Our NHS a different perspective

The NHS saved my husband's life twice. Once when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then last year when he was rushed to A&E with a horrible virus. The care on both occasions was exceptional. They also saved my brother after a stroke and two brothers in law after cancer. No complaints here.

Takes of woe and gratitude, those who had a great experience should thank their lucky stars because it is very much a lottery.
We are presently trying to move, downsizing and relocating in an area with better health services.
We have had an important appointment concerning my DHs bleed on the brain cancelled as we were being brought into the hospital with another being made Oct 31st, the first appointment was the beginning of August.
He was left soiled, wet, and naked in a hospital bed. And when a health assistant said he had atrial fibrillation a nurse tried to dismiss it as my DH exerting himself getting out of a chair 2 hours earlier. Thankfully the health assistant wouldn’t let it drop, he had an ecg and the doc came to say it was AF and gave him a beta blocker.
We have had enough, and with my DH having long term ill health we no longer want to stay in the same area.

My experience was excellent, too. After around 10 days of a nasty bug I couldn’t shake off, was suddenly hit with very shallow, painful breathing. Phoned 111, they sent an ambulance, was taken straight to hospital, put at once on 2 different ABs, one oral, one drip.

Was too ill for a few days to notice much, but everyone was very kind - I was regularly offered painkillers.
After around 8 days I was discharged - only to return 48 hours later with different chest pain - pleurisy - which needed a drain in my lung.
3 weeks altogether, and they kept me in for a couple of extra days after I thought I was going home - consultant said to be sure, because it was a very nasty infection.
I was on ABs for a total of 5 weeks!

I have nothing but praise for my treatment, and in fact made a hefty donation to the hospital afterwards.

While SH was at home, and still relatively able hospital treatment was awful.Wards overcrowded and noisy. How the staff managed to function at all is a miracle being under so much pressure. Once home there was no care at home provided. Plenty offers of equipment which out of 5 items only 2 were appropriate. Constantly having to chase up drugs. Was so relieved when he was admitted to hospital for palliative care, at least he would have better pain control. From what I hear, nothing has changed in my local NHS.

DH not SH

My experience was mixed, when I was in hospital last Autumn for five days. Night staff terrible, day staff better. There must be an issue with night staff and I agree with another poster that they’re lazy and don’t want to be there. I had heart issues and needed an ECG taken during the night and the chap who did it, didn’t know where to put the connectors and took over half an hour to work it all out ( at 4 in the morning). There was an elderly lady, who had slight cognitive problems in with us in a six bed ward and all the rest of us had to look out for her, as her care was abysmal from all the staff there. She probably wouldn’t have eaten or slept properly if one of us didn’t keep on top of it for her.

I’ve posted about my recent emergency, query stroke admission on another thread. I can’t praise the paramedics or hospital enough. I was away from home in a rural area so fifty minutes from the hospital
Last year I had a fall, which resulted in a fracture. Again superb treatment, including four months of physio.
Our GP practice over stretched so waits for non urgent appointments but level of personal care excellent

Both my hospital experiences high lighted what a mess we’d be in without immigration

I think those who have had great treatment from the NHS are very fortunate. Those who have had very mixed care, including very poor, would absolutely LOVE to say they too had great care. I know nothing would give me more pleasure but it would be a lie.

As I said in my previous post some areas of the NHS are good, others not so and there is little we can do about it.

Regarding night staff, my husband and his room mate absolutely hated the night staff. Often there were two male nurses on duty who barely spoke a word of English. They never came into their room unless they had to and when they did they made it clear by a lot of eye rolling that they had been disturbed. Several times they were asked to bring urine bottles as both patients were bed ridden and they threw them at their beds! I guess they are the only type of staff who will work night shifts but it’s not good enough.

All recent experiences with GP and local hospital trust very good. DD less lucky with her GP.

It’s usually ok once you’re in hospital but don’t get me started on the mess that is A&E.
10.5 hours in A&E with severe pain, ruptured appendix, sepsis and convulsions I’m lucky to still be here

I really feel quite envious of posters who give glowing reports of their NHS experiences and wonder if they think I am just exaggerating or ungrateful. Is such a stark contrast.

Ithink what every one has to accept is that whether our personal expperience is good or bad, it does not give a full pictue of the NHS. Unfortunately, atthe present, the NHS delivers superb care and appallingcare in about equal measure, and we, our family and friends are a far too small sample to represent thewhole.

I honestly believed the OP was going to finish with …. “And then I WOKE UP” as in dreaming.

There are good services but also many poorly functioning services. If you make a complaint they mark their own homework. This invariably results in a series of excuses and no guarantee that things will get better. Things will not get better until there is a separate organisation providing oversight.

My midwife daughter left the NHS in despair and is now independent and able to give excellent care to her mothers and babies.
She recently had two emergencies during births and I asked if they got fast treatment after arriving at hospital. She said, ‘Yes, the NHS is good in emergencies, it’s just rubbish at routine stuff.’

My friend has gone into hospital today for a knee replacement op. Over the past few days she has received 5 communications (letters and texts) regarding her op day. All from same dept but giving different times to be there! The money and time they waste is shocking. She had to ring up to see which of the times was correct.