NHS is amazing
Discussion
now I will start by saying I rarely have cause to use the hospital or doctors, however, Sunday morning, 3am I wake up with chest pain, pain in my left arm, freezing cold but sweating profusely and nausea, now I was concerned, but thought I might have pulled something at the gym Saturday, and had been at my works Christmas party on the Saturday night, so again, though some of the symptoms might be related to that.
Around 9am I've still got pain and nausea so I go to A&E, within 30 mins I'm having an ECG and bloods done, slightly abnormal ECG, 2 hours later bloods come back, Elevated Heart Enzymes, straight on a monitor, low heart rate and BP, take me straight to resus, more check and then up to the cardio ward, by 3pm I'm in theatre, having a wire in my heart, 2 badly blocked arteries, perform angioplasty on 1 of the blockages, and back on the ward by 4.
need to stay in for a few days, the they will decide how to treat the other blockage.
Everyone I have met has been amazing.
Around 9am I've still got pain and nausea so I go to A&E, within 30 mins I'm having an ECG and bloods done, slightly abnormal ECG, 2 hours later bloods come back, Elevated Heart Enzymes, straight on a monitor, low heart rate and BP, take me straight to resus, more check and then up to the cardio ward, by 3pm I'm in theatre, having a wire in my heart, 2 badly blocked arteries, perform angioplasty on 1 of the blockages, and back on the ward by 4.
need to stay in for a few days, the they will decide how to treat the other blockage.
Everyone I have met has been amazing.
Good to know you had a good experience and got the treatment you needed.
The emergency treatment like that seems to be where the NHS still work.
It's the routine stuff that they can't do, you just disappear into the millions on the waiting lists if it's not deemed to be life threatening.
The emergency treatment like that seems to be where the NHS still work.
It's the routine stuff that they can't do, you just disappear into the millions on the waiting lists if it's not deemed to be life threatening.
Good thread.
Y’day morning I took myself off to Colchester hospital having completed the NHS 111 check and being told to get immediate help.
I walked straight into the emergency unit and after identifying myself they took me straight into the emergency unit where thankfully things improved .
I had full ECG and also a range of blood tests.
I can’t praise them enough , the NHS website worked brilliantly and enabled my details to sent to the hospital prior to my arrival meaning less time faffing about .
Very grateful we still have the NHS
Y’day morning I took myself off to Colchester hospital having completed the NHS 111 check and being told to get immediate help.
I walked straight into the emergency unit and after identifying myself they took me straight into the emergency unit where thankfully things improved .
I had full ECG and also a range of blood tests.
I can’t praise them enough , the NHS website worked brilliantly and enabled my details to sent to the hospital prior to my arrival meaning less time faffing about .
Very grateful we still have the NHS
My 82 year old father had an accident earlier this year. Broke 12 ribs, punctured lung, punctured gall bladder, punctured liver, broken back, broken shoulder, broken collar bone, shattered pelvis, broken hip and a few other bits and pieces. The NHS were amazing, from start to finish. After 6 weeks in critical care he spent 3 months on a rehab ward and to look at him now you'd never know he'd had an accident. Doesn't walk with a limp or need a walking stick and the only major impact being he's not been back on his bicycle, but I think that's a confidence issue. He's still driving his coupe and not had to buy an SUV, one of his major fears, however in x-ray form he does look like a cyborg. He'll definitely need a doctors letter for his next trip abroad.
The care and compassion he received in hospital from people being paid a pittance was breathtaking, there are some truly amazing people in the NHS. Plus the world class expertise, it still blows my mind to see him looking completely normal 6 months later, which is down to the skill of the surgeons and the amazing rehab he received.
The care and compassion he received in hospital from people being paid a pittance was breathtaking, there are some truly amazing people in the NHS. Plus the world class expertise, it still blows my mind to see him looking completely normal 6 months later, which is down to the skill of the surgeons and the amazing rehab he received.
uknick said:
Sunday morning before all the sports injuries start to come in you get seen pretty quick. Friday evening after the pubs close, take a book to read and supplies of food and water as you could be in for a long stay.
