In reply to some recent observations of the NHS, I was blue-lighted straight to resusitation on Saturday evening with a raging temperature that paracetamol didn’t touch. The ambulance arrived in minutes, at the hospital I was seen within minutes and all tests and drugs started in case I was developing sepsis. I wasn’t, but have bacterial pneumonia. The staff are courteous and attentive under difficult conditions. The ward I am in has two elderly dementia patients with complex needs in addition to respiratory problems and an unfortunate schizophrenic man in a private room nearby roars the most foul-mouthed racist abuse day and night at the staff. They are treated with exactly the same level of care.
At the other end of the scale we decided to retain our private medical insurance (at eye watering expense) which we use occasionally when we don’t want to wait, for instance when my husband needed a meniscus repair as he had got to the stage he just couldn’t walk. The care at the private hospital wasn’t better, just quicker.
I am so looking forward to getting home to my own bed today after a three hour sleep last night, but I’m not complaining. I am here, recovering and very, very appreciative.
And the bonus? Although I had a heart rate of 110, it didn’t develop into an episode.
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irene75359
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Very pleased you are receiving good care. I think we all feel protective of our NHS - just wish the governments of the last 30 years felt likewise!
I think we have an excellent critical care system and a resource depleted, understaffed, under funded general healthcare system and we aren’t having the grown up conversations which should be happening which is - how are we going to look after and pay a fair wage to the staff, fund our healthcare system and social care now and for the future?
Personally I would pay toward the NHS if I thought that would extra money be ringfenced for care.
So pleased you are on the mend . I think I was in that ward once ! Had to position an orderly to re-capture that dementia patient every time he made a bid for freedom (every hour). The staff do such an amazing job.
When my brother-in-law was in hospital he said the ward ticks along normally during the day but some people go mad at night. An elderly man on his ward brought down two security guards who were trying to restrain him. I must admit I asked if the man shouting abuse was mobile, I was so alarmed by the roaring and crashing and banging. He wasn’t.
Thank you Jane. The last 10 weeks I wouldn’t ever want to live through again, especially with my sister but I feel so blessed to have a wonderful supportive family and everyone is looking out for me (and my sister).
After working in the NHS for many years, been a patient and still in contact with current NHS staff, I have yet to meet anyone who had a good word to say about senior NHS managers. I don't accept the problem is purely one of funding.
I know the feeling of being "grateful" and "appreciative", perhaps it is because we have low expectations, and are happy when we return home relatively unscathed. It's unfortunate the care we receive seems to depend indirectly on where we live, on how good the local trust is, not sure how that can be justified.
As an ex NHS employer, getting promoted from senior clinical to lower level management for the last 10 years, I wholeheartedly agree with your comments about inept managers, especially at middle and upper levels (too many layers). One of the reasons I left was the very obvious ‘just make sure the guys at the very top are financially OK and the blatant cronyism amongst certain professions.
Without the amazing dedication of the clinical staff, our amazing NHS would go under.
The rate of bankruptcy in the USA resulting from medical bills is many thousands of times higher than in the UK.
I for one am immensely grateful for the care I have received from our NHS. I have had 3 ablations in 11 months. I couldn’t have afforded just one of them, if I had to finance myself.
I live in the US so I am always interested in your comments about your NHS as you know the US health system is a mess. My husband and I have had to claim bankruptcy twice because of medical bills. Until Obama care I could not even get insurance because of pre-existing conditions. Even though at that time I worked full time. 11
I live in the US and have Medicare. It is difficult and perhaps unfair to comment on a different system, but after reading many posts, I must say that I am thankful we do have a different system here which is quicker, more responsive and are able to access drugs not available in the UK. If I have a problem my EP gets back to me the same day and it gets resolved. I have afib and CHF due to scarring from previous MI. Whatever works....
Oyster, I don’t have low expectations, believe me! But I felt a plaudit was well due here. However, I completely agree about the post code lottery and I don’t know what the answer is.
HI Irene - Back in late December 2016 I was admitted by blue light to A & E but there wa a backlog of 3 hours and 22 hours before I was put on a ward (see my old post at the time). Although very busy the treatment was excellent under the circumstances.
That evening and through the night on the ward they had two patients one with dementia and one with mental issues (they were both in rooms on their own). The abuse and foul language and loudness of the abusive words was incredible. But listening to the staff trying to calm them they were so kind and trying to make light of the problems.
A year before this I was visiting my father in Exeter hospital and they had a dementia patient on the ward who was very abusive loud and aggressive physcically . They had no side room to put him at that time. Visiting time was awful he would suddenly launch a tirade on abuse at you in the foulest of language. He was in his late fifties, when lucid a quiet man. We found out that he was the Detective that arrested Fred West - Dad had recognised him from his name, my Dad was a senior police officer. Probably in his late fifties - you just never know what can happen to you.
I hope you are now home and hopefully will have a good nights sleep and continue to recover.
Cassie, I read your old post, and our medical circumstances and diagnosis sound remarkably similar. I may have been fortunate that I arrived early Saturday evening before the department became really busy.
We were all laughing on our ward as we could barely squeak and the chap roaring and shouting also had chest problems but could probably be heard half a mile away.
Your story about the detective is fascinating and sad too.
Thank you for your good wishes, had a blissful 10 hours in my own bed!
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Glad to hear you’ll be home later and recovering in the peace of your own home xx
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