What’s the point in the NHS?

My DD had a similar injury a couple of years ago. It was only a few days after a fracture on her other ankle had healed. She had no physio for that injury either. I was sure she had broken it, it had ballooned up and bruised that much. More than when she had the fracture. She couldn’t weight bare for a few days. She is severely disabled anyway and has seizures so needs someone with her constantly. But I got her some ibulieve gel a support bandage and borrowed a wheelchair for her. With regular pain relief she was more or less back to normal after just over a week. No physio needed just lots of rest.

I had physio myself a few years ago for a pinched nerve in my neck. I could barely move my arm without constant shooting pains and had a constant feeling of pins and needles. The physio I had did the trick.

My husband nearly died last year due to a dissected Aorta. He had life saving surgery, followed by more stent surgey 2 months after that. He has had follow up checks and C T scans and has to go in for further surgery soon. Thats just one example of the point of the NHS as someone who has worked it in it for 18 years, I could give you thousands more example of it usefulness.

In many countries with public health care systems, you could get a private scan and private treatment for problems with foot tendons for a reasonable price, but not in the UK. In the UK, prices for diagnostic tests and elective treatment done privately are extortionate.

The NHS treated my frozen shoulder with Naproxen and physio. All gone within about six weeks because I did the exercises religiously and was able to because the Naproxen killed the pain.

@younknow

You had an xray which ruled out a fracture. A sprain is stretched or torn ligaments, so not sure why you are having a go at someone saying there is a difference.

You can't compare treatment 15 years ago to now. Healthcare changes constantly. The lastest advice for sprains is not to issue crutches, because it heals faster with early mobilisation Total avoidance (which does happen when people use aids), makes the ankle stiffen up more. I completely understand it seems backwards when you cannot weight bear at first, but in a day or so you probably will be able to put weight on it.

You follow PRICE for a few days then follow physio exercises (depending on pain tolerance). Most NHS trusts have the information for physio exercises for each sprain on their website, or provide a leaflet, so no need to be referred. Sprains take months to heal fully, even with physio.

At this early stage of your sprain, there isn't really anything else to do. The first week is the most painful. If your sprain isn't healing in the expected way then you would get referred to ortho.

I do understand why you feel a follow-up is more efficient, but in reality, it would significantly inpact the already ridiculous wait times. By the time someone has their follow-up, the majority of people wouldn't need it, but wouldnt cancel it, which is a waste of time.

Yep they’re fucking awful. My dad was investigated over a year ago for a lung growth (suspected cancer) only to be told it’s definitely not but you have throat cancer (both showed as hotspots in pet scan), ‘monitored’ every 3 months for lung each time told from an old infection. Admitted to hospital last week due to not being able to breathe, A&E doc comes out saying yep lung cancer! They are appalling. I have private healthcare through my work and wow, the difference in care, compassion, thoroughness, everything is absolutely astonishing. To think these are the same doctors / specialists that are also probably employed by the NHS but offer such a different level of care to ‘paying’ patients is so upsetting. I only wish I could have afforded it for my wider family.

In a lot of European countries you could get those tests done for reasonable prices, but not in the UK.

In the US, many private health insurance schemes also offer reasonably priced tests, so let's not pretend everything in the US system is horrendous.

But, in the UK you can't get these diagnostic and preventative tests done when you want or need them at a reasonable price.

Honestly the things I’ve had to pay for privately this year is unreal.

probably about 1k of physio after tearing my peroneal tendon last year

another £500 of physio due to a frozen shoulder

£120 for a steroid injection in my frozen shoulder as i literally could not get dressed and was desperate

£350 for a private rheumatologist appt due to various issues and the waiting list was going to be getting on for a year.

£1100 for a private root canal treatment (i actually do have an nhs dentist but they refuse to do it even though it’s meant to be available on the nhs).

