A positive NHS experience

I know some people are worried about the training of nurse practitioners to take some of the doctors' workload, but the two I have seen this week have been great. They had both looked at my notes before they saw me and they both went into great detail about what my problem was, what the story was so far, and what the next move would be. They also had lots of useful practical ideas. The doctors I have spoken to in the last 18 months have all basically said "What name is it? Here's a prescription"

I have phoned the surgery on 2 occasions in the past 2 years, one for a gynae problem, one for a cardio problem. GP referred me to hospital for further investigatiom. Cardio good result, (slrhough I waited over 6 months for appointment) heart working perfectly well (hopefully it will stay that way). Gynae been waiting since last October, got a letter from the hospital department a couple of weeks ago asking "if I still had the problem?) and if so would I fill in the enclosed form. This form asked me where I wanted treatment, with a list which included London (futhest away) and other areas along the way, I live in Manchester !! I sent it back saying I wanted the Manchester hospital that I have been treated in before and know my way around. So to my mind, it's the hospitals that have the problem (or are GP's to quick to refer to hospitals to get "rid" of patients ?.....

I think the NHS excels at Emergency treatment and the 2week Cancer Pathway.
You might have to be on a trolley overnight in A&E ( as MissOops was) she was isolated, but checked on every 10 minutes, sent up to an isolation room the next day. So many tests and X-rays, blood tests also and constantly monitored.

The problem is when you have a chronic problem and or are trying getting a GP appointment to get a referral to a hospital appointment, that’s when the problems seem to arise.

My BIL was diagnosed with Cancer 2 weeks ago and had his first Chemo appointment this afternoon. You don’t get much better treatment than that.

About 5 weeks ago I contacted my gp on Patches online and was rung a couple of hours later and got an appointment to see him that afternoon. I was worried about an area on my back. He took a photo and sent it to dermatology.

Three weeks later he rang at 6 10 on a Friday evening to check if I had heard from the hospital and when I said I hadn’t he referred me on the urgent cancer? pathway and on the following Wednesday I had a call from the hospital with an appointment for this Wednesday and have now been referred for surgery within the next three months as unfortunately it is a basal cell carcinoma.

I couldn’t have asked for better treatment.

Oopsadaisy : sorry to hear that.I hope that things improve for your daughter.

Our NHS does a remarkable job despite long-term underfunding, under-resourcing, and poor pay rates. Yes, I know there are long waiting lists, and A&E patients can wait for hours in hospital corridors, but that's not the fault of the staff. They must be so frustrated and stressed by the limitations they are constantly trying to overcome.

MissOops is in hospital at the moment, everyone from the Ambulance Paramedics down to the Porters have been so kind.

She is still having tests and is being checked every 20 minutes, blood tests every 6 hours. The NHS at its best.

This morning I thought I'd have a go at getting someone to look at my leg which has been swollen for a while. Rang the surgery and the queue was quite short. I was told someone would ring me in the next 48 hours. Same old, same old I thought. However someone rang me half an hour later with an appointment for 12.10. Saw a very nice guy who sent me to the Ambulatory Emergency Care Unit. Had bloods done, 1 1/2 hour wait for results but that can't be helped. A long talk with a trainee practitioner who had all my details in front of her and made me an appointment for an ultrasound tomorrow. I really began to think things are working again.

My OH called in to the reception , late Monday morning, He got an appointment with a doctor for 3.30 Monday afternoon. He has now an appointment for an ultrasound scan tomorrow afternoon.
I have had appointments very quickly after visiting out health centre reception.
We can not fault the NHS in south Lancashire, (except long waits for Physios)

I had my first cataract op. 6 weeks ago. Went for my post op. check up last Friday, which they then referred me there and then to have my other eye done. Got a phone call yesterday from the hospital and having my op. this coming Saturday morning. I’ve got nothing but praise for our NHS!

