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Original poster

What’s the point in the NHS?

731 replies

younknow · 25/09/2026 23:20

I fell over at work today. My ankle was immediately black and blue and swollen, so I hobbled off to urgent care in a taxi.

I waited for four hours, I was x-rayed and told there were no breaks and a severe sprain. The doctor told me I’ve likely torn ligaments in my ankle and will be sore for three months.

I asked what sort of follow up would be given and she all but laughed at me, saying that I could get myself a support on Amazon if I wanted. I said I couldn’t even weight bear and she said I could also pick up crutches if needed. She then said I could refer to physio but “ChatGPT would give me a plan”. I asked if I’d be scanned to find out how badly damaged it is and she said there was no chance.

What is the point? Genuinely, what are we paying for when even things like this are being directed to Amazon and A.I?! I can’t believe it.

I remember 15 years ago my mum tore ligaments in her ankle and she was scanned the same day it happened, put in a boot and on crutches for six weeks, had a course of physio and consultations with an orthopaedic surgeon to discuss a plan if it didn’t improve.

What’s going on?!

OP posts:
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5
Maomee · Yesterday 09:39

Urgent care has always been patchy. It's the care for long term conditions that is atrocious when it needn't be. Heaven forbid you happen to be both a woman and suffering any sort of long term health complaint, you'll be treated like an attention seeker just for mentioning whatever is wrong. You basically have to be either very middle class/accompanied by a man or bothering them every working day to get treated. It is a complete joke. This is why I recover a large part of the taxes I pay via crime, just can't stomach paying for services I'll never get to use properly without a fight each time.

KnickerlessParsons · Yesterday 09:39

younknow · 25/09/2026 23:27

At least for that £50 I might’ve received proper advice and help!

Show quote history

You did.
It’s a (badly) sprained ankle. It’ll get better. You don’t need a boot or anything else.
You could have a physio appt but there is also good physio advice on the internet if you prefer - some people do because it means they don’t have to get a taxi/bus/lift to the appt.

The NHS also saved my DHs life four years ago. The care he had would have cost millions (not joking). He had a 16 hour operation and so much follow up care and treatment. Our NHS is fantastic.

pattercare · Yesterday 09:40

I am resigned to the fact that if I got anything painful but minor I will just have to pay for it, like I have had to pay for the dentist for the last 20 years. I had a basal cell carcinoma that hasn't quite gone so I just kept the cream and shove some on every year to keep it at bay, it may go eventually but it's not really bothering me enough to bother with the GP.

Loloj · Yesterday 09:40

younknow · Yesterday 09:37

I didn’t vote Tory. I never have and never would.

If it’s only able to treat life threatening conditions then, as I’ve said, it’s not fit for purpose. It’s not called the national life threatening health service, it’s called the national health service.

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The NHS doesn’t only treat life threatening conditions.

AStonedRose · Yesterday 09:40

Passaggressfedup · Yesterday 09:37

Yes and there are issues with their system but it’s a hell of a lot better than our system
Yes, if you pay premium and a premium that will cost you massively more than some crushes and physio, which are optional anyway.

It's not unheard of paying 30% of your income to get basic healthcare insurance in the USA.

Yes, but their overall tax burden is a good 10% lower than ours, so they get to keep more disposable income.

Oh, hang on...

Lemieux7 · Yesterday 09:41

AStonedRose · Yesterday 09:37

The US system is catastrophic for many ordinary people. You get people selling their houses to fund cancer treatment when their insurance refuses to pay. You get people in their 20s who can't afford insurance dying of asthma or diabetes.

Edited
Show quote history

Exactly. Plus, insurance companies can (and do!) refuse to fund necessary treatments sometimes.

Kg5685jgj · Yesterday 09:42

Maomee · Yesterday 09:39

Urgent care has always been patchy. It's the care for long term conditions that is atrocious when it needn't be. Heaven forbid you happen to be both a woman and suffering any sort of long term health complaint, you'll be treated like an attention seeker just for mentioning whatever is wrong. You basically have to be either very middle class/accompanied by a man or bothering them every working day to get treated. It is a complete joke. This is why I recover a large part of the taxes I pay via crime, just can't stomach paying for services I'll never get to use properly without a fight each time.