As someone who spends a lot of time in ED and Resus, this is simply untrue. It’s just an assumption. JQ said:
My 82 year old father had an accident earlier this year. Broke 12 ribs, punctured lung, punctured gall bladder, punctured liver, broken back, broken shoulder, broken collar bone, shattered pelvis, broken hip and a few other bits and pieces. The NHS were amazing, from start to finish. After 6 weeks in critical care he spent 3 months on a rehab ward and to look at him now you'd never know he'd had an accident. Doesn't walk with a limp or need a walking stick and the only major impact being he's not been back on his bicycle, but I think that's a confidence issue. He's still driving his coupe and not had to buy an SUV, one of his major fears, however in x-ray form he does look like a cyborg. He'll definitely need a doctors letter for his next trip abroad.
The care and compassion he received in hospital from people being paid a pittance was breathtaking, there are some truly amazing people in the NHS. Plus the world class expertise, it still blows my mind to see him looking completely normal 6 months later, which is down to the skill of the surgeons and the amazing rehab he received.
Good to hear . The care and compassion he received in hospital from people being paid a pittance was breathtaking, there are some truly amazing people in the NHS. Plus the world class expertise, it still blows my mind to see him looking completely normal 6 months later, which is down to the skill of the surgeons and the amazing rehab he received.
You’re right the staff are amazing and frankly I don’t know how they do it. It’s a passion more than a job for most of them I think .
Pay rise ? Absolutely, they thoroughly deserve it
uknick said:
It can depend on the time of day you go to Emergency.
Sunday morning before all the sports injuries start to come in you get seen pretty quick. Friday evening after the pubs close, take a book to read and supplies of food and water as you could be in for a long stay.
Not if you are having a heart attack. Those with fractures or broken ribs will be waiting while you jump ahead as they should. Sunday morning before all the sports injuries start to come in you get seen pretty quick. Friday evening after the pubs close, take a book to read and supplies of food and water as you could be in for a long stay.
Dogwatch said:
This. I've had some excellent emergency (and cancer) care too. Once you're out of hospital however...
This (too!). My Cancer care was excellent and pretty much faultless. Getting final scans sorted was like pulling teeth though and I got very upset with the lack of interest once I had been effectively discharged, but not technically cured. Our local NHS Orthopaedic hospital is as good as a private hospital and the quality of care I had there was easily on a par with the best private hospitals I have used. Our local NHS hospital was something else again though and I won't bore you with the details but I suspect there are 3rd world countries with vastly better hospitals than that one...it's so bad my Surgeon mate told me he would drive an hour past it to get the next A&E....That was my experience of the NHS - brilliant or Sh*t, no inbetween.
I went to our local hospital yesterday for an Ultrasound. The place is huge and on a Sunday morning seemed deserted. Why have all that facility sitting idle . The scan was on a Sunday as they have a backlog, the Dr doing the scan said they had created the backlog themselves by strikes. Anyway it seems like I need some attention so let's see how long the next contract is after yesterday. I was impressed with the place, and it seemed very clean , just empty.
CheesecakeRunner said:
I’m going to go with “variable”.
When my Dad had a heart attack last year we were told there were no ambulances. I drove him to A&E in 20 minutes, and he crashed the second we got in the door. He’d be dead if I hadn’t been able to do that, but the A&E staff were amazing once in action. Straight to the head of the queue past a packed A&E waiting room.
He had a second attack a couple of months later, and it was the same story.
Fast forward to today however, and having had breathing difficulties this morning, and ambulance was there in second. He then spent 6 hours waiting in it outside the hospital. Looks like pneumonia and he’s now in for the night.
Feels like great people, s
t organisation.
I’d agree with this . Poor fekkers are always fighting fires. When my Dad had a heart attack last year we were told there were no ambulances. I drove him to A&E in 20 minutes, and he crashed the second we got in the door. He’d be dead if I hadn’t been able to do that, but the A&E staff were amazing once in action. Straight to the head of the queue past a packed A&E waiting room.
He had a second attack a couple of months later, and it was the same story.
Fast forward to today however, and having had breathing difficulties this morning, and ambulance was there in second. He then spent 6 hours waiting in it outside the hospital. Looks like pneumonia and he’s now in for the night.
Feels like great people, s
t organisation. The system is broken for sure
Smurfsarepeopletoo said:
now I will start by saying I rarely have cause to use the hospital or doctors, however, Sunday morning, 3am I wake up with chest pain, pain in my left arm,....
I read this and thought "Uh-oh", very glad to hear you've been treated well OP. Look after your health!Badda said:
As someone who spends a lot of time in ED and Resus, this is simply untrue. It’s just an assumption.
