Chipping away at the NHS

[bathsheba]

I have been lucky to have been looked after over the past ten years or so by a specialist NHS lymphoedema clinic in my area. I visit just yearly as my condition is stable, I receive one pair of compression garments on prescription every six months.

I have recently had a letter to say that this service is now in the hands of a private company and although I am grateful to be able to attend an appointment, it is a little concerning that the service is now not under the control of the health service.

[Lynora]

A private company? Do you know which company it is? Sounds odd. Are you now likely to be charged or is it a contractor provider, charging the NHS?

[bathsheba in reply to Lynora]

I won’t be charged, it is an out sourced company called Pioneer working for Eastbourne Hailsham and Seaford CCG & Hastings and Rother CCG. A sign of the times I suppose

[Thomas45]

This is a health forum, not a political forum.

[Perido]

My NHS lymphoedema clinic was very unfortunately closed January last year. I was told I would be kept informed of what would happen next - I wasn't and have had to do a lot of chasing up.

I discovered that some of the patients were transferred to a private company who charge the NHS and that I was to be referred to a start up NHS clinic in another location.

My new NHS clinic seems to have been in start up mode for more than a year now and isn't able to cater for my custom made stockings. I asked if I could be referred to the private contractor as above (I've heard good reports and it's an easy journey for me) but was refused for funding reasons. My GP has recently referred me to another NHS clinic which involves more travelling.

My leg is stable (I regularly self measure) and last autumn I asked my GP to order my usual stockings. However the manufacturer made 2 consecutive orders incorrectly and has now refused to process any more orders without them being sanctioned by a lymphoedema specialist............!?!?!,!?!?!......... 'and I'm still waiting' - as the song goes.

[veriterc]

I have lived in two areas where \NHS care has been outsourced. to private companies. In one area it was rubbish, but when I moved to Oxfordshire I found the two private providers, Spire and Circle, are excellent. I am very happy with everything from standard of MRI scans and staff, to pain services. So there are some excellent co-operations available, I suppose it just depends on the vigilance of your CCG.

[Andy13 in reply to veriterc]

Probably won't be a bad idea if the NHS did patient satisfaction surveys. I guess there would be a lot of 'noise' and emotion that needed filtering but it might help sorting the wheat from the chaff.

[Perido in reply to Andy13]

The only times the NHS has offered me the opportunity to give feedback is where the service was working well.

I would dearly like to give some feedback on the inadequate service of my new lymphoedema clinic but no one seems interested.

[TeresaMay]

I have insoles previously prescribed by an NHS hospital over many years. That is now private with no charge to me at present. The care of ears to also privatised here.