares about the almighty dollar and to hell with the rest. The system is run by multi-billion dollar organisations and the politicians that declare that it is the best healthcare in the world are lying to the people because heaven forbid that the average person in the street has access to their elitist medical care. If you're poor then p*ss off - pure and simple.

If any politician in the U.K. advocates the use of this type of healthcare then I suggest you ship them to the Excited States without acces to any money and see how quickly they come running home with their tail between their legs. Never allow this to happen.

 

[Redprintt]

Rickster - think our views on immigration are pretty much the same.

Yet - 'the first to go should be Cameron' - and bring in the lot that signed up for mass immigration ???

Labour and Liberal politicians are worst for allowing ridiculous immigration. Just listen to them.
Had hoped Cameron and his lot would do something to redress immigration. They haven't, apparently they'd have to rip up the EU agreement.
They're chickens.

Not red or blue (politically) any more - they ALL useless.

 

[JamboBCFC]

Sorry to hear that mate, hope she gets the treatment soon!

Just adding my experiences..

My dad went to the GP concerned about a lump, next day had a scan at the hospital, diagnosed with testicular cancer and had the operation all within a week. My granddad's had a quadruple heart bypass and also recieved excellant care.

I know 3 nurses working at the local hospitals, one is a high band and regularly has trouble even getting staff in to cover all the necessary hours and has to use bank nurses on much higher pay and without specialist training to plug the gaps.

I don't think the high up management make it easy for the people actually working on wards at all.

 

[BrightredRickster]

Rickster - think our views on immigration are pretty much the same.

Yet - 'the first to go should be Cameron' - and bring in the lot that signed up for mass immigration ???

Labour and Liberal politicians are worst for allowing ridiculous immigration. Just listen to them.
Had hoped Cameron and his lot would do something to redress immigration. They haven't, apparently they'd have to rip up the EU agreement.
They're chickens.

Not red or blue (politically) any more - they ALL useless.

I quite agree. I wouldn't give you 4pence for any of them.`
`Brown was an idiot, Blair was a sensation seeker, and Cameron is an upper class twit of the year, who has no time for any under the 30K per year bracket. Why else would he be ransacking the NHS ?
Blair's legacy to this country is only now beginning to hit home with his disastrous immigration policy

 

[Red Robin]

I quite agree. I wouldn't give you 4pence for any of them.`
`Brown was an idiot, Blair was a sensation seeker, and Cameron is an upper class twit of the year, who has no time for any under the 30K per year bracket. Why else would he be ransacking the NHS ?
Blair's legacy to this country is only now beginning to hit home with his disastrous immigration policy

Yes we can already see what a difference this mass immigration is causing, and what our we leaving for our children,i do wonder what is going to happen to this once great country in the future.

 

[Sapphire]

Mike

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do. I have left you a PM.
I have been involved with both sides if the NHS laterly as the wheels start to come off!

Humans aren't like machines where changing a head gasket is exactly the same for all brands of a particular car. If it was Haynes would probably have written a manual for surgeons.

People report on the NHS on the way they were treated by what is essentially a team of human beings. All of the medical instuments and gizmos are secondary to that perception.

Unfortunately it is also human nature to report a complaint rather than to praise a service. So if someone's having a bad day we tend to hear about it and we do not hear so many reports of acceptable experiennces. Why should we? That's what we expect!

When people complain about the the NHS they are criticising people in care, who do care!

From my personal experience, I have never been treated with other than excellent professional NHS care.

 

[Angelicnumber16]

Mike

My Wife was unfortunate enough to have a fairly serious accident whilst we were on holiday in the USA some years ago.
She slipped on some water or a drink that had been spilled in a restaurant and tore her hamstring away from her pelvis.

Fire and Rescue were on the scene in under 5 minutes, we weren't asked for our nationality, or any proof that we had the means to pay for treatment but I can't speak highly enough of the way she was treated.
We did have insurance and the total bill for x-rays, pain relief, crutches, hospitilisation and the rest came to around $3,500.

We were told by a local lawyer that had we been American citizens we would probably have had a claim of around $1m against the restaurant which is a nationwide chain (not McDonalds!!) but because we were foreign we would never win. I wrote to the chain and we got a free meal voucher for $100........

Big deal !

 

[invermeremike]

Thanks sapphire your comments were well recieved and noted. My mum will be home from the hospital today and if I get a reply from my contact with PE2 hospital I hope it can lead to a better quality of life for her. Thanks again.