The NHS

[Matt_B]

I had four years of pain because my GP would not accept that I had a debilitating pain in my lower leg and foot; he said that a certain amount of pain had to be accepted as one gets older. I told him that if I pressed behind my knee the pain got worse; he told me not to press behind my knee. I was fortunate to see a locum on the nth time I visited the surgery. He arranged for me to see a specialist, who organised an investigation of the problem. I was found to have a tumour in the nerve-sheath behind the knee. The specialist told me that there was no expertise with my condition this side of London and referred me to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanwell. I was successfully operated on by an Italian chap, a fan of Inter, who knew the story of Željko Kalac's contribution to our 1996 play-off victory - but never dreamed that he would ever meet somebody who had witnessed it first hand. He was appalled that I had spent so long in pain before reaching him and suggested that I should make a formal complaint. Four years with zero action but only six weeks from referral to freedom from pain.

My complaint was dealt with promptly. There was no record of me ever having visited the surgery with leg pain until the time I saw the locum. My GP had no recollection of any such visit. I no longer have the same GP.

It sounds like you had a shit doctor but the rest of the service, as you said, seems to have been good? My grandad had the same thing. Despite showing classic symptoms of stomach cancer, his doctor wouldn't refer him until he started losing considerable weight. By then, it was too late to cure him. From referral onwards though, his care was exemplary.

I recently read a book by a doctor that explains what life is like for them. I've no doubt it was biased, however, some of the targets they are forced to meet and pressure they are under not to refer, it doesn't surprise me when these things happen.

A similar thing is happening in education now. Pretty much all specialist support funding is being removed; things like speech and language therapies, behavior therapists, sports coordinator etc. Even if we suspect a child of having dyslexia or severe issues with speech development, all we can do is try to tackle in school as there is nobody left to refer it to with a specialism. We are failing those children through no fault of the school.

 

[FryattFox]

Having broken various bones and encountered numerous other injuries, I've learnt that unless you exaggerate the level of pain that you are in then they won't believe your injury. However, I don't blame the doctors or front-line staff for this, as they are faced with too many hypochondriacs or unintelligent people to refer everyone.

My experiences once referred or diagnosed have always been satisfactory for my relatively minor physical ailments.

However, they are woefully unable and under-equipped to deal with mental illnesses, and this is by far their biggest shortcoming. Their treatment and the advice given by their "psychiatrist" was terrifying and downright inappropriate.

 

[Billyjof]

Here in the so called "lucky country" Australia. I am asked to take out health insurance, 70 quid a month or my tax goes up. Health insurance doesn't cover anything other than hospital stays.

Doctors are not on a salary, it's about how many people they can put through their books. I was asked by my wife to attend an appointment with her to be support. I joined her and ask 1 question which was answered. At the end I received a bill for about 40 quid (half of which is claimed back through the government run Medicare service) still, the doctor got 40 quid from me being a mute bystander. My wife's bill was 90 quid.

As Brits we are very lucky to have a national health service. My mother used to work at Leicester RI and it brought me into the world.

 

[Billyjof]

I was successfully operated on by an Italian chap, a fan of Inter, who knew the story of Željko Kalac's contribution to our 1996 play-off victory - but never dreamed that he would ever meet somebody who had witnessed it first hand.

Sorry to hear your experience, can be luck of the draw with GPs.

Kalac was one of the main pundits on TV here for the World Cup. Not too bad, compared to some of the other numpties they drag out for these events.

How was Phil Nevile and Rio Ferdinand?

 

[SJN-Fox]

Our situation is a farce. Wife in trouble for refusing to take a violent and aggressive mental patient out for a smoke on her own. Staffing levels were lower than legally required and she was 6 month pregnant...even taking pregnancy out of the equation she's not allowed to do that. I really wish I could bring myself to sue the ****ers for lost income.

My partner also works in a mental health unit and took out a grievance against her manager in February for bullying and discrimination. They have dragged it out so long that it was closed down by HR. She has since had 6 weeks off work with stress and decided that the whole procedure was so stressful and weighted against her that she has decided to discontinue it. Had she been a patient and subjected to the same thing, the whole thing would have been totally different. Until staff in vulnerable posts get the protection and support that they need then the situation will never improve. She is now looking to leave the NHS to remove herself from the appalling working conditions/environment that she has to endure.

 

[pork pie fox]

My partner also works in a mental health unit and took out a grievance against her manager in February for bullying and discrimination. They have dragged it out so long that it was closed down by HR. She has since had 6 weeks off work with stress and decided that the whole procedure was so stressful and weighted against her that she has decided to discontinue it. Had she been a patient and subjected to the same thing, the whole thing would have been totally different. Until staff in vulnerable posts get the protection and support that they need then the situation will never improve. She is now looking to leave the NHS to remove herself from the appalling working conditions/environment that she has to endure.

My wife works in the NHS for a community based mental health team. The conditions they are being asked to work under are extremely stressful and frontline staff morale is incredibly low. A lot of people she knows have simply walked away. We have three young children and so she is just about to take a two year career break, as working under those conditions whilst trying to give your all to a young family is proving too much at the moment. With any luck, in a couple of years, our youngest will be at preschool and things will be a bit easier.

 

[Macky]

Not to worry everybody, the NHS is currently being dismantled and sold off so it'll be gone soon

 

[OldGit]

http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...nd-aussies-dont-let-your-guard-down?CMP=fb_gu

Interesting in the context of this discussion.

 

[Mawsley]

http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...nd-aussies-dont-let-your-guard-down?CMP=fb_gu

Interesting in the context of this discussion.

****ing lucky for her she only had an operable cancer and wasn't suffering from severe mental health problems in Northants. Or anything else in this county come to that. Like cancer.

 

[Nightguard]

Did anyone know there recently was a mass march from Jarrow to London regarding the way parts of the NHS are being sold off and run down. They even passed through Leicester. There were around 200,000 of them finished up at Travalger Square Apparently the BBC and Sky news missed it as did most of the other media.
At least they were a little more alert when it was announced that one of the female royals was up the duff again.:icon_razz

 

[Macky]

Did anyone know there recently was a mass march from Jarrow to London regarding the way parts of the NHS are being sold off and run down. They even passed through Leicester. There were around 200,000 of them finished up at Travalger Square

The NHS is doomed, it will be no more. The march was ultimately pointless, but it was good to see that not everybody was just going to ignore what is happening.

Apparently the BBC and Sky news missed it as did most of the other media.
At least they were a little more alert when it was announced that one of the female royals was up the duff again.:icon_razz

Isn't it good to have an unbiased and impartial press?

 

[Macky]

A great TED Talk about NHS Ltd

 

[Macky]

An excellent documentary speaking to doctors and front-line clinicians about the current abolishment of the NHS.

 

[OldGit]

Thanks Macky. Will watch it all in the morning