A sprained ankle isn’t urgent .

Original poster
younknow · Yesterday 09:43

Loloj · Yesterday 09:40

The NHS doesn’t only treat life threatening conditions.

Show quote history

It pretty much does at this stage.

OP posts:
AStonedRose · Yesterday 09:44

younknow · Yesterday 09:16

Did it?

Ive self referred to physio. It’s a 12 week wait for a video consultation. So I’ll be seen just heading into the new year if at all! It’s then a further 16 weeks after that consultation for a face to face appointment. That’s 7 months to get some physio. So I’ll have to pay to go private. How is that doing what it’s meant to?!

Show quote history

I agree, OP. Those wait times are ridiculous, given your ankle will probably be fine in two or three weeks. I mean, what's the point? Absolute shambles, it is.

Passaggressfedup · Yesterday 09:44

*Yes, but their overall tax burden is a good 10% lower than ours, so they get to keep more disposable income. It's still a very significant outgoing that baby can't afford beyond the most basic policy, which will consist of a lot less available treatment than what you get on the NHS.

Original poster
younknow · Yesterday 09:46

AStonedRose · Yesterday 09:44

I agree, OP. Those wait times are ridiculous, given your ankle will probably be fine in two or three weeks. I mean, what's the point? Absolute shambles, it is.

Show quote history

Actually no, it probably won’t be fine. I’ve sprained this ankle before (last time was three years ago and I was sent off with crutches, which I dutifully returned. Had I known they now tell you to buy them I’d have kept them!), and given a childhood history of sprains I was advised I likely have long term damage and weak ligaments.

I asked what the plan for that was at the time and they shrugged and said there isn’t one. So now I’ve got torn ligaments and absolutely no way to get any treatment for it!

OP posts:
Kg5685jgj · Yesterday 09:46

Lemieux7 · Yesterday 09:41

Exactly. Plus, insurance companies can (and do!) refuse to fund necessary treatments sometimes.

Show quote history

This is increasing. There are doctors on social
media saying insurance companies are hounding them not to give treatment. There is a viral video of a doctor being called during surgery and being asked to justify an overnight stay she had prescribed.

AStonedRose · Yesterday 09:46

younknow · Yesterday 09:43

It pretty much does at this stage.

Show quote history

You've gone to A&E with a minor ankle injury, been given a precautionary x-ray, and sent on your way with guidance on how to look after your twisted ankle.

However much you are in denial, OP, your non-emergency injury has been treated completely proportionately.

Daygloboo · Yesterday 09:46

younknow · 25/09/2026 23:20

I fell over at work today. My ankle was immediately black and blue and swollen, so I hobbled off to urgent care in a taxi.

I waited for four hours, I was x-rayed and told there were no breaks and a severe sprain. The doctor told me I’ve likely torn ligaments in my ankle and will be sore for three months.

I asked what sort of follow up would be given and she all but laughed at me, saying that I could get myself a support on Amazon if I wanted. I said I couldn’t even weight bear and she said I could also pick up crutches if needed. She then said I could refer to physio but “ChatGPT would give me a plan”. I asked if I’d be scanned to find out how badly damaged it is and she said there was no chance.

What is the point? Genuinely, what are we paying for when even things like this are being directed to Amazon and A.I?! I can’t believe it.

I remember 15 years ago my mum tore ligaments in her ankle and she was scanned the same day it happened, put in a boot and on crutches for six weeks, had a course of physio and consultations with an orthopaedic surgeon to discuss a plan if it didn’t improve.

What’s going on?!

I know. It's pathetic isnt it.

Girlwithavibe · Yesterday 09:47

Stop being so dramatic torn ligaments are not serious guess what I haven't even Googled it but I would get a support bandage rest use anti-inflammatorys and let it heal ! Common sense u don't need the NHS for this u !
Your making it sound like U broke your neck and they sent u on your merry way 😁

LakieLady · Yesterday 09:47

pattercare · Yesterday 07:33

OP's problem is it is a fairly minor, non life threatening thing, though painful so it is not afforded any NHS attention, like joint replacements and cataracts aren't. I think if you do want these sort of things attended to in a timely manner you do need to consider private care.

