NHS - oh dear!

I’m disgruntled!
I’m fed up of living my life in constant pain. I do live my life, what other choice have I got? I’m not disabled, no one can see anything wrong with me, except I wear a pressure glove on my right hand as it marginally helps with the pain. I take pain killers every four hours, every day, and I take the vile drug Pregabalin once a day to help. I still meet my friends, go shopping, even drive (but I wear a special glove and don’t drive far at the moment) I even go on holiday. What other choice do I have? I find the more I use my hand, the more it hurts in the evening, and so I do a lot less than I used to do. I want to get back to my normal life, where I can do things like the ironing, do normal housework, drive further, and do normal things without pain. Luckily I have a good husband who has taken on much of what I used to do. I’m typing now with my left hand because it’s my right hand that is affected and I have to rest it as much as possible.
Is it too much to wish to live my life, having had the appropriate treatment, so I’m not in constant pain?

Visgir1

You hear about these stories, but do you hear about the thousands and thousands of people who are happy with the service, No!
I'm still working in the NHS and like a significant number of NHS staff we get fed up with the noise the disgruntled make.

In fact you do hear about people who are very grateful for the treatment they've had via the NHS.

I've posted on that myself, more than once - where a very sick patient in the bed opposite mine (she later became a friend) underwent an extremely difficult surgery that - more than likely - she would never have been offered privately.

I've also posted about a comment my Norwegian doctor made about our NHS and the admired and respected expertise of our consultants and surgeons - when I lived in Norway.

"Disgruntled" people can be irritating, if they are moaning about minor inconveniences - but see what the RCN has to say about patients being treated in cupboards, corridors and car parks; being given their diagnosis in public spaces, elderly patients (and others) waiting on plastic chairs for hours and hours to be seen, patients dying on trolleys in corridors.

I don't think people are blaming the staff - we all know the NHS is understaffed - but these nurses are calling it a national emergency. And I think they are right to do so. The whole care system from discharge from hospital to home is in a mess. There are not enough beds, there are not enough respite homes for in between discharge and going home; there are not enough carers to look after those that have been discharged; there are not enough community nurses, doctors, etc; and there does not appear to be enough interest- certainly from the current government - to deal with these matters other than very quick-fix solutions that are simply sticking plasters that will come undone very quickly.

Should we not be disgruntled? Anyone of us could be in those cupboard, corridors or car parks - I once spent almost 24 hours in an ambulance waiting for a bed because even the corridors were full up, being treated by various clinicians. I didn't complain because I was simply grateful that I was being attended to - but the experience was quite alarming and frightening.

Today 10:34 Visgir1

You hear about these stories, but do you hear about the thousands and thousands of people who are happy with the service, No!
I'm still working in the NHS and like a significant number of NHS staff we get fed up with the noise the disgruntled make.

I can promise you, we all appreciate the hard work that you do, but surely you have to agree that some of these grans have had a dreadful time trying to get the appropriate treatment they need to be able to live their lives without constant pain and suffering. I’m one of those unfortunate enough to be in the same boat. It’s quite frightening when you feel no one’s listening.
This government, along with previous governments doesn’t seem interested in the plight of people who are genuinely suffering and who can’t get appointments to see a doctor, or when they do, a referral is months away. God knows what the answer is Visgirl, but please, try having some empathy. Your remark about us being disgruntled is like a smack in the teeth!

I was once unwittingly attended a follow-up appointment before I had been given a date for the op, let alone had the op.

westendgirl

I think the time has come for a complete reorganisation of the health service, without politics coming into it.
We hear too many of these stories of complete inefficiency. A friend of mine went for a procedure . she went back for what she thought was a followup only to find she had been booked for the same procedure she had just had . A complete waste of time and money.

Where would you start?

I have to say I have had nothing but good service from the NHS. My DH and I have had cause to use it many times over the last few years and it has been amazing.

You hear about these stories, but do you hear about the thousands and thousands of people who are happy with the service, No!
I'm still working in the NHS and like a significant number of NHS staff we get fed up with the noise the disgruntled make.

NHS is not the best in the world
British tap water is not the best in the world
In France I pay 50€ month for excellent service and if I have a low income ITs Free.

Tome to

I think the time has come for a complete reorganisation of the health service, without politics coming into it.
We hear too many of these stories of complete inefficiency. A friend of mine went for a procedure . she went back for what she thought was a followup only to find she had been booked for the same procedure she had just had . A complete waste of time and money.

