What’s the point in the NHS?

Surely if we’re being directed to A.I. for healthcare we shouldn’t be charged so much in tax to pay for a service that’s not fit for use?
They only direct people to use AI who think they know better than professionals. The vast majority of patients respect the advice of the experienced professionals who are treating them.

No of course she won't, she is finally getting the attention she so desperately craves.

This. Listening to the vet prices segment on Jeremy Vine yesterday, where someone paid £000s for care for their dog, I said to DH “that’s what it would be like if we didn’t have the NHS”. 20k for hip replacement etc. OK you can pay for private health care insurance, but that would be very expensive if you were born with something wrong with you, for example.

I do think however it is no longer fit for purpose - it was intended to keep folk working/help with industrial injuries etc - but now we have hugely expensive chemotherapy treatments for example, which might add only months to a person’s life. And robotic surgery, radiotherapy, etc which are hugely expensive. And people living longer costs a huge amount for health and social care.

I do think it’s crap at times, especially in non-urgent/life threatening situations but we’d miss it if it was gone.

@younknow - you gave yourself a bad sprain - not sure what follow up you expected? There wasn’t really anything seriously wrong with you, although yes, painful and upsetting, but I don’t think it sounds like you required intensive physio, scans and follow up. But I hope you’re on the mend soon.

I think it's fair to say this thread has gone disastrously for the OP.

OP, do you want to ask for it to be deleted? it's quite outing, you know.

This is the most ridiculous comment you have made so far - you are completely wrong! I have hip osteoarthritis and have been offered a full hip replacement. I saw the surgeon last week and he said it will be done within 3 months. I am not remotely bed bound but I am in some discomfort. I am very grateful for our NHS.

@younknow, I can only hope you're not real because nobody can be so ignorant and entitled at the same time.

Put less money into the service? that'll make it much better.

I didn't call the ambulance, my colleagues did. I took a tumble down an ancient staircase and we all suspected a broken ankle. 999 sent the ambulance. I was not blue lighted to the hospital. If it wasn't appropriate they would have told my colleagues to arrange alternative transport. 🤷‍♀️

So one uninterested employee means the whole of the NHS is on its knees?!!

I’ve always had an X-ray in the case of suspected fracture. I’ve had amazing care with an ongoing issue too - MRIs, regular blood tests.

My sister in law is a senior nurse, my other sister in law is a senior manager in the NHS, my niece and her partner are doctors, so was my brother in law, my grandmother was a nurse. Both my mum and my dad have received extensive cancer treatment over the last decade or so. My son spent time in hospital when he was little. I've done work for NHS foundation trusts.

I've met a few doctors over my time, yes, and I've not yet met one who doesn't have sufficient English to do their job.

I've also met a few racist tools on the internet.

*Your treatment was entirely appropriate. I worked in A&E over 30 years ago and management of sprains was the same then as it is now.
RICE .. Rest Ice Compression Elevate.

Then after a day or two gentle mobilisation. The vast majority heal perfectly well with absolutely no further intervention.

You don't need crutches (thought to slow down healing as weight bearing better) & physio doesn't speed recovery*
Here you go, advice from a qualified and very experienced health professional, who is telling you exactly the same as I and others have told you. Are you still going to debate that you have not been treated properly?

I understand your frustration with months of recovery ahead of you.

My husband dislocated his shoulder two years ago, he did get physio but only 4-6 weeks after the event when he could move it, it would have been futile before, he was in agony. He only had an xray- no scan? He didn’t need one. They assess your sprain clinically, no need for repeated xrays/scans to tell you same information, not to mention further exposure to radiation.

Maybe the referral to physio time scale might work out. I assume they will provide exercises to strengthen the ligaments if it’s a repeated injury. Could you not take the crutches offered or have I misunderstood that bit? He attended a hospital gym afterwards for a month or two. It was a fantastic service.

If you aren’t happy with your consultation, return today and speak to a different clinician. If you’re still not happy utilise PALS. Lots of options.

How things have changed they used to hate you using Dr. Google

So they’d help my health and wellbeing, helping me become healthy sooner
No, they won't. You won't recover quicker because of support of crutches. They will just help you, maybe, to get on with your normal life. That falls under social care provision. You might want to make a referral to them. They'll laugh though!

She was told to do that, that must be what the treatment is now. This is what the NHS using AI is.

Have you actually met some of today's doctors? Some of them have a very basic grasp of the English language 🥺

If it doesn’t, why is she directing me to A.I. over a doctor?
Because you were probably acting like a know it all princess and they just wanted to get rid of you.

You’ve received appropriate care. You’ve been x-rayed and been given advice to rest and allow your ankle to heal. You just want to be molly-coddled.

Your treatment was entirely appropriate. I worked in A&E over 30 years ago and management of sprains was the same then as it is now.
RICE .. Rest Ice Compression Elevate.

Then after a day or two gentle mobilisation. The vast majority heal perfectly well with absolutely no further intervention.

You don't need crutches (thought to slow down healing as weight bearing better) & physio doesn't speed recovery.

So you’re being treated for minor, non life threatening conditions? And want to criticise me for being treated for a non life threatening condition?
You're embarrassing yourself now. These illnesses are deliberating for life, not a couple of weeks and will not get better just with time.

What planet are you living on that makes you think the two are comparable?

Weirdly just got a text asking me to fill in an NHS survey about positive patient experiences about a minute after posting this.

Out of exasperation at you turning up for emergency care with a twisted ankle, and then rejecting the advice you've been given by a highly-trained doctor.