When did they stop bothering with joint replacements?

I had a partial knee replacement less than 5 years ago.

Passaggressfedup · Yesterday 09:47

And how do they know it’s “low tier” without doing the proper investigations?
What do you think an x-ray is!

You are clearly clueless about medicine, yes think you know better than the professional and then have a hissy fit because you're treated like a princess.

Your strain ankle is nothing more than a big bruise that is going to take time to get back to normal.

Original poster
younknow · Yesterday 09:48

Girlwithavibe · Yesterday 09:47

Stop being so dramatic torn ligaments are not serious guess what I haven't even Googled it but I would get a support bandage rest use anti-inflammatorys and let it heal ! Common sense u don't need the NHS for this u !
Your making it sound like U broke your neck and they sent u on your merry way 😁

But, again, if it only exists for the most serious of ailments it’s not fit for purpose.

OP posts:
Kg5685jgj · Yesterday 09:48

younknow · Yesterday 09:43

It pretty much does at this stage.

Show quote history

Don’t be ridiculous

Original poster
younknow · Yesterday 09:48

AStonedRose · Yesterday 09:46

You've gone to A&E with a minor ankle injury, been given a precautionary x-ray, and sent on your way with guidance on how to look after your twisted ankle.

However much you are in denial, OP, your non-emergency injury has been treated completely proportionately.

Show quote history

No, again, I didn’t go to a&e. Stop making up lies.

OP posts:
Original poster
younknow · Yesterday 09:49

Passaggressfedup · Yesterday 09:47

And how do they know it’s “low tier” without doing the proper investigations?
What do you think an x-ray is!

You are clearly clueless about medicine, yes think you know better than the professional and then have a hissy fit because you're treated like a princess.

Your strain ankle is nothing more than a big bruise that is going to take time to get back to normal.

It’s quite funny that you’re lecturing me about thinking I know better than the professionals when a professional has told me I’ve likely torn ligaments and you’re reducing it down to a sprain!

OP posts:
Girlwithavibe · Yesterday 09:49

younknow · Yesterday 09:46

Actually no, it probably won’t be fine. I’ve sprained this ankle before (last time was three years ago and I was sent off with crutches, which I dutifully returned. Had I known they now tell you to buy them I’d have kept them!), and given a childhood history of sprains I was advised I likely have long term damage and weak ligaments.

I asked what the plan for that was at the time and they shrugged and said there isn’t one. So now I’ve got torn ligaments and absolutely no way to get any treatment for it!

Show quote history

I have weak ankles and stretched ligaments permanently that's what happens when u sprain your ankle there is no treatment u wear sensible shoes your being an absolute baby !!

Passaggressfedup · Yesterday 09:49

Ive self referred to physio. It’s a 12 week wait for a video consultation. So I’ll be seen just heading into the new year if at all! It’s then a further 16 weeks after that consultation for a face to face appointment. That’s 7 months to get some physio. So I’ll have to pay to go private. How is that doing what it’s meant to?!
You don't need physio! Certainly not at this stage anyway. If you did need it, it would indeed be after a few months if you haven't walked for a long time and need your muscles to work again.

Original poster
younknow · Yesterday 09:51

Girlwithavibe · Yesterday 09:49

I have weak ankles and stretched ligaments permanently that's what happens when u sprain your ankle there is no treatment u wear sensible shoes your being an absolute baby !!

Show quote history

To be honest if you’re going to lecture me I’d ask that you at least use correct grammar and spelling.

OP posts:
Girlwithavibe · Yesterday 09:51

younknow · Yesterday 09:48

But, again, if it only exists for the most serious of ailments it’s not fit for purpose.

Show quote history

But that's the point it is for emergency not torn ligaments no point even replying to untbh this is why the NHS is in shreds people abusing it like u for minor injuries that common sense would be able to treat

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