State of the NHS
Discussion
Now I know there is a lot of bad press about the NHS and hospitals in particular and I'm of the same opinion that reform needs to take place. The reason for this post is that my contact with a walk-in surgery, my GP surgery and the local hospital has been vey good.
Wind back to last Xmas Eve I was away in Doncaster and went down with what turned out was a chronic viral throat infection, was really bad so had to get an emergency appointment at a walk-in doctors surgery on Boxing Day (this surgery is open 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year) my wife rang them at 8am and I had an appointment for mid-day, there were 4 doctors and various nursing/treatment staff on hand on that day. Was told no medication was necessary as it was a virus but to try and gargle with salt water which I did, was laid up for 4 days but it did gradually go away after day 4 and could swallow again.
After a week returned home then developed an ear ache in my right ear so went to the local pharmacy to get something but they said I had to go to my GP as it looked like an ear infection so trotted along there and spoke to the receptionist, told them what the pharmacy had said and got a face-to-face for later that day. This was not at all what I had expected as people I know had been slagging off this surgery and one even making a complaint to the health authority which has still to be adjudicated. Was diagnosed with an ear infection (probably as a result of the viral problem) and given antibiotics which did their job but it turns out that left me with a Eustachian Tube problem.
So back to the GP surgery where again I got an appointment for a face-to-face for the next day, saw the GP and there was nothing he could do but said he would refer me to the hospital to see if it would need a surgical intervention.
I got a letter from the hospital saying that I had to ring the appointments line if I'd heard nothing by 4th April. That date came and I'd heard nothing so gave it a couple of days and called them, turns out that those letters are sent from somewhere else and the appointments lady said they always wait to be called and will then make an appointment but it would have to be made for within the next three weeks, no good to me as I was about to go away and wouldn't be back in time so had to wait and call again.
Returned from my trip and called them again and got a consultant appointment which was two weeks away (09:30 yesterday). Turned up at the hospital at 09:25 and booked in, at 09:30 a nurse called me in for a hearing test then was told to return to the waiting room and wait. Ten minutes later the consultant called me in and carried out a very thorough exam of my ears, nose and throat. Turns out I have a mild Eustachian Tube Dysfunction which will probably clear itself over time together with mild hearing loss over high frequencies which is normal for someone my age.
So, apart from the appointment booking issue all has been very good. I'm also T2 diabetic and my interaction with the diabetic staff at the surgery has also been very good with prompt appointments for blood tests and diabetic nurse visits, all face-to-face and was told I could call her if ever I felt I had a problem with the diabetes/medication.
I know not all folks have the same experience but for me, over the last 6 months, I can't complain at all.
Wind back to last Xmas Eve I was away in Doncaster and went down with what turned out was a chronic viral throat infection, was really bad so had to get an emergency appointment at a walk-in doctors surgery on Boxing Day (this surgery is open 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year) my wife rang them at 8am and I had an appointment for mid-day, there were 4 doctors and various nursing/treatment staff on hand on that day. Was told no medication was necessary as it was a virus but to try and gargle with salt water which I did, was laid up for 4 days but it did gradually go away after day 4 and could swallow again.
After a week returned home then developed an ear ache in my right ear so went to the local pharmacy to get something but they said I had to go to my GP as it looked like an ear infection so trotted along there and spoke to the receptionist, told them what the pharmacy had said and got a face-to-face for later that day. This was not at all what I had expected as people I know had been slagging off this surgery and one even making a complaint to the health authority which has still to be adjudicated. Was diagnosed with an ear infection (probably as a result of the viral problem) and given antibiotics which did their job but it turns out that left me with a Eustachian Tube problem.
So back to the GP surgery where again I got an appointment for a face-to-face for the next day, saw the GP and there was nothing he could do but said he would refer me to the hospital to see if it would need a surgical intervention.
I got a letter from the hospital saying that I had to ring the appointments line if I'd heard nothing by 4th April. That date came and I'd heard nothing so gave it a couple of days and called them, turns out that those letters are sent from somewhere else and the appointments lady said they always wait to be called and will then make an appointment but it would have to be made for within the next three weeks, no good to me as I was about to go away and wouldn't be back in time so had to wait and call again.
Returned from my trip and called them again and got a consultant appointment which was two weeks away (09:30 yesterday). Turned up at the hospital at 09:25 and booked in, at 09:30 a nurse called me in for a hearing test then was told to return to the waiting room and wait. Ten minutes later the consultant called me in and carried out a very thorough exam of my ears, nose and throat. Turns out I have a mild Eustachian Tube Dysfunction which will probably clear itself over time together with mild hearing loss over high frequencies which is normal for someone my age.
So, apart from the appointment booking issue all has been very good. I'm also T2 diabetic and my interaction with the diabetic staff at the surgery has also been very good with prompt appointments for blood tests and diabetic nurse visits, all face-to-face and was told I could call her if ever I felt I had a problem with the diabetes/medication.
I know not all folks have the same experience but for me, over the last 6 months, I can't complain at all.
No complaints at all with NHS over the past couple of years. All good, seen promptly and followed up within time.
The App myMFT has moved things on a game as I get letters and results straight to the App before my GP get them! And appointment updates come straight to the App.
There seems a more ‘intelligent’ referral booking system now where instead of waiting to be an appointment date by letter they ring you instead to agree the most suitable.
The App myMFT has moved things on a game as I get letters and results straight to the App before my GP get them! And appointment updates come straight to the App.
There seems a more ‘intelligent’ referral booking system now where instead of waiting to be an appointment date by letter they ring you instead to agree the most suitable.
My aunt has just had the misfortune to visit the local hospital. A short term ward with not enough staff apparently. So few staff that all the patients had to s
t and piss in the bed as that only required one nurse to change it, versus two to take the patients to the toilet. None of the staff had a clue what was going on either.
t and piss in the bed as that only required one nurse to change it, versus two to take the patients to the toilet. None of the staff had a clue what was going on either.anonymous said:
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+1 to this. It also seems to be very much a post code lottery too. I've taken out private insurance which I've never needed (touch wood) I just had an eye opener a about 8 years ago when I needed a sporting injury sorted and the length of time it took between appointments and finally surgeries have left me not returning to close to what I had and has resulted in other issues. My local hospital has chosen to keep some Covid practises in place mainly around visitors. My sister recently gave birth and it was limited to immediate family only visitation. She didn't have the best experience overall, despite being an NHS employer herself not that should get anyone preferential treatment.
With an aging population I reckon it needs an overhaul. It's complicated as extra funding is a bit too straightforward and we're all paying for it as it is. I'd pay some sort of means tested insurance for a better service the German model seems to work well.
Problem in the UK is the NHS (even more so following COVID) has always been sacrosanct.
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