£350 to have an “in grown” toe nail removed. It wasn’t in grown, it was growing backwards. I had an unusual condition called retro something. Asked my gp for a podiatrist referral and they said as i don’t have diabetes I can’t see anyone. Literally the only treatment is removal, the pain was unreal, it was constantly infected and gp just used to prescribe abx.

so that’s over 3k, getting on for 4k. What would someone do who couldn’t afford it? Have the tooth pulled I guess, have six months off sick with a bad shoulder, limp around really badly and maybe permanently lose mobility. Have a constantly infected toe, be in agony with every step as the nail grows into the toe tissue. Maybe if it got gangrene the nhs would amputate 🤷‍♀️

No it really wasn’t. I’ve sprained mine multiple times since childhood, the most recent being last year, have never had a scan and always the same treatment advice. A couple of times had physio to aid recovery but mostly self treated along the lines you have been given. Boots do a good elastic support sock in different sizes and strengths.

Lucky you if you can afford £50 without budgeting. A lot of people can't. They would have gone without any sort of care.

Thats why the NHS is there. It is pretty shit at the moment but at least it doesnt differentiate between those that can afford it and those that can't.

Other countries don't have healthcare systems like the NHS yet they still manage to have public health systems. The NHS is badly designed and that's why it has the never-ending problems it does.

DH has been a net contributor for over 30 years!

But what specifically is lacking? Most injuries are self-limiting and heal without complications, most ailments do the same. We cannot provide a hospital bed, full workup and a team of AHP for every bump and bruise. NICE guidelines and local pathways are based on extensive clinical evidence. Forgive us if we think people should be able to self-manage minor and moderate injuries off their own volition.
OP has an option to self-refer to a community physio. That's what they are there for! Until a physio can get involved, she should follow PRICE protocol and contact her GP who can manage pain and refer for additional investigations if no improvement was made in the time we typically expect this injury to get better.
Honestly, I think sometimes people object to the sheer mention of the fact that we expect them to do basic self-management. The amount of times I heard "but a physio just gave me exercises to do at home"...well, what do you think they should have done? Spend 10 minutes five times a day doing them with you in a clinic?

I honestly can’t believe what I am reading from your posts. I echo others, you are so very lucky you even have the opinion that the NHS isn’t fit for purpose. Many industries are using AI, have you considered the healthcare professional was suggesting something that they know is a good way to work with the NHS at home? I am sure if you required more healthcare it would have provided to you - as proven by the multiple posts by others.

Have you voted for political parties that have funded the NHS or the ones that have stripped away the NHS?

Because they have ridiculous prices for their health. No any other country charges prices like that.
In Europe you can have an chest x-ray for £5, mammogram for £40 etc, full blood count £15.
These are normal affordable prices .

What a mountain out of a mole hill. You only sprained your ankle, did you expect them to magic it better.

What’s the point of the NHS?

Shut it down and you’ll soon find out.

This!!

I noticed while attending follow up physio after my knee surgery that you can self refer to the local NHS physio service.

Get a private scan and treatment plan then.

See how much that costs and what benefit you get from it

I’m a physio in a reasonably senior post in the NHS.
i think the care you have received could definitely have been improved. But the pressures we are all under really is unrelenting at the moment. So sometimes it will be below par unfortunately

something I didn’t know until very recently is that the budget per head is just over £17 a year-to pay for GPs, hospital care etc.

The NHS isn’t free, most of us pay a fortune in tax for it- National Insurance, every month.

OP deserved better treatment, and should complain.

I agree.
I have excruciating pain in my shoulder for months now / and elbow, not sure what caused it, I could get it injured at work and forgot about it etc, I can't lift my arm, I can't wash, put bra, its goes into shocking spasms bringing tears in my eyes daily.
I made gp appointment phone only, with gp and asked to be investigated, she said they won't..
So i said can i have x-ray or ultrasound as impossible to lift my arm.
She hesitated and said maybe x-ray but waiting list is 12 -16 weeks and appointment will arrive by post.
I said how come as before I was sent for x-ray the same day and had digital referral.
She said that all changed.
No more digital referrals, only for accident or emergency..9 weeks on- im still waiting for the x-ray.
Going away soon abroad so will pop for x-ray there..cost few quid...

Lol to a boot and crutches for six weeks for an ankle sprain.