How the NHS wastes money.

If you fail to keep just one appointment with the Podiatry department here they cross you off the list. You have to be re-referred by your GP.
I think the same applies if you miss appointments in other departments too.

Our elderly neighbour retired early from his middle management position at our local hospital as the money wasted was distressing him so much. Expensive refurbishments were undertaken - I commented on the wide, solid wood bannisters that were being installed, and the refurbishment of the foyer, which was the size of an airport lounge. The hospital admin that I was with told me it was all a complete waste as the hospital was closing. Two new wards were built in the grounds - they never opened, the whole area was sold to a developer, and private flats now cover the site. This is just one hospital...

I completely agree with you. Same applies if someone from the UK falls ill abroad- wouldnt be surprised if the complainant expected the medical staff abroad to speak English.

Granmarderby10

HowVeryDareYou I don’t know many NHS hospitals and clinics there are in the Uk but that figure quoted divided between, say just the bigger hospitals doesn’t seem all that much over two years.

If you were a Japanese tourist and you had a stroke and lost your speech and were sent to hospital here you wouldn’t think it a waste of resources to have the practical support from someone who speaks your language and could liaise on your behalf ..would you?

I agree. I can't think of many more mean-spirited actions than denying someone the means of understanding what's happening to them when they are ill.. !

SueDuko That has already been mentioned. When you go abroad, don't you have holiday insurance? It surely would cover such needs as a translator. Then why can't visitors here do the same? (although, actually, the point was missed)

Visitors to the UK will get charged for NHS services including translators.

HowVeryDareYou2

SueDuko That has already been mentioned. When you go abroad, don't you have holiday insurance? It surely would cover such needs as a translator. Then why can't visitors here do the same? (although, actually, the point was missed)

That’s as may be, but if a foreign visitor needs immediate treatment they don’t have their insurance and credit card status verified before treatment starts. Are you expecting that treatment should be delayed until the patient can arrange for a private translator?

When my profoundly deaf and disabled brother needed an operation, the hospital said they couldn't provide an interpreter but I could perhaps find one, I contacted the local service and was quoted £150 but I couldn't afford that, I went on the local Facebook page to try and find someone local who did sign language, no one came forward. On the day a nurse from another ward who had a deaf relative so knew sign language, came over to reassure my brother and was there when he came out of the anesthetic too. Such a kind man. I was told the hospital would only provide translators for foreign patients!

Our local hospital in Portsmouth absolutely do not provide sign language translators for English deaf people

The patients needing translators are very rarely visitors so ni, travel insurance does not cover it

Yorkshirepudding4ever

I have just read that our local hospital group had 70,000 missed outpatient appointments and 2500+ missed surgery appointments in the last 9 months - what a shocking statistic!! Patients behaviour needs to be addressed too if we are considering reducing waste in the NHS!

A considerable number of those will be patients trying to cancel but unable to get anybody to answer the phone at the hospital.

My husband has literally spent hours on the phone to hospitals or having left a message, waiting days for them to return the call.

I got told off when I turned up for DDs orthodontic appointment, the orthodontist was quite scary. She said I'd missed my appointment that morning and I was 4 hrs late. I showed her my appointment card, I'd turned up at the time I'd booked, they changed the appointment but I didn't get the letter. No idea if that was hospitals fault or Royal Mail. It annoys me that it will be down as us failing to attend.

I expect some of the communication problems are down to cost saving by getting rid of admin staff. Or pen pushers as Mr Cameron called them

Are you saying that non English speaking Brits or those settled in Britain, shouldn’t use NHS facilities? If so, Why not?

MaizieD

HowVeryDareYou2

SueDuko That has already been mentioned. When you go abroad, don't you have holiday insurance? It surely would cover such needs as a translator. Then why can't visitors here do the same? (although, actually, the point was missed)

That’s as may be, but if a foreign visitor needs immediate treatment they don’t have their insurance and credit card status verified before treatment starts. Are you expecting that treatment should be delayed until the patient can arrange for a private translator?

Actually, MaizieD, I think most people these days have mobile 'phones that have a language translation facility in them.

Don’t worry Primrose 53 there all the same they don’t give a stuff about anything now .
As long as the pay keeps going up we’l leave well alone …

Harv1

Don’t worry Primrose 53 there all the same they don’t give a stuff about anything now .
As long as the pay keeps going up we’l leave well alone …

Who doesn't give a stuff?

Who are ‘there’

It is a pity Wes Streeting or a member of his department are not on GN as I think he would find it most informative.

HowVeryDareYou2

MaizieD

HowVeryDareYou2

SueDuko That has already been mentioned. When you go abroad, don't you have holiday insurance? It surely would cover such needs as a translator. Then why can't visitors here do the same? (although, actually, the point was missed)

That’s as may be, but if a foreign visitor needs immediate treatment they don’t have their insurance and credit card status verified before treatment starts. Are you expecting that treatment should be delayed until the patient can arrange for a private translator?

Actually, MaizieD, I think most people these days have mobile 'phones that have a language translation facility in them.

I do love a post which starts with superior ‘ Actually’…

I humbly stand corrected..

Kayteetay1

I completely agree with you. Same applies if someone from the UK falls ill abroad- wouldnt be surprised if the complainant expected the medical staff abroad to speak English.

Rather presumptive of you. What is it with British bashing.
People are usually ill, they may speak, oh dear, in their own language, as do foreigners when they are in hospital here, from experience.

When I was in hospital, December 2017 for a gall bladder operation, the ward was really hot so they had 4 Dyson fans blowing cool air. Have you seen the price of Dyson fans. Also I had to take my medication into hospital with me, which I readily did.
When my husband died, all the aids he was loaned were collected for reuse. This I was told by the people who collected them.

Freya5

Kayteetay1

I completely agree with you. Same applies if someone from the UK falls ill abroad- wouldnt be surprised if the complainant expected the medical staff abroad to speak English.

Rather presumptive of you. What is it with British bashing.
People are usually ill, they may speak, oh dear, in their own language, as do foreigners when they are in hospital here, from experience.

😁
Just shout louder and expect Jonny Foreigner to understand English, even in their own country.
Simple!

We went to ibiza and DGD came out in a rash. Went to local hospital and Dr typed Spanish into his computer pressed a button and it spoke to us in English giving diagnosis and treatment. No need for interpreters

Imagine getting really bad news via a phone translation. You're dying or you're paralysed and will never walk again. That's if the translation is accurate, there's an old saying "lost in translation."