KT, that is diabolical, there is a complaints procedure though and it may help to try that.
After my own top class NHS service in late July August the follow up has been a bit chaotic. The Hospital is three fields away yet I got a follow on appointment to another hospital in another town. I contacted my Consultants office and it was immediately changed to my own Hospital with a letter following cancelling the other town two days later. The next appointment the same thing happened, phoned the office and it was changed, sometimes it pays to shout.
Hope it all gets sorted because the actual front line NHS staff I found are brilliant as with all things the behind the lines service is rubbish.
I had to do something very similar and i was fuming so I went to my local MP at the time Ken Clark, within 10 days I had a letter offering better service and totally different from the first offer , and a letter from Ken stating what he had done for me ,Go for it and make them sit up, its my tax money iv paid over all my working years and i didn't pay it to be thrown away by numskulls in situations like yours KT,not to mention the messing about you went through its bl,,dy disgusting.
Can anyone tell me at what point nurses were permitted to make diagnosis and prescribe medicine? But without the 5 years or so training that a doctor has. I'm not being rude about nurses, but I really am puzzled.
I went to the surgery last Thurs, was seen by a nurse who mis-diagnosed me and gave me the wrong medicine. Returned on Friday after being even sicker than I was; Doctor told me I did not have the illness the nurse had diagnosed and to stop taking the medication. He has now arranged for me to see a consultant. Thank heavens he seemed to be on the ball.
I have never understood how the NHS works, or doesn't work.
In Belgium, I can choose my GP, I can make appointments on the internet or by phone or have a home visit if needed. When I do need to see a specialist or have X-rays and ops for the dodgy back and feet, the results are sent to my GP online so she can see them herself.
She keeps tabs on our innoculations and does an annual "MOT" - blood test for cholesterol, blood sugars, vitamins and hormones plus blood pressure and so on. I get to choose my specialist and hospital if I need an op. I get to choose the time too. I get a choice of follow up appointments.
Ditto dentist, skin doctor, gynae, obstetrician, opthalmologist, orthopedist, neurologist. We've needed them all in the last 20 years.
There are some hospitals here and GPs to avoid but, like I said, I get to choose. I just need to make sure I never have an accident near a dodgy one as there isn't a choice for emergency care when ambulances are involved.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I think the main difference here is effective and eficient management systems, not the calibre of the doctors, although there are more her per head of population which means short waits..
We have health insurance which is paid for by employers, individuals or the state depending on status - employed, independent, unemployed - and have to identify ourselves every time we see anyone other than our GP so that charges for procedures and consultations are charged at the proper rate to the correct organisation. We also have to pay a fee at delivery but these, and prescriptions, are reimbursed at a known rate and there is no postcode lottery for medicines or treatments.
I would not want to be poor in the USA for anything - health, education, housing, policing..............
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
WelshO, I have found that you don't just need a doctor that listens, you need to be pretty firm and know your rights. Sadly, when one is feeling ill, one often doesn't feel like being 'firm'.
As an ex-NHS physio and with a husband who is a current NHS radiographer, thinking of moving to the private sector after almost two decades of service, I can only sympathise with you.
We've been both NHS patients and staff...and when it works, it is ever so good, but when it doesn't, it can be truly diabolical.
My main gripe is the quantity of middle managers in the NHS - non clinicians who often haven't a clue about what it means to treat patients with dignity, respect and professionalism.
As you rightly say, they tick boxes, they're happy. These pen pushers are everywhere and their insincerity, lack of care and compassion knows no bounds.
It's one of the reasons why so many good clinicians and therapists leave the service.
Posts
KT, that is diabolical, there is a complaints procedure though and it may help to try that.
After my own top class NHS service in late July August the follow up has been a bit chaotic. The Hospital is three fields away yet I got a follow on appointment to another hospital in another town. I contacted my Consultants office and it was immediately changed to my own Hospital with a letter following cancelling the other town two days later. The next appointment the same thing happened, phoned the office and it was changed, sometimes it pays to shout.
