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The NHS

It is quite topical to diss the NHS, but I think my recent story provides a more realistic picture. [I know I worked for them, but no-one remembers me any more, so that had no bearing on the situation.

!3 November found lump on tongue.
15 November, saw GP, referred.
22 November lump removed in hospital.
29 November, saw team again, pathology result back, cancer ruled out.
How can you lie there and think of England
When you don't even know who's in the team

S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
«1345678

Posts

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    My experience has also been a long way from "take two asprin and call back in the morning". A pain in my leg turned out to be a DVT, blood tests came up with various red flags resulting in liver and prostate checks via ultrasound scans, MRI scans and a biopsy. The good news is no cancer and no liver scarring which I regard as faintly miraculous given my appetites. Seems my blood is just a little bit weird and other issues found are fairly typical for a man of my age.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    edited December 2019
    They are just that 'Pansyface, 'horror' stories designed to spread fear and panic. 
    @punkdoc , that is good treatment. My OH has been treated the same, his MRI scan for possible (though unlikely) prostrate cancer is this Wednesday, 2 weeks after he saw the consultant. Best of all, we can walk to the hospital and back, it's only a mile or so away.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    If everybody in the country paid £10 for each GP or outpatient visit, then a) they might actually turn up for it and b) it might cut down on the number of unnecessary visits (and I'm specifically not getting at you @Pansyface).
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Our recent experiences with GP practice haven't been good.  I called to make an appointment and was told I'd get a call back 'shortly' to determine whether or not I needed to see a doctor.  'Shortly' became 7 hours later, and called on the house phone when I had told them to call on my mobile - and confirmed my mobile number.  Fortunately I'd just got back to the house when they called.
    My wife has been suffering from quite severe intermittent abdominal pains for a long time and seen various doctors at our practice.  Rarely the same one twice, each coming up with a different likely diagnosis, do blood tests or send her for other examinations and then seem to lose interest when what they had expected to be the problem turned out not to be the case.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I’m delighted for you Punkdoc. My wife has had mouth cancer necessitating a partial glossectomy and, as I am sure you know, it is a horrible procedure. Her experience was not quite as positive.
    Saw the dentist and referred to GP. One week between the two.
    Referred to consultant. Two weeks wait between GP and consultant.
    While waiting for pathology results which took 10 days, sent to the various hospitals in Leicester for lung function tests etc. The registrar clearly expected the pathology results to be bad news and he was right. 
    Operation about 10 days after pathology

    From dentist to operation was therefore about six weeks - not bad, but not great.

    In the hospital she was not enamoured by the NHS services. The night before the procedure the MacMillan cancer nurse-specialist introduced herself saying she would be there “every step of the way”. And that was the last conversation my wife had with the nurse for 5 days despite her being on the ward. After the procedure the operation wound on the neck (80 staples, I counted them!) became badly infected. Every day after the morning rounds the doctor asked the nurses to clean the infection. It never happened. With a tracheostomy tube she was unable to speak but pushing the button asking for help often produced no response for 30 minutes.

    Against the consultant’s advice she discharged herself two days early. At home I was able diligently to clean the infected wound and give round the clock care. 

    From that, and plenty of other similar experiences as she’s had cancer six times, my conclusion is that the NHS is only wonderful in parts. It needs a massive cash injection and I would have no issues if the basic rate of income tax rose from 20% to 23% to cover it.



    Rutland, England
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Sounds awful @Ben Cotto. I agree with you, when the NHS is good, it's usually very good but in many cases, it's not. I don't know what the answer is.  I think standards of nursing started to slip when they introduced degree courses for nurses. There was surely scope for basic nurses with no or little academic qualifications but a world of experience and compassion to be kept on and encouraged plus more highly qualified nursing staff.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Totally agree @Lizzie27.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Sorry to hear that @Rik56
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited December 2019
    Our experience of the NHS's handing of Husband's cancer has been superb from start to finish.
    We were given a timetable of treatment way back in about April / May and absolutely everything was done exactly to the time scale . 

    A few times we called the hospital at night and we were never patronised or made to feel we were over reacting  or wasting anyone's time and the following day they always called back to see how things had gone overnight.

    After 7 hours of surgery his surgeon personally phoned to tell me how it had gone and on the day of discharge even asked the exact date of a holiday we have booked for next March so she can arrange his follow up surgery in time. 
    Devon.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    OH had his MRI scan this morning. Seen on the dot, in and out in an hour. Staff very friendly and explained the experience well he said.  Brilliant!
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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