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News & politics

NHS waiting lists could take 685 years to clear.

(38 Posts)
Urmstongran Thu 09-May-24 15:22:58

That was a headline today in the Telegraph.
Pretty shocking!

Apparently more than 7.5 million people are yet to have operations and backlog is falling at less than 1,000 a month at current rates.

Casdon Thu 09-May-24 21:38:20

Urmstongran

I don’t 😁
It was a talking point - as in real life.

What more evidence do we need that the NHS can’t go on as now? Get it sorted Government and no, the answer is not throwing even more money at it. Compared to Europe we are in the Dark Ages.

Some of the answer is throwing more money at the NHS for very specific reasons if we want new treatments to be developed. There’s so much potential to cure diseases if research was better supported. It’s a case of speculating to accumulate.

The problem for the NHS is always the backlog, but the only way long term to resolve the backlog is to treat diseases and conditions differently.

biglouis Thu 09-May-24 21:44:09

Too much money flowing abroad into foreign wars, aid and repatriation schemes like the whacky Ruanda plan.

Doodledog Thu 09-May-24 21:51:44

Well, I can offer an upcoming appointment if people are willing to travel?

I have a pending operation (general surgery) showing on the NHS app, and have no idea what it's for. I rang the call centre and they don't know either, but are not allowed to cancel it until it becomes 'live'. Apparently the waiting list in this area (according to the app) is 10 weeks, and 6 of them have passed, so I should be finding out soon. I have not been referred for general surgery, unless someone medical knows something I don't, and I'm not aware of the need for any.

Freya5 Thu 09-May-24 21:59:22

Doodledog

Well, I can offer an upcoming appointment if people are willing to travel?

I have a pending operation (general surgery) showing on the NHS app, and have no idea what it's for. I rang the call centre and they don't know either, but are not allowed to cancel it until it becomes 'live'. Apparently the waiting list in this area (according to the app) is 10 weeks, and 6 of them have passed, so I should be finding out soon. I have not been referred for general surgery, unless someone medical knows something I don't, and I'm not aware of the need for any.

That is pretty shocking, same name,wrong details. Maybe. Unfortunately this doesn't surprise me.

petra Thu 09-May-24 22:39:10

And now we are told that the NHS spends a third of its maternity budget on compensation claims 😡

Callistemon21 Thu 09-May-24 22:54:15

Doodledog

Well, I can offer an upcoming appointment if people are willing to travel?

I have a pending operation (general surgery) showing on the NHS app, and have no idea what it's for. I rang the call centre and they don't know either, but are not allowed to cancel it until it becomes 'live'. Apparently the waiting list in this area (according to the app) is 10 weeks, and 6 of them have passed, so I should be finding out soon. I have not been referred for general surgery, unless someone medical knows something I don't, and I'm not aware of the need for any.

It's not even as if Doodledog is a common name, like Jones in Wales!

Apparently, according to two people I saw at an outpatient clinic today, I also had an appointment at another hospital yesterday 🤔
I must remember to put an arrow in magic marker on the bit of me that needs operating on, just in case. Cut here ↕️

Casdon Fri 10-May-24 07:47:51

petra

And now we are told that the NHS spends a third of its maternity budget on compensation claims 😡

I suspect that’s not a new thing, payouts for damage caused at birth have always been huge because they have to allow for care for the full lifespan of a child, and are the biggest area of compensation in the NHS. I’m sure poor staffing levels are making it worse now, but it’s not a surprise.

Doodledog Fri 10-May-24 10:24:14

It's not even as if Doodledog is a common name, like Jones in Wales!

I won't lie, it would be easier if they'd use Doodledog the Gransnet, like everyone else grin.

Callistemon21 Fri 10-May-24 10:31:12

😁

Cossy Fri 10-May-24 10:55:47

maddyone

^its no consolation to people waiting or suffering now^

I’m always thrilled to see new treatments being developed which will help people. I saw the item on the news today about the deaf baby who has had groundbreaking treatment and she can now hear. I had a profoundly deaf cousin and I was brought up with understanding of how it isolated him.

Even so, there are so many treatments that are commonly performed such as Callistemon’s knee operations, or my spinal surgery, which will prevent so much pain and lead to such a much better quality of life for people. I really feel these routine operations should have more money put into these areas because it would improve life for so many people. It’s actually inhumane to force people to wait endlessly for routine procedures that will help them. I feel very strongly about this because I suffer so much pain every day of my life and I feel as if it’s going on forever.

I completely agree. My late mother lived with pain for almost 25 years! The best we could get her in the end was Oromorph(?)

I too live with pain from a few different conditions, so I fully understand, it’s so debilitating and causes many issues not the least fatigue.

nanna8 Fri 10-May-24 12:25:17

Bet they will start pushing private health care like they do here. What they should realise is that even with private health there are only so many specialists to go round and with private health patients jumping the queues things will get even worse for public patients.

maddyone Fri 10-May-24 12:43:52

I’m so sorry to hear you’re also in daily pain Cossy. It really is debilitating isn’t it? I get on with my life but it intrudes every day on whatever I’m doing. I agree it’s tiring, and I find it depressing too.
I hope you can get some treatment that helps you. I’m pinning my hopes on the spinal surgery to give me a better quality of life, but since I can’t even get on the list till July, it’s going to be a while.