The only illness I'd feel comfortable having at the moment would be Covid19

[mywayhighway]

I had a breast lump scare back in January. NHS were fantastic, I was seen and given the all clear within 2 weeks. I am so relieved this happened when it did and feel desperately sorry for anyone who is in this position now. I read about some poor little dc who has had his appointment for a squint cancelled for a year! That could be devastating for his eyesight. Another man has had his brain scan cancelled for 3 months. When is something going to done about this? I feel unsafe but not because of Covid19.

[PicsInRed]

Good point.
With airlines still operating, the financially comfortable could go abroad for private screening, but those with less cash would have to hope and pray.

I think the govt expects a huge 2nd or 3rd wave and have left vacant capacity in the NHS because of that. They aren't spelling it out as they dont want to cause outright panic.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

I have read something from a lady who's husband's chemo has been cancelled. Outrageous. It's like everything else has been forgotten about.

[PicsInRed]

I wonder how much of a subsequent wave being worse will be down to worse general health in the population due to the health system having been largely shit down? For example, how many cancer patients, who may have been on the road to recovery by Christmas, may have untreated, more advanced cancer and then be more vulnerable to death by covid in that wave?

[Wilmalovescake]

Shit, you’re right. What a fucking year.

[muddypuddled]

I've heard lots of stories of this but I can only talk of my experience. My mum was diagnosed with ovarian ca just as all of this was kicking off. She needs a huge operation as there are several tumours and she will need an itu bed over night. Because if covid they opted to give her chemo first then op then more chemo to finish. So far everything is going to plan and nothing has been stopped or moved.

From the nhs perspective, I am an itu nurse in a separate area, looking after covid and non covid patients. In our trust, all cancer and urgent care continued but at the private hospital associated with us until we had the capacity to take it back. We have been badly hit with covid but some normality is resuming. A lot of the usual illnesses haven't come in though, I can only expect that they will arrive at some point only sicker for putting off seeking treatment.

[IcyApril]

Completely agree. My newborn needed a referral for something (she’s 12 days old). We got a letter saying they aren’t doing the appointments at the moment. Luckily I researched what it was she was being tested for, put together a complaint and contacted a lot of different hospital departments and received a call the next day and managed to get bumped up the list a bit so we now at least have an appointment, even if it’s not in the correct time frame.

[frumpety]

@Waxonwaxoff0 People have chemo cancelled for a lot of different reasons. I see people who are having chemotherapy and quite often a cycle will be delayed following pre chemo blood tests. All the people I see have been having their chemotherapy through out the lockdown, some have had a cycle delayed because of blood results, not because of the pandemic.

[beepbeeprichie]

@frumpety I’m sure that’s true, but I’m aware of 3 people with cancer who are not getting chemo/ cancelled due to COVID19.
3 different regions of Scotland. So I agree with the OP.
Meanwhile there are 59 people in the whole of Scotland in intensive care with COVID19.

[Newjez]

Do you really want chemo now?

With this virus spreading rapidly, if we had chemo patients with low immunity it would be ripping through them.

[frumpety]

@beepbeeprichie I do know someone personally ( in Scotland ) who has stopped their chemo for the time being due to the risk posed by Covid. They are already in a higher risk group due to age though, so the decision was reached to prevent additional risk by postponing the treatment for now.

There is a difference between someone not having treatment because of the risk to them if they did so and not having treatment because it isn't possible to provide it. In my experience it has been the former that has delayed or prevented chemotherapy rather than the latter.

I can feel your frustration at the only 59 people in the whole of Scotland in ICU, but how many more are in hospital who are recieving care due to having Covid and how many more are out in the community managing their symptoms at home ? How many more are asymptomatic ? We won't know unless we test more in the community. We know that only a very small percentage of those who catch Covid will have symptoms which require intubation and ICU admission, but I am not sure how reassuring that is to someone who has a significantly more increased risk of dying if they catch it ?

[changeagainandagain]

It's been awful, I have endometriosis and a huge flare up had me in an ambulance twice for pain relief during the height of COVID this is due to an operation being cancelled. And we are looking at maybe a year plus fo this to be back on any NHS schedule.

I've now have to get in debt with 8k-12k I not sure how to pay for private operation which still may be in July or August, it's cost me over £800 in private consultations already. I'm desperate and so stressed about the money but can't live like this, my whole family is suffering.

I've been in pain daily since the end of February, that's painkillers every 6 hours, morphine to Control evenings and having to stay working throughout as I run a business.

It's like a living hell for me and many other chronic pain suffers, where operations to help have been cancelled and we've been left high and dry in permanent pain.

I'm going to also guarantee that all male operations will be back on the table before female ones, the gender biases in the NHS is shocking.

[KeepWashingThoseHands]

@Newjez

Did you actually just post saying 'do you want chemo now'.

Unbelievable.

[frumpety]

Thats rubbish for you @changeagainandagain, to get so close to your operation and then have it cancelled. I think you need to keep in touch with them and let them know you are fit and well ( other than your debilitating pain ) and are ready for surgery at anytime, explain you can come in short notice. Hope you get sorted soon

[changeagainandagain]

@frumpety thank you for the flowers! It will pass and I'm hopeful private will prove to be a better route and all of this has happened for the best.