first bad personal experience of the privatisation of the NHS

[StealthPolarBear]

A relative has recently had a straightforward op. The OP was done under the NHS in a private setting. Unfortunately there was a problem with the OP, quite a common one I think. The surgeon said there was nothing that could be done then and there because the sodding private hospital didn't have the right equipment. He has to go to A&E tomorrow and then they will assess him and book him back in again for some time next week. In the meantime he is in a lot of pain and discomfort, as well as making himself sick (literally) through anxiety. It will be the same surgeon - the regional specialist - but within the walls of our "failing" NHS - the NHS that picks up the pieces when one of the 'easy' hip replacements and catarct ops the private hospitals churn out goes wrong...
Why does it have to be like this?

well you'll be able to get your own flowers and grapes on the way home, what more could you ask for really

Well if I was angry yesterday I am FUMING today

He spent all day today getting assessed and booked into the NHS system why, exactly?

His op will be carried out in 7 to 10 days

and will be under general anaesthetic

He is almost 80 ffs

All this because they chose to send him to an ill equipped hospital

Oh blimey Stealth, that's awful. Poor man. Sounds as if they must be confident the anaesthesia will be OK, though, otherwise they wouldn't have booked him in?

Do you think? They haven't overwhelmed me with their competence so far

Oh goodness, good luck to your relative, poor man.
FWIW, anaethetists are very good at assessing operative risk. And, as a rule, they are Nice People.
I really hope he will have a better experience all round now.

Hope very much it will all go extremely well from now. So sorry he's had such a rough time.

It has always been that way though. When I was a child and (and profoundly deaf) I needed operations on my ears but there was a waiting list well over 12 months long. Mum & Dad thought about going private but were advised against it by my mate's dad (who was Director of Public health for the county) who pointed out that whilst I could probably be seen the next week, if anything went wrong I'd be blue-lighted to the local NHS hospital in the next town. I waited the year to see the consultant,, although once I'd seen him I was teleported to the top of the list and was in the next day!

private is lovely if it works but a nightmare if there are complications.

I'm minded of when I used to work in one particular NHS Hospital (although to be fair it was many years ago). We regularly received patients who needed more care from one of the local private hospitals. It was run by nuns and if anything went remotely wrong they dialled 999 and sent the poor patients to us....

(glad you liked the traycloths)

My mum was reverse barrier nursed on the NHS in a private setting. She had no white blood cells and virtually no immunity. The NHS rooms (full) had specially filtered air and were cleaned twice a day. The private room had carpet (even in the bathroom) and a rotting window. Worst of all, the nurses employed at the private location were not properly gowned and did not wash up immediately before seeing her. She caught an infection that caused her hand to swell up beyond all use and made her extremely ill. Her central line got infected too and needed to be taken out. I ended up explaining the care she'd had on the other ward and eventually she got it.

It still brings tears to my eyes remembering seeing her so sick and knowing how much better off she had been in the NHS hospital.

"their" priorities.

Managing waiting lists by permitting NHS operations to be carried out in the private sector is a Labour initiative from 2004 (as are the systems for assurance on clinical standards etc).

So the priorities being castigated are those of the previous administration. I've posted elsewhere about the worries expressed by BMA about clinical governance - I hope they find room in the latest proposals to improve on what was inherited.

SPB: I really hope it all works out for your relative.

I forgot to wish your relative the best. I hope he receives the care he needs this time.

Totally agree with you.

I had IVF in a very plush private hospital with an excellent reputation. All fine and dandy until I got severe OHSS(can be deadly). Talk about running round like headless chickens. They had no facilities what so ever,not even an ambulance(funny none of this is mentioned in the glossy brochures).We were told if they brought their van round to get me to A&E it would take too long so I was bundled into a car and collapsed in a heap at the very busy local NHS teaching hospital who were bloody fantastic.

They immediately assessed what was wrong,I had blood tests with results instantly,whisked off to high dependancy ,scanned within an inch of my life,hooked up to all the drugs I needed within a couple of hours.The top consultant in the field gave up his Sunday to come in and treat me when called.

Said private hospital sent me a huge bunch of flowers a few weeks later

I find all the NHS reform stuff terrifying.

All sounds dreadful for you to be going through and I do hope your relative isn't in too much pain while he's waiting.

As for privatisation of the NHS- the worst idea I can imagine. What makes me most cross is that no-one seems to understand that the NHS is simply a political pawn. The current government want reform (it won them the election, oh no wait, it didn't). By the time it's planned, organised and implemented at ground level you can bet your bottom dollar the coalition won't bloody well be in government anymore.

So some other bloke in a suit will come along and propose some other hair brained way to 'improve' the NHS to win votes. Honestly, we spend so much time jumping through hoops improving our service in accordance with new government that its a wonder anyone gets treated. When will people understand that the best way to improve the NHS is to bloody well leave it alone to get on with what it does best!

wow didn't realise this had had so many replies! Some horrifying stories here - makes you realise that "hospitals" aren't always what you expect.
Anyway, some good news! He is having his op in the morning :) So all being well he should be home and recovering by Friday,

hey Stealth, how's he doing?

Re. NHS privatisation, apparently all the medical organisations, like the BMA/RCN and the Royal College of GPs, are demanding that the duty to provide a comprehensive, free health service to the whole population is reinstated - that's a pre-condition of them offering any support at all to the government. I do hope they succeed.

Feel a bit sorry for Andrew Lansley, though - he's being blamed when actually this all stems from Lib Dem demands that were written into the coalition agreement. It was the Lib Dems who insisted PCTs were abolished. If Lansley had been able to do clinical commissioning without tearing apart the existing structures, the reforms might actually have been OK...

Stealth have just seen this, your poor relative
And no YADNBU - absolutely shocking :(

He got out on Friday. Mum has been to see him and says he's OK, but I haven't had a chance to talk to her so I don't know the details. Thanks everyone :)

Very glad to hear that, Stealth, loads of good wishes for a swift recovery.

thanks edam :)