Hope it all gets sorted because the actual front line NHS staff I found are brilliant as with all things the behind the lines service is rubbish.
Frank.
Appalling! You really need to make a complaint to NHS England - how to do it is here http://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/complaint/ and c.c. your MP.
Unless people do this the powers that be will believe the statistics that tell them things are fine!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I had to do something very similar and i was fuming so I went to my local MP at the time Ken Clark, within 10 days I had a letter offering better service and totally different from the first offer , and a letter from Ken stating what he had done for me ,Go for it and make them sit up, its my tax money iv paid over all my working years and i didn't pay it to be thrown away by numskulls in situations like yours KT,not to mention the messing about you went through its bl,,dy disgusting.
Can anyone tell me at what point nurses were permitted to make diagnosis and prescribe medicine? But without the 5 years or so training that a doctor has. I'm not being rude about nurses, but I really am puzzled.
I went to the surgery last Thurs, was seen by a nurse who mis-diagnosed me and gave me the wrong medicine. Returned on Friday after being even sicker than I was; Doctor told me I did not have the illness the nurse had diagnosed and to stop taking the medication. He has now arranged for me to see a consultant. Thank heavens he seemed to be on the ball.
A second doctor told me to stop taking the medication as it was 'killing me'!
It can happen. A friend's dog was also mis-diagnosed by a vet.
The patient usually knows when something is going awry, you just have to hope you have a doctor who listens.
I have never understood how the NHS works, or doesn't work.
In Belgium, I can choose my GP, I can make appointments on the internet or by phone or have a home visit if needed. When I do need to see a specialist or have X-rays and ops for the dodgy back and feet, the results are sent to my GP online so she can see them herself.
She keeps tabs on our innoculations and does an annual "MOT" - blood test for cholesterol, blood sugars, vitamins and hormones plus blood pressure and so on. I get to choose my specialist and hospital if I need an op. I get to choose the time too. I get a choice of follow up appointments.
Ditto dentist, skin doctor, gynae, obstetrician, opthalmologist, orthopedist, neurologist. We've needed them all in the last 20 years.
There are some hospitals here and GPs to avoid but, like I said, I get to choose. I just need to make sure I never have an accident near a dodgy one as there isn't a choice for emergency care when ambulances are involved.
I have been lucky enough as a doctor to work in both America and Holland, as well as the NHS.
America was great, as long as you could afford insurance. Over 30% of population cannot, and their care is terrible.
The standard of care in Holland was excellent, possibly better than the NHS, but it cost much more than we spend.
Comparatively we spend less on health care than other developed countries.
Doctors do not always get it right, but can you think of any profession that does?
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I think the main difference here is effective and eficient management systems, not the calibre of the doctors, although there are more her per head of population which means short waits..
We have health insurance which is paid for by employers, individuals or the state depending on status - employed, independent, unemployed - and have to identify ourselves every time we see anyone other than our GP so that charges for procedures and consultations are charged at the proper rate to the correct organisation. We also have to pay a fee at delivery but these, and prescriptions, are reimbursed at a known rate and there is no postcode lottery for medicines or treatments.
I would not want to be poor in the USA for anything - health, education, housing, policing..............
WelshO, I have found that you don't just need a doctor that listens, you need to be pretty firm and know your rights.
Sadly, when one is feeling ill, one often doesn't feel like being 'firm'.
Oh KT, that is really pants.
As an ex-NHS physio and with a husband who is a current NHS radiographer, thinking of moving to the private sector after almost two decades of service, I can only sympathise with you.
We've been both NHS patients and staff...and when it works, it is ever so good, but when it doesn't, it can be truly diabolical.
My main gripe is the quantity of middle managers in the NHS - non clinicians who often haven't a clue about what it means to treat patients with dignity, respect and professionalism.
As you rightly say, they tick boxes, they're happy. These pen pushers are everywhere and their insincerity, lack of care and compassion knows no bounds.
It's one of the reasons why so many good clinicians and therapists leave the service.