AIBU to think the NHS is already dead

Not me. Himself was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks ago.
Inoperable. Incurable.
To say we are devastated doesn’t begin to cover it. I’m heartbroken.
x

nanna8

You can buy Paracetamol at Aldi here. Very cheap. I hadn’t heard of any problems though I was aware you shouldn’t have too many.

Yes, I've bought packets of about 100 over there.

Not allowed to here in the UK!

You can buy Paracetamol at Aldi here. Very cheap. I hadn’t heard of any problems though I was aware you shouldn’t have too many.

I don't think ....

Dickens

Callistemon21

I've nudged Dickens, at least they've put me on the waiting list now (they forgot to do that initially) and have backdated it.

... so for some time whilst you were waiting - you were not even on the list? And didn't know that you weren't?

Dear God...

I hope you don't have to wait much longer. And make sure you never over-step with the Paracetamol. My GP warned me about the possible irreversible damage to the liver if I were to be tempted to take the drug more frequently than prescribed (not suggesting you would of course!). He told me to try to leave at least a 6 hour gap between doses, if possible - even though the packaging label says 4 hours.

Thanks Dickens - the GP initially recommended taking 8 a day every day but I don't and it don't think that is wise. Perhaps he didn't think the waiting times were so long!

Have you been ill Urmstangran? If so I hope you are well on the way to recovery.

I have been thinking about her as I know many have.

Kate1949

It's lovely to see you posting again Urms.

I thought the same!

Callistemon21

I've nudged Dickens, at least they've put me on the waiting list now (they forgot to do that initially) and have backdated it.

... so for some time whilst you were waiting - you were not even on the list? And didn't know that you weren't?

Dear God...

I hope you don't have to wait much longer. And make sure you never over-step with the Paracetamol. My GP warned me about the possible irreversible damage to the liver if I were to be tempted to take the drug more frequently than prescribed (not suggesting you would of course!). He told me to try to leave at least a 6 hour gap between doses, if possible - even though the packaging label says 4 hours.

It's lovely to see you posting again Urms.

The reason that paracetamol is only available in small amounts is because they are frequently used for suicide as toxic in relatively small amounts. (yes, liver is overwhelmed, but we are taking well above a therapeutic dose)

So its left us with the situation that best option, given this fact, is for large amounts to be prescribed by GP's for regular users in need.

I've nudged Dickens, at least they've put me on the waiting list now (they forgot to do that initially) and have backdated it.

After three years of waiting for operations, the GP now prescribes them at 100 a time which helps, although it does nothing for the waiting lists.

Good grief Callistemon21, that is awful. Totally unacceptable. And it really isn't good for your liver to be dependent on Paracetamol for so long.

I hope you can - possibly - nudge things along, it must be getting you down.

Urmstongran

Ah Dickens I can understand the reasoning about paracetamol now.
Thank you for explaining it.

Well one doesn't know until one knows, so to speak!

My GP did say that when the drug has to be taken on a daily basis, they are happy to prescribe.

But you'd think it wasn't beyond the realms of possibility that GPs could 'prescribe' them without the NHS picking up the tab wouldn't you! They are much cheaper to buy OTC - especially if you buy the generic ones without all the fancy packaging and 'added' caffeine.

Dickens

^I wish they’d take paracetamol away from being prescribed.^
It’d be a start.

The problem is Urms if you need the drug on a regular basis, you will have to shop for it frequently or traipse around various pharmacies to buy the limited quantity that you are allowed to purchase in any one transaction.

After surgery, which led to a long rather painful recovery, I was advised to take Paracetamol by my consultant. I was too poorly to keep going out every 3 days or so to buy them in the limited quantity available - couldn't drive and had to rely on someone to transport me to the chemist.

My GP put them on prescription - because he could prescribe 100 at a time. And he knew I wasn't well enough to keep trudging around various outlets to buy the quantities needed.

If Paracetamol are to be taken off the prescription list - and I think they should be - then we have got to be allowed to purchase them in larger quantities. It's unrealistic to expect people in pain to continually have to go out to buy them so frequently - especially if there's no local pharmacy.

I asked my GP to authenticate my need with a 'note' so I could buy them myself in the quantities needed. He couldn't do it - there's no 'system' for it!