Have the copious numbers of managers deliberately chosen to devise circuitous routes to prevent people from getting the treatments that they need?
It certainly feels like that when a hand consultant (who did one of my trapeziectomy ops a few years ago) says you need to see the spinal team because the problem is caused by your spine, but he can’t refer you to the hospital four miles up the road because he works in this hospital and not in that hospital. Who decided that?

What’s going on? I know there’s a doctor shortage, but we keep being told that there several thousand more doctors that have been employed. And being told that more money was paid into the NHS than ever before last year. I don’t understand what’s going on. I genuinely don’t understand.

Eleven months wait for a phone call just to discuss management of your condition. Eleven months!!! It’s enough to make a saint swear!

I thought our mob over here were bad but not in the same league. We do have to pay,though.

I had some tests for one medical problem that threw up problems that meant I needed further tests for another health issue.

I had uncomfortable and invasive tests just before Christmas 2023 and was sent home after sedation, clutching a leaflet.

3 months later, I was sent a copy of a letter to my GP which apologised for the delay and informing the GP that I also had a second condition of which I was unaware. My GP surgery contacted me and asked if I would like a referral to a specialist. Yes please refer me!

Referral notice gives me 3 choices of hospital. I tried all 3, no appointments available. I'm on a waiting list.

I checked the referral system again last week and saw that I have a telephone consultation scheduled for April 2025!

I'm not in pain but a lot discomfort and inconvenience attaches to my newly diagnosed condition (as well as the original one confirmed) and I have several other medical conditions that I need to manage. It's all very depressing.

The doctors know what is wrong, I've had the test results confirmed, why do I have to wait 11 months for a phone call to find out how to manage my most recently diagnosed condition?

These sad stories are making my piss boil 😡
And yet people still view it as the sacred cow: it’s not!!!!! It’s broken. How many of the awful stories are replicated all over the country, far far too many. 😥

‘care navigator’ - may the lord preserve us!!!

merlot - I hope you get some answers soon and that you are able to enjoy your trip.

maddy - you couldn't make it up - the whole system has gone mad.

merlotgran I do hope you get the results soon and you have your mind put at rest. Fingers crossed for you.

I’m another that has been on a circuitous route to get treatment, and still waiting. I wrote an entire thread about it a couple of months ago. In short I have been suffering from pain in my fingers, hand, and arms, now for going on for four years. I didn’t seek treatment at first because it was mild. As it progressed I sought treatment, initially with my GP. It took an entire year to get the diagnosis, because I was sent for various tests, and appointments with various people and eventually arrived at the point of diagnosis: the MRI scan. It seems I have cervical spine narrowing and my nerves are being affected and the result now is that I’m in considerable pain every day. The reason it took so long to diagnose is that each step of the process involves waiting. Waiting three or four weeks for an X-ray. Waiting several weeks to see a hand consultant, waiting more weeks to see a physiotherapist, who it is obligatory to see before you can even be considered for an MRI, even after the consultant has said it is necessary. The GP isn’t allowed to send you for an MRI scan in our area and isn’t allowed to refer you to the spinal team. The hand consultant said I needed to see the spinal team but he isn’t allowed to refer me either because he worked in the wrong hospital!!! You actually couldn’t make it up! After fourteen months of playing these games, every day with worsening pain which is quite disabling in what I can physically do with my hands, I finally saw a spinal consultant who said I need surgery, but first I’d have to have a steroid injection into my spine. A few more weeks of waiting and then the injection,which barely gave any relief. Now I’m waiting to see the consultant again, this time a nearly four months wait. My appointment is on 02/07/24. Then there’ll be a further wait for surgery. It’s just a nightmare, these circuitous routes that almost appear to keep you from actually receiving any treatment. My hand hurts all the time and I’m sick of it.

merlotgran

On 29th April I saw a gp about a swelling on the right side of my abdomen which had appeared out of the blue after a period of back pain which I had assumed was the result of overdoing things. She put me on the two week pathway for an urgent referral. I would be lying if I didn’t say I was alarmed because she didn’t hold back with her suspicion of colorectal cancer.

The ‘care navigator’ said the earliest appointment for various blood tests was in ten day’s time and I was given a kit for a stool test which turned out to be the wrong type, causing another 24 hour delay!