I can't comment on your experience but some of mine is;Last December one Friday evening about 9pm my partner had a bad turn whilst we were out walking. Took her to local Emergency at about 9:30. By the time she was seen, tested and discharged it was 7am the next morning.
There have also been a number of times I've taken her with chest pains in the evening and we didn't get out till the next morning.
But, on the other hand, a couple of years ago I went early Sunday morning with a bleed inside my knee. Got there about 10am, out by midday and that was after waiting for blood tests results.
The thread is titled "NHS is amazing" and prior to my post it was stated Emergency still works well in the NHS. Yes it does, if you are having a heart attack, blood is pouring out of you or you have a bone at a weird angle. But, for other issues it is very rare, if ever, our local Emergency meets the 4 hour (I'm assuming that hasn't been changed) requirement.
I'm assuming nothing has improved since I was last there.
I only have praise based on one very close call mid-covid where the level of care, testing and treatment went on for months and means I am still here in one piece.
The last was a few weeks back in busy A&E department. Unfortunately, I needed to be treated pretty quickly and I was albeit for a non life threatening injury which the nurses at work failed to "fix".
The last was a few weeks back in busy A&E department. Unfortunately, I needed to be treated pretty quickly and I was albeit for a non life threatening injury which the nurses at work failed to "fix".
Friday night, wife has severe breathing difficulties brought on by a combination of covid and a rare neuromuscular illness she has.
111 take time to understand the issue and complexities. Decide to pass to ambulance service.
Ambulance service decide to take her in. Has to be taken by wheelchair. Explain situation.
A&E reception tell shocked ambulance crew to leave her in corner of waiting room on wheelchair, barely able to lift her arm to signal when her name is called for bloods. Nurse looks at her but ignores.
Another patient offers to wheel her over and nurse huffing says "oh alright I'll come and get you".
Bloods taken and deposited back at door of waiting room.
Hours later, still with difficulty breathing, briefly gets enough mobile signal to text, begging to come home.
In circumstances I agreed better to be watched at home than ignored in the waiting room where word was it would be morning before a doctor would be available.
Got young son awake and collected wife from waiting room about 2am and spent rest of night monitoring her myself.
Ultimately the risky period passed and OK now.
112 and ambulance services both took time to understand the risks of her illness at the time.
Nobody in A&E had the time so didn't.
So here is a different perspective. NHS has failed and A&E is now meaningless. 15 years ago it saved my wife when first diagnosed and collapsed at a bus stop. In 2023 I reckon she would have no chance in the same situation.
111 take time to understand the issue and complexities. Decide to pass to ambulance service.
Ambulance service decide to take her in. Has to be taken by wheelchair. Explain situation.
A&E reception tell shocked ambulance crew to leave her in corner of waiting room on wheelchair, barely able to lift her arm to signal when her name is called for bloods. Nurse looks at her but ignores.
Another patient offers to wheel her over and nurse huffing says "oh alright I'll come and get you".
Bloods taken and deposited back at door of waiting room.
Hours later, still with difficulty breathing, briefly gets enough mobile signal to text, begging to come home.
In circumstances I agreed better to be watched at home than ignored in the waiting room where word was it would be morning before a doctor would be available.
Got young son awake and collected wife from waiting room about 2am and spent rest of night monitoring her myself.
Ultimately the risky period passed and OK now.
112 and ambulance services both took time to understand the risks of her illness at the time.
Nobody in A&E had the time so didn't.
So here is a different perspective. NHS has failed and A&E is now meaningless. 15 years ago it saved my wife when first diagnosed and collapsed at a bus stop. In 2023 I reckon she would have no chance in the same situation.
I think a lot of criticism of the NHS is unrealistic expectations by patients.
Because of the slow decline of things like walk in centres, urgent care centres and primary care services, A&E is now the default location for everyone who cant get to see a GP or practice nurse etc. Minor ailments should not be treated by A&E but then where else do patients go?....
There is a large element of personal responsibility and a lot of issues can be resolved with self care but when you have 4 or 5 people clogging up A&E with coughs or colds it makes the whole thing unmanageable.
Because of the slow decline of things like walk in centres, urgent care centres and primary care services, A&E is now the default location for everyone who cant get to see a GP or practice nurse etc. Minor ailments should not be treated by A&E but then where else do patients go?....
There is a large element of personal responsibility and a lot of issues can be resolved with self care but when you have 4 or 5 people clogging up A&E with coughs or colds it makes the whole thing unmanageable.
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