Positive experiences using the NHS lately?

[Pinkstuffs]

I’m not trying to be goady by posting this. But there is a lot of doom and gloom associated with the state of the NHS and if you were there it must be frustrating if you’re trying so hard and only seeing negativity.

When it works, I also think the care we can receive, free at the point of delivery, is pretty excellent.

I have had two great experiences with the NHS this week. First I called 111 at a weekend concerned about my DS 9 months. We were away from home visiting family. They referred me to see a clinician, who called me immediately and arranged a gp appointment within 30 minutes - I had him seen to, prescription in hand, within an hour of first calling 111 and on a weekend.

I called my gp yesterday morning with symptoms of tonsillitis, was triaged and a gp called me back after 10 mins, prescribed antibiotics based on my symptoms over the phone and I picked them up 20 mins later.

Surely I can’t be the only one?

I called my GP surgery this morning concerned about my toddler. Saw an advanced nurse practitioner this afternoon - examined, diagnosed, prescription provided. Our surgery is great with children though and will always fit them in. We don't live in a city which likely makes a difference.

My DS (21) has kidney failure thanks to a genetic condition. He'll be having dialysis soon and ultimately a kidney transplant. The renal team have been brilliant from the start and are coordinating his treatment well. For instance he's severely anaemic, so a nurse is coming to the house on Monday to give him an injection and teach him how to administer future injections himself. His dialysis is being planned in advance, which will involve minor surgery and then teaching him how to dialyse at home. The NHS delivers all the equipment he needs for this (boxes of the stuff). In the meantime, he's on the waiting list for a kidney (coordinated by the NHS) and they are currently testing family members to see if anyone is a match and can donate a kidney.

As a family we've had day to day issues with the NHS, such as difficulty getting GP appointments. For 'big stuff' like this though, it really comes into its own.

Me and DH were just talking about this this morning. We've both noticed our recent interactions have been a lot better than they were between 1 and 5 years ago. We've been able to make appts at the GP surgery, DH recently got diagnosed with high BP following an infection and within 2 weeks he's had a load of blood tests, an ECG and an US of the infected area, each appt he's shown up, been waiting a couple of mins, been seen and been out within 15 mins of showing up. This is across our GP surgery our local hospital and a medical centre that do the ultrasounds.

Compared to a year ago when getting an appt was as easy as finding unicorn shit and if I did finally get one I knew to take a book and a drink because it would be delayed by a couple of hours, and it does seem like there's been a big improvement.

Dh has cancer and his treatment has so far been excellent,very unlike the lack of emergency treatment a family member had during lockdown which left them paralysed.

I had a short stay in hospital recently which I was dreading but the care was so fantastic I'd have happily stayed a week- made up for the fact I'd waited 18 months for an emergency op which should've been done within 6 weeks.

My nearly 10 month old daughter needed A&E last week, she was seen within 15 minutes of being there and the care we received was absolutely amazing, I really can’t thank them enough they were brilliant.

Same with our GP, she’s had to see the GP twice and both times we had an appointment within 1 hour of calling.

I had my smear last year, got a call with the results 5 days later despite that being a Saturday and had my Colposcopy appointment the Monday after. I really couldn’t have asked for any better care or quicker!

Had breast changes- seen by GP who thought non-concerning/cancerous but a bit unusual so needed reviewing in the Breast Clinic. Referral submitted and department phoned within a week to offer an appointment in 2 weeks time. Arrived early for the appointment but was seen almost immediately by nurse practitioner who examined, diagnosed and prescribed all by my actual appointment time. I hate accessing health care for myself but went very smoothly this time.

We're so lucky with our surgery. They've really used the online system to streamline everything. I filled in a form last week about having sore finger joints. Phoned two hours later, given an appointment the following morning. Had my meds by lunchtime and an appointment for X-rays next week. They're wonderful.

Father in law 85 moved 160 miles and has new very modern large GP practice- can now get his prescriptions on site same day and self refer for physio on site- he's very impressed!!

I've always had a great experience with Children's A&E - treated severe burns from school glue gun, suspected sepsis, along with a couple of dehydration issues caused by vomiting bugs. This is over 14yrs, two children. Last one recently was suspected ankle break, but only ligament damage. Reasonable wait times.

Paramedics have attended my son twice / plus GP for anaphylaxis to check he was ok after I administered EpiPens. Arrived within 5 minutes of call with 999 operator feeding them updates whilst on the phone with me. Awesome and I made sure I told them how grateful I was.

My cat bit me early on Sat morning. Phoned 111 at 7am and gave details, they referred me to walk-in at 9am (my choice of time), I arrived and they had all my details from 111, was in and out in 20 mins having been tetanus jabbed and given a box of antibiotics (I didn’t even need to go to the pharmacy).

Around the same time, I contacted my GP about post-meno bleeding, was called back within 48 hours at a time notified in advance by text, an appointment the next week to have my coil removed, referred to gynae, the appt came through by text the next morning. Seen less than 2 weeks later (arrived early and was seen early), biopsy results (clear) a few days later, at the weekend, via NHS app, everyone kind, polite and efficient.