I wasn’t told the referral wouldn’t even be activated until the test results were back so the two weeks turned out to be a month! I then had to wait another week for a scan and nobody could tell me when the results would be available or who would give them to me. I’m still waiting.

I’m supposed to be going away with DD for a short break next weekend. I was really looking forward to it but now I’m not sure I’ll want to go if I’m given bad news in the next few days.

Oh merlotgran, your post touched a chord. I am so sorry you are going through this nerve-wracking wait.

Waiting for scan results when you are worried about the outcome is just the worst. I think your best best would be your GP because they have access to the hospital department admin and can chase it for you, or at least tell you who you should be contacting. I think the results are normally given to the individual who requested the scan.

I hope it turns out to be something that isn't serious, but I know you will worry until you know.

If it's at all any reassurance to you - I have had colorectal cancer twice, and fairly advanced - but it was still treatable and 5 years ago I was discharged from oncology with "no evidence of disease".

There are other causes that may explain your symptoms, and I do know that diverticulitis can cause pain radiating to the back because I had that as well and was told the disease is not uncommon in older people.

Fingers crossed for you.

On 29th April I saw a gp about a swelling on the right side of my abdomen which had appeared out of the blue after a period of back pain which I had assumed was the result of overdoing things. She put me on the two week pathway for an urgent referral. I would be lying if I didn’t say I was alarmed because she didn’t hold back with her suspicion of colorectal cancer.

The ‘care navigator’ said the earliest appointment for various blood tests was in ten day’s time and I was given a kit for a stool test which turned out to be the wrong type, causing another 24 hour delay!

I wasn’t told the referral wouldn’t even be activated until the test results were back so the two weeks turned out to be a month! I then had to wait another week for a scan and nobody could tell me when the results would be available or who would give them to me. I’m still waiting.

I’m supposed to be going away with DD for a short break next weekend. I was really looking forward to it but now I’m not sure I’ll want to go if I’m given bad news in the next few days.

M0nica

At least you are being seen by someone. 111 sent me to A&E in late March. A&E examined me and then referred me to my GP for a 24 hour haert monitor. My surcery emailed me to say that I had so referred.

Then i get a letter asking me to go online and book an appointment. When I try to do that I am told all slots are fully booked. Please lave a phone number. i do that. I also try booking online sveral times, with the samr answer, then I am 'timed out'. My reference number is no longer valid.

I contact the surgery, I have difficulty explaining what I was meant to be having and who referred me. They tell me that I have a acardiac appointment in Spetember. Iexplain that that is something difference, I am taking about a 24 hour monitor.

That was last week, well over 2 months since the referral. I will now leave it until September when I see the consultant, and when he asks if a 24 hour montor has been fitted. I will explain why it hasn't

... and the problem is - when this becomes so convoluted, it becomes very difficult to explain it all to your GP receptionist when you want to know what to do next.

I had a similar tangled issue and in the end typed a short note to the surgery asking politely, what-should-I-do. It was sorted within a matter of days.

I have also found 111 very good. In fact I probably wouldn't be here now if it hadn't been for a doctor I spoke to on 111.

I am currently trying to sort out my prescription. Last month I was told I needed a review for my repeat prescription. I booked a telephone call and spoke to a lady who introduced herself as the prescriber. After more or less sorting out one of the meds I asked about the other two that needed reviewing. "Oh that's been done" she said. Like an idiot I took her at her word. This month I turned up at the pharmacy to be told that there was nothing for me because my repeat prescription has been cancelled! Fortunately the surgery receptionist was able to organise another review, an emergency prescription and a telephone call from a doctor. If the receptionist can sort this all so quickly and simply why does the rest keep falling apart?

I have come to the surprising conclusion that it isn’t the NHS which is at fault but the end user and the way they approach the system. Having had major surgery, when I had issues after a very fast discharge, I eventually rang 111 and was told that I had been very silly not to have phoned before.
Even with my husband, when we eventually rang 111, a hospital bed was found immediately having wasted months in pain. The message is clear that 111 is there to help.

We can all do one thing about our wrecked NHS. Vote out the party which has deliberately run down all health and public services, because they want privatisation and the chance to make loads of profit out of a sick aging population.

Jaffacake I assume you've had your Vitamin B12 level checked.

Yes Monica. My first port of call last week was 111. After asking many questions, they said they would send an ambulance but we may have a long wait. My sister took us in as I don't drive. No appointments given and we waited 8 hours to see a doctor but DH was admitted and treated and is now at home recovering.