Good post, Dickens

I was told to take eight paracetamol a day by a GP but it proved difficult to keep buying that many, although they are inexpensive.

After three years of waiting for operations, the GP now prescribes them at 100 a time which helps, although it does nothing for the waiting lists.

They are available to purchase in large quantities in other countries; I can buy a packet of 96 in Australia, for example.

Ah Dickens I can understand the reasoning about paracetamol now.
Thank you for explaining it.

I wonder if any of you realise that there is a growing number of people who believe the NHS is already privatised. Not because all services are now delivered by a private company, although many are, but because the Regional Boards that run the NHS now have providers of private healthcare sitting on them.

The difference between right and left is that the right want to enable private companies to make a profit out of the funding we/the government provide and to stop workers becoming better paid. The left, on the other hand, wants the money to go straight to NHS services, including the workers becoming better paid were it helps but excluding profit making by private companies.

From my seat in the middle I think there are cases where either would/could provide a better service but what must remain is "free at the point of need" or the element of true insurance will disappear.

If you scroll down to the graphs headed Figure 4: To what extent should three key principles of the NHS apply? (on the link you will see below) it shows there is still a great deal of consensus about the three key principles. Why then are we being moved away from them to please a minority?

www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/party-politics-and-attitudes-towards-the-nhs

Interesting, Dickens. My mother had paracetamol on prescription. I can imagine it was for similar reasons as she was housebound.

Baggs

That's interesting, gs. Thanks for that. I hope your feet do not trouble you too much

Thanks Baggs. I have diabetic neuropathy in my feet, but there's not much a podiatrist can do yet, although I know further complications can develop, when treatment by a podiatrist would be useful. I just have to keep my blood sugar as near normal as possible to try and prevent the condition getting worse and I take painkillers, which isn't the responsibility of a podiatrist. NICE has guidelines for referral to a podiatrist and I don't meet the criteria.

I wish they’d take paracetamol away from being prescribed.
It’d be a start.

The problem is Urms if you need the drug on a regular basis, you will have to shop for it frequently or traipse around various pharmacies to buy the limited quantity that you are allowed to purchase in any one transaction.

After surgery, which led to a long rather painful recovery, I was advised to take Paracetamol by my consultant. I was too poorly to keep going out every 3 days or so to buy them in the limited quantity available - couldn't drive and had to rely on someone to transport me to the chemist.

My GP put them on prescription - because he could prescribe 100 at a time. And he knew I wasn't well enough to keep trudging around various outlets to buy the quantities needed.

If Paracetamol are to be taken off the prescription list - and I think they should be - then we have got to be allowed to purchase them in larger quantities. It's unrealistic to expect people in pain to continually have to go out to buy them so frequently - especially if there's no local pharmacy.

I asked my GP to authenticate my need with a 'note' so I could buy them myself in the quantities needed. He couldn't do it - there's no 'system' for it!

I feel extremely fortunate with my experiences with the NHS.
DH received excellent care from paramedics and hospital last year when he was very ill with sepsis.
This year I have had prompt referral to Cardiology/ Treadmill test for chest pains, three physio sessions for knee injury
( meniscus) and three massage treatments for a trapped nerve affecting shoulder/arm.
( Yes I'm falling apart at the seams..)
Face to face appointments are available at my GP surgery. We are in Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Luckygirl3

It is not really about where treatments take place, it is about the wait to get said treatment if you are not paying yourself.

Quite!

That's interesting, gs. Thanks for that. I hope your feet do not trouble you too much

Baggs

Jane43

Baggs

Also, what services have been privatised exactly?

My DH is diabetic and was told he must arrange any treatment for his feet himself, all they provide is an annual touch test so he pays to see a podiatrist every few months. GP surgeries in our area will also not clear wax in the ears, our son had to pay to have his done at a local physiotherapy practice.

The ear wax thing, as I understand it, is because ear syringeing is not regarded as good practice. About thirty years ago my GP told me that the risk of causing infection is one of the reasons the approach changed.

I don't know anything about diabetes and foot touch tests but wonder if it could have something to do with what is regarded as actually necessary?

I suspect you're right. I have an annual diabetic foot test, carried out by a nurse. I'm given advice about looking after my feet and don't know what else a podiatrist could do at this stage.

It is not really about where treatments take place, it is about the wait to get said treatment if you are not paying yourself.