Positive experiences of the NHS

Aveline

We all know that Grantanow. That's why the OP thought it would be interesting and worthwhile to share positive experiences of which there are many.

I too thought that was the purpose of the thread. I think it was intended to show that the NHS has not totally failed.
I have had some pretty bad experiences (mainly being forgotten), but I am grateful for the positive ones I have experienced.
Last year both my my orthopaedic and RA consultants were so annoyed at my delay in hearing from the gastro dept. that they contacted the gastro consultant themselves, something they didn't need to do.

HettyBetty, I had a similar experience with a care home GP. A childless aunt, of 86 or so, with fairly advanced dementia had started refusing food and drink after the umpteenth UTI - she’d always been very prone to them.

As the only relative contactable at the time, I was asked by CH staff whether I wanted her taken to hospital for IV fluids, or left where she was, where she was almost certainly going to die.

I could only ask the lovely GP what he’d do, if it were his much-loved aunt. He said that since it was only going to happen again, probably quite soon, he’d leave her where she was, where she’d be kept comfortable.

Which is what we did, and she drifted away quite peacefully after about a week. Despite agonising about it at the time, I had no regrets afterwards - I’m quite sure it’s what my aunt’s former self would have wanted.

My Gp,s reacted quickly both times when found my lumps .Was seen in breast clinic within the 2weeks diagnosed same days and op,s booked the second while masks still being worn. I worked in n.h.s for 42years it changed a lot more paper work etc,but I worked with a lot of dedicated staff.

Reading all these positive experiences, I am overwhelmed with the thought... we cannot afford to lose it!

The problem Dickens is that for every experience like this two more people can tell horror stories of neglect and indifference.

There are and have been major inquiries into maternity services, in more trusts than I can list, then there are reports into failings in Mid(?) Staffs. East Kent and several other trusts, while mental services are failing people as inquest after inquest tells us. Is this really what you want to preserve?

The NHS, when it is good, is very very good, and I have experienced it at its best several times, but when it is bad, it is very bad, and that is what I have mostly experienced.

At 67 I contracted pneumonia with septic markers persent in my blood. This was in June this year. I had telephoned 111 on the quiet as I wasn't sure if I was fussing! Evidently
I wasn't as the ambulance arrived before I had a chance to tell DH what was happening! One chest drain, antibiotics, numerous scans and Xrays later I finally left hospital 19 days later. It's only in the last two or three weeks I've felt more my old self! I am still being monitored as Atrial Fibulation has been discovered, but thank you, thank you to the NHS.
(Btw DH has been marvellous too!!) I had very good treatment.

M0nica

^Reading all these positive experiences, I am overwhelmed with the thought... we cannot afford to lose it!^

The problem Dickens is that for every experience like this two more people can tell horror stories of neglect and indifference.

There are and have been major inquiries into maternity services, in more trusts than I can list, then there are reports into failings in Mid(?) Staffs. East Kent and several other trusts, while mental services are failing people as inquest after inquest tells us. Is this really what you want to preserve?

The NHS, when it is good, is very very good, and I have experienced it at its best several times, but when it is bad, it is very bad, and that is what I have mostly experienced.

Yes, I do want to preserve it and work at improving what's not working rather than throwing everything out with the bathwater and waiting for exactly the same problems to emerge.

Copes283 I have always found the NHS superb in emergencies like yours and other.