This year I have (unfortunately) had more to do with the NHS than I have ever and they have been blxxdy wonderful yes the nurses and doctors are brilliant but the whole system for me has been an incredibly positive experience.
I ve had two routine operations and two unexpected day ops since Christmas and I cannot fault them in any way

My 86 year old friend broke her hip and has had a two week stay in hospital which she was so, so positive about, in every way, she went home within 2 weeks with so much help offered and gratefully accepted (items of help for the house commode walker risers cushions etc plus six weeks free carers (3 times a day to get her back to be able to stay independent) however she was then found to be very anaemia and was back in hospital for a week (she waited 20 minutes for an ambulance to get her there) shes had three blood transfusions and again been nursed back to health
She’s going home again today
God bless the NHS and once we lose the ‘longing to privatise Tories’ hopefully it will fully get back on its feet

I’m grateful because they saved my life on more than one occasion. When I had serious Covid, when I had Clostridium Difficile, and when I had pneumonia as a very young baby. Also when I had appendicitis age six and was operated on at midnight as it was about to burst.
I’m grateful because I’ve had surgeries on my eyes, both hands, tonsils and appendix.
I’m grateful because the NHS saved two of my children from damage or death when they were born. I’m Rhesus Negative and they were Rhesus Positive and there were huge problems in my pregnancies and after birth. The NHS gave me back healthy and undamaged children.
There are many other reasons why I’m grateful, but these were the most serious and life threatening.

Yes I agree. Such a shame the politicians don't listen to us.

vegansrock, generally, the staff are just lovely - but the service itself is still crap. I'd be seething about a five hour wait myself. I just couldn't do it.

Why are people so very 'grateful' and full of praise - for a service we all pay for, one that's declined dramatically over recent years?

My (ex-nurse) friend couldn't stand the 'clapping seals' of the pandemic - those who made a noise but voted against the NHS and still do.

most of my experience with hospitals has always been positive, when i was in for 3 weeks with sepis i was hooked up to antibiotics/ potassium for 8 hours, i was to ring the buzzer when one emptied but i always said to the nurse when she came in that i could wait until they had more time as i could hear buzzers going off all over the place, some days on that ward only had 2 nurses to cope with 30 patients, it was all single rooms and it was the infectious diseases ward so the nurses had to constantly kit up for other patients, they were all fantastic and deserve a good pay as most of the time they are run off there feet.

My friend was diagnosed with cataracts by his optician in early March, I picked him up earlier today from having one eye done.

I will be forever grateful for the care and help I received after my breast cancer diagnosis. Can't speak highly enough of the Churchill Hospital, Oxfordshire.

The NHS is certainly one part of our culture that still does all we expect of it, the priceless backround that is always there when needed. We are so lucky

Perhaps you can but your ‘daft’ son a helmet for his birthday ….you never know he might wear it!😂

Ah hope he’s better soon. 100% agree, the staff do the job they trained for in face of adversity

We should be rioting in the streets

My husband, heart surgery, and my eye operation all went very well, both in the last few months, both unexpected, fabulous staff (apart from one stroppy receptionist!) who all went beyond what was needed. Also includes an A&E visit, Kings London, again fab and very competent staff, a bit of a queue but not too long, but some very rude patients and relations!

Fully appreciate that waiting lists are a huge problem, but once in the hospitals, we had very good and competent treatment. Very thankful for the NHS and hopefully with a new government soon, the lack of funding can be recitified for the benefit of patients, their families and staff.

Vegansrock. I hope your son recovers well. I would not be here without the NHS and I am so grateful. They have my full support for fair pay and conditions.

We still get good service from our GP. I get eye clinic appointments on time by contacting the consultant’s secretary. Not sure if that counts as good service as they should come through the appointments system but never do. My husband had a basal cell carcinoma removed from his back. Not too long a wait, diagnosed by phone consultation (plus photograph), appointment a week later and on the day they rang to ask him to go earlier than planned. Unfortunately prior to that he had a very bad NHS hospital experience which drove us to private surgery but that’s not what this thread’s about. It’s good to hear about positive NHS experiences.

My husband is having fantastic treatment from the NHS since being diagnosed with Atrial Fibulation. He goes twice a week to hospital. The staff are brilliant. So much so, he bought them all Easter eggs at Easter.