AIBU to think the NHS is bloody brilliant sometimes?

But it is. 🤷‍♀️ It’s no less valid because it isn’t in Chat.

If a poster is going to ask AIBU? it should be because there is always some doubt in their mind. AIBU was never meant to be a board for discussing unarguable bloody obvious conversations.

I became ill in my early 20s with a disease that has so far cost the NHS £3/4 million...in total i've spent over a year in hospital, had around 20 surgeries and weeks in icu. When you are extremely ill the NHS pulls out all the stops.

I've also been sitting on 1 waiting list for over 2 years, and gone private for things I needed quickly to get me out of pain.....eye stuff, foot stuff, physio etc.

I've had to go private to avoid a 4 year waiting list for Autusm (child).

Personally I've found the NHS amazing in a life threatening emergency. We've had a few of those and they have been brilliant. And staff have always done their best in really difficult situations. But the waiting times are unacceptable. One of my sons has been waiting nearly a year to have his toenail removed and another one has been waiting over 3 years for an autism/adhd assessment.

Actually I think the Swiss system might be the best. But I do know that there are now problems with the French and German systems. They were good several years ago

Mixed bag here too. When the NHS gets it right it's amazing. But when it gets it wrong the effects can last years.

My GP surgery is brilliant, and they really do try and help you as much as they can.

I have had some great experiences with some of my pregnancies and the care for my babies. I had one tough pregnancy due to a lack of midwives, sick leave and poor advice. I've had great antenatal care but awful postnatal care. That last part was part of the reason I became a midwife, so I could help women and not let them be left feeling like I was left.

My parents had mostly great care when they had cancer but my grandfather had such terrible care I had to step in and get things sorted. I was only taken seriously when I had concerns about his health when I used medical terminology and they asked me if I was a health professional. Amazingly then got a GP out who sent him straight into hospital (my grandfather died a few days later with little dignity and scared).

I've had mainly terrible experiences with mental health services but have met some great mental health nurses. I've ended up having to go private because you are left with nowhere to go.

I work for the NHS and I'm so proud of the team I work with who regularly go above and beyond for those in our care. But I also recognise this isn't everyone's experience.

I believe you because same
experience here

I remember being really ill over Christmas, couldn't keep anything down for a week, advise to call 111, 111 sent me to A&E was there a total of 3 hours, blood tests and three different diagnosis later I was put on antibiotics. Was diagnosed with sickness bug, sinusitis and a chest infection. We are lucky to have the NHS. Many countries dont have a free health care system. Well free as in not having to pay for things like that, we pay through national insurance and tax

tell my son that, who is alive because three hospitals plus KIDS were bloody brilliant. and me, who is only as sane as I am because of the bloody brilliant community nurses and services.

perfect? no

bloody brilliant? absobloodylutely!

I was referred for an x-ray by my GP on Tuesday. Walked over to the department, the referral was on screen and I’d barely sat down before I was called in.

Completely agree @BarbaraVineFan. Our recent experience has been with life threatening stuff and the NHS has been and continues to be absolutely amazing. I can’t speak of the staff and the treatment too highly, it’s fantastic.

have to agree.

after extra monitoring for a "large baby" waters went at 35 weeks. 24 hours in hospital cos of infection risk when contractions started. Turned into EMCS and delivery of a blue baby. Fill intubation and XRay for baby and up to NICU urgently. Revived once more. Tons of meds, IV fluids etc. 5 days of care then transferred by ambulance to another hospital, 5 more days of similar care, then to main Paeds hospital for life saving surgery at 13 days old. finally off ventilator and weaned down. treatment for suspected sepsis. transferred back to 2nd hospital then eventually birth hospital where we were discharged at 13 weeks on peg feeds and O2. Community nursing was amazing. portage. physio. SLT. Specialist health visitors. Readmitted at 10 months, 4 month stay with 2 bowel surgeries, countless X Rays, various other treatments and tests. 2 more abdo surgeries. numerous consultant appointments when not on hospital. and that was just the first 18 months.

i

Indeed.

But many many many positive stories from numerous threads on just this one site alone is not “a few”

Well I did! Genuinely

I don't believe for a minute you only waited 5 minutes for an x-ray.

also agree in principle on whether it should remain or be dismantled

Or improved. Vastly. People keep banging on about the US, I'm advocating for a European model.

Being grateful isn’t sanctifying, even in the broadest sense. I think it’s only possible to improve it if people are aware of how the alternatives work and also agree in principle on whether it should remain or be dismantled. You have to agree on the objectives before you can discuss strategy and policies

I don't want to worry you @Shatenoeuf but, it's not only "old people" who will die.
None of us are getting out alive!

Two years ago DH had dizzy spells at work (not ideal when he’s a bus driver) so he came home and phoned the GP. An hour later we were at hospital being seen by almost every department imaginable to rule out as much as they could all in one day. He then had other tests spread out over the next few weeks and was cleared to drive again shortly afterwards. This was all over the Christmas period as well so a chaotic one at the best of times.

Last year my heart condition started acting differently so I was taken in to A&E as they had to rule out a heart attack. Was seen pretty much straight away then got the all clear a couple of hours later after multiple tests and checks (and the only real delay was waiting on blood results to see if they wanted me to stay in or not).

Then in December I went to my GP about awful peri-menopause symptoms. She referred me for a non-urgent scan to check for fibroids. I went from that scan in mid-February to being diagnosed with endometrial cancer in April then having a full hysterectomy at the start of June (then the great news that I needed no further treatment around 3 weeks after surgery).

We had the most amazing care from every single person every time and tbh I’m actually still trying to come to terms with the rollercoaster I’ve been on this year as I had so many appointments, scans and the like in just that short time.

I just wish everyone would have the same speed and care that we’ve been lucky to have. It’s one reason I wouldn’t want to move away from where we live as we have such a great GP practice, never had an issue getting an appointment and all the staff are lovely there and listen straight away. And hopefully while we had great treatment, we hope to not have to deal with any more hospital trips for a long, long time.

I do think some peoples expectations for very elderly people are misguided and unrealistic.

I've heard people on hear complain after a parent in their 80s or older has died or deteriorated with complications in hospital after things like falls etc. Often there have been delays to access treatment or medical pathways not offered - but people of this age are much more frail & vulnerable and aggressive treatment isnt always worth it, they have the odds stacked against them. Its very upsetting, but yes, old people will die, much more frequently & easily.

If there are capacity issues, I would expect a child or young adult be prioritised for treatment rather than my elderly mum & mum would agree.

As with most things in life, there's an element of "luck" involved in the experience someone will have regarding the NHS.
It depends on the ailment you have, where in the country you are, the time of day/month/year your personal need arises and, not least, the member(s) of staff you encounter as you are dribbled/rushed through the system.
On balance though, I'd rather have it than not and when it works well, it is excellent.

I live in a country where we don’t have an NHS equivalent but health insurance has to be provided by your employer. Best of both worlds.

Sometimes is the key word. I’ve just been discharged after 3 weeks. 3 nights in an and e reception then on to a bay of 4 which had 6 beds. No privacy - curtains wouldn’t fit. No space. Couldn’t get table over bed they were put at the end of the bed. Couldn’t move because of drip lines, fucking awful.

It's the sometimes that's the problem through isn't it? It shouldn't be sometimes great, or even sometimes adequate, every patient deserves that, and we all know someone who hasn't received great care.