So fed up of nhs waiting times

[elliejjtiny]

Not put this in AIBU because I know I am. But I am so fed up. Ds2 has an infection. He's had 2x antibiotics for it and I have an appointment with a nurse this afternoon where I think we will end up with another course of antibiotics. He has a referral to a paediatrician but not until December. My ds3 has been on 2 courses of antibiotics and he is one month in to a 2 year waiting list to have his tooth pulled out. I feel like I've always got at least one child on antibiotics. Ds4 has also been waiting for an operation for 3 years now and it's been cancelled twice.

I know it's not just me and there are other people who have it much worse but it's so frustrating. I can't afford to go private and ds4's operation was rejected by the private hospital anyway. They were trying to reduce the waiting list by doing some at the private hospital. We had a date and everything but the private hospital said no when he had the pre op. It was so annoying because I had asked the consultant specifically if they would be able to do it and he said it would be fine.

As predicted, ds2 is on his 3rd lot of antibiotics in less than a month.

I know its a shambles, I hear you. It's just they are in constant crisis mode because of 14 years of underfunding and shit decisions from the top. It's going to take just as long to fix it in my opinion. It's not the staff it's the situation they've been put in, imagine how that must affect morale.

But yes patients suffer - they absolutely do. What a bloody shit show.

I know your DS2 has an appointment in December, but you can ring the department and see if there are any cancellations before that. My DS1 needed a tonsillectomy and the letter gave me an appointment to see ENT in 5 months. I rang and they'd had a cancellation that morning! You might get lucky.
I feel for you though. My DS1 was on back to back antibiotics for almost a year. And missing so much school.

Thank you both. I do feel for the staff as well, it must be horrible for them.

I'll try ringing for a cancellation and hopefully I will get lucky.

Thank you both. I do feel for the staff as well, it must be horrible for them.

I'll try ringing for a cancellation and hopefully I will get lucky.

Well, back in 1996, the NHS refused grommets for my DS, aged 15 months because his speech was well developed and the average child catches up by age 7 in any event. 11 ear infections between 8 months and 16 months. It was dreadful. We had to pay.

It was exactly the same for dd in 2000!

Has nothing to do with the Tories and everything to do with ENT consultants being in it for the private money.

It is awful. It's very frustrating, it feels like your life is being wasted while you wait for an important operation or appointment. One thing I will say though, is if you consider the sheer numbers of people using the nhs it's a wonder we ever get seen!

For example, we're a typical family of four, this year alone we've had 2x MRI, 1x CT scan, 2x XRays, 2x A&E visits, 2x ENT appointments, 3x Orthopaedic appointments, countless blood tests, ECG, physio, many GP appointments and 6x dentist appointments. Once you start looking at extended family, the demand on the nhs gets ridiculous!!!

I hope you get a cancellation, it's always worth phoning but December isn't that far away. Good luck.

@Puppupandaway that must be exceptional though.

DH and I are early to mid 60s. In the last year DH has seen the GP twice regarding blood pressure. I have seen them once regarding some blood test results. I also had a rheumatology appointment and an infusion for osteoporosis. The DC are grown up now but once through infancy, I don't think they saw the GP more than once every five years. Probably five broken bones between them between ages 6 and 18.

We have both seen the dentist and the hygienist twice but that isn't NHS. I have had a flu jab and a covid jab but I had to pay for them.

I got a free eye test and ludicrously despite continuing to work full time, my prescriptions are free.

@Puppupandaway i think that’s extremely unusual though. We are a family of 4 and I’ve been to the Dr once this year for a “well woman” checkup. The kids had flu jabs and haven’t been to the Dr once. I also had a free mammogram because I’m 46. No other tests or medical procedures for any of us.
We have been to the dentist but we pay for that.