To think the NHS is bloody wonderful and that we're very, very lucky?

[ScaredyDog]

I know everyone will have had a bad experience (I know I have) but generally, I think we're so lucky.

I've been to one hospital today as an emergency and been referred elsewhere. I don't have to pay to see a doctor, the staff have been absolutely lovely (which I hope they will also be at the other hospital) and I was seen immediately. We even had a laugh about my ridiculously sized elephant foot :)

I know prescriptions can seem expensive, but really, that's the only bit we pay for upfront so to speak (and most people don't pay for their prescriptions, I'm told).

Hoping for another good experience at the next hospital anyway :) Yay for HCPs and the NHS.

Interesting article, particularly the emails mentioned. I want to read them.

holiday, just gone back and read that link myself - that particular contract in 2006 was pretty bad but it had started way before then.

I remember the Oxford dentist in particular because I turned up for an appt one day and the place was in disarray - so much so, that the receptionist actually told me what had happened without thinking - my dentist had shot himself the night before. This was happening a fair bit around that time (early/mid 1990s) - dentists were in the top 3 professions for suicide risk (not sure whether it was due to mercury madness or money concerns) - I believe in his case it was debt concerns (not, as some of my black-humoured colleagues suggested, that he was avoiding an appt with me ).

So much for the NHS being expensive/drain on the state/unsustainable!

It's cheap, it works for most of us and it's a helluva lot less stressful for individuals not having to deal with insurance companies or means testing.

"it's a helluva lot less stressful for individuals not having to deal with insurance companies or means testing."

Also true. I know that I'd struggle to deal with it when my mental health is bad (when I need medical help most) instead I'd probably bury my head in the sand rather than face dealing with it. When dealing with a single GP seems like a daunting/impossible task, dealing with an insurance company as well sounds terrifying.

No, not "bloody wonderful" I think "adequate" is about it, overall. Older people are routinely neglected, nurses don't always have training in dealing with people with dementia. Quite often those over retirement age come home in a worse condition than they went in. Within my own family there have been victims of the incompetence and neglect that was rife in Staffordshire. There are pockets of excellence but on the whoe - as someone who has contact with the services professionaly as well as on a personal basis it not appropriate to laud its praises.

Thanks londonlottie for sharing your experiences and some of how the system over there works. Really interesting. Sounds like we could learn a lot. Seems so hard for some people to believe that you have a much better system over there than we do. There I said it, its true, thats not knocking the NHS just saying theres room for improvement.

Why so much resistance to the idea that there are huge negatives to the NHS? Even the people on here who think its wonderful relate the disasters that have occurred in the NHS but conclude that they still think its wonderful.

Yes, it has some plus points but 'wonderful'???

And how will it ever improve if we accept shit treatment but later say "well it was all free I'd have paid thousands in America".

Not thinking its wonderful doesn't have to be an attack on an individual or the organisation. Just acknowledgment that it needs some work.

Empusa Is it possible that if you received better care, as a result you may need to access the care less often or not so urgently? For example easier referrals, long term follow up, better community care.

Just wondering.

I think for certain things - some diagnostic scans, some more routine operations etc, private treatment (if you can afford it) can be much quicker than the wait you may have on the NHS but if you are really sick the NHS will look after you. I had a double organ transplant 4 years ago and am on very expensive immunosuppression drugs to stop me from rejecting my new organs. I know of people in America who have a transplant through their insurance companies if they are fortunate enough to have them, but cannot afford to pay for