The NHS is collapsing - what can we do?

[FedUpWithTheNHS]

First of all, I am not interested to do more bashing on GPs, NHS, nurses and whatnot. I sincerely do not think the issue is with them. So let's leave it at that.

But I have been trying to get some support for myself and struggle to get anywhere.
I have family members who have been waiting months, turning into years for severe issues and they are left in pain and scared.
I read threads on here (the one on sepsis, cancer scare etc...) and it's more of the same.

The system is collapsing but there isn't a private sector to pick up the pieces. I had to wait 4 mnths to see a cardiologist privately.... And now another 6 weeks to be able to have the prescription from my GP (At more than £100 per month, I just can't afford to get said prescription privately).
It very much feels like we are left to die, from no healthcare, tbh.

So far, I have written to my MP.
I am supporting groups working against the 'privatisation of the NHS'.
I'd vote Labour but tbh, just now, I can't say theyve filled me with confidence they will actually do what is needed. Which is increasing funding and ensuring doctors and nurses are staying in the UK and the NHS (at the very least)

What else can I, we, do?
I feel like we need to start shouting. LOUD. Very loud. But I am at loss as to what else I can do :((

Also I’m sure if people knew they would have to pay something towards their operations, they would start taking better care of their health. People should start taking responsibility for their health and not expecting the nhs to pick up the pieces.

@Bedbouncer interesting point! One of my very healthy relatives recently had a stroke. They were lucky to have survived but the amount they much "cost" is staggering. 20 plus pills a day, constant changing of prescriptions & lots thrown out, meal replacement shakes, physio therapy, counselling, free transport to hospital appointments etc.

You only have to look at the US to see this is quite clearly not the case.

But why should I pay more to treat people who don't care about what they eat or drink?

But you can say that about everything. Why should I pay more when I don't have dc or my pension age is older or I don't take drugs, or drive a car or ski etc. 🙄

Why should we pay more for people who know they MustDoMoreExercise?
Or who do dangerous jobs?
Or do adrenaline sports?
Or ride bikes?
Or run with scissors.

Because we're a society.

But we do pay towards the NHS.

true!

I agree with this. A lot of illnesses are self inflected. Someone people are just unlucky but a healthy lifestyle would help lighten the load.

Honestly, people could do more to help themselves. The last time I was in A&E (I had collapsed at work) pretty much 70% of the people in there being attended to were drunk or had got into a fight (two lads arrived with police escort.) Start with Joe Public. We also should be taking more long-term ownership over our health and well-being as individuals so that we can reduce the impact upon the NHS. How annoying to have to deal with people who are so inebriated they’ve thrown bottles in each other’s faces or spent their whole fucking life drinking, smoking & eating shit food whilst doing zero exercise whatsoever - these people then present with serious health concerns at 55+ and to be quite frank, it’s a destiny of their own devising.

The nhs is collapsing because it is not fit for purpose. The nhs was created with smaller population and goals in mind, it can’t continue and we need to accept that and stop throwing money at it. The population is too big now.

Super unhelpful for those people who are ill with things that are nothing to do with those.

Plus victim blaming and supporting the right wing narrative that it's all the fault of ill people.

None of us is immortal. I might feel like it when you're 28 and down the gym every day. Wait till you're 60 with a hereditary breast cancer then pontificate.

It's not just a Tory thing. It's well documented what a shitshow the NHS is in Wales....you know the one run by LABOUR 🤔

• stop expecting it to foot the bill for colds, sex changes, weight loss, addictions, IVF (except in case of infertility) not just because you didn't meet the "one" until you were 40, well man and woman clinics, minor cosmetic procedures, sterilisation and vasectomies.

• start paying to access certain services

• employers obliged to bring in basic private health insurance

• sack whole tiers of admin like roles specifically related to equality and inclusivity

• start seeing the NHS as a basic level service free at the point of use for all - and nothing more. anything non basic incurs a charge via private healthcare

• play football in your 40s and break your leg playing on a Sunday? - You should have private insurance then not free NHS care

Same with things like choosing to ride a motorbike or other high risk activities and/ or hobbies

Tough decisions are required and we need to have a good look at our lifestyles and choices

In the country where I live in, people try to take good care of their health to avoid massive excess bills so clearly it works for some places. No I guess it doesn’t work like that in America but at least they pay for treatment there unlike in the uk.

My mum lived a hedonistic lifestyle. Buggered her body up to such an extent that she lived the last 10 years of her life almost completely supported by the NHS and the state in general.

Why can't we do the same? Because people won't pay the extra. For example in France, the health system is fantastic, but taxation/social charges are higher, and people have a top up insurance policy to cover the % of care fees not covered by the state.

The NHS is collapsing because people are lazy and can’t be bothered to take care of the basics. The responsibility to fix you after a careless lifestyle and a history of self-inflicted abuse should not lie firmly at the door of the NHS. Take responsibility FFS for your health and your lifestyle choices

In America 66.5% of bankruptcies are caused directly by medical expenses, making it the leading cause for bankruptcy. It would be awful if we had this here.

@Lockheart thank you.
Thats the type of stuff I was thinking about when I started this thread.

Can you tell more about
become active in advocating for an improvement in services and pressuring the government to act.
id like to know more about what to do that could make a difference.

Im not sure writing (yet again) to my tory MP is going to make much difference

But if everyone did all of these things it would free up capacity to focus on the people like yourself or the thin guy down the road.

Living to a Ripe old age doesn't generally mean years or decades being supported by NHS or social care

Only 1 in 10 people seem t require care home care for example

The key metric to maximise is years of healthy life compared to overall life
And being healthy maximises both

Only 1 in 10 people seem t require care home care for example

But what about care in the home?

what is it about the USA though?
Why do they have bad outcomes with an insurance based system when some other countries dont?

People should be forced to take out healthcare insurace. Refusal should result in huge fines and an even bigger hospital bill. Also people coming into A and e to their stomach pumped because they got drunk should have to pay £100 each time

But why should I pay more to treat people who don't care about what they eat or drink?

Whilst I see your point, would you want to be treated if in a car accident? Or if you got cancer? That's what you would be paying for. People do need to take more responsibility, by eating healthy, keeping active, etc, and going to the pharmacy for things that are not for A&E.

Stop voting Tories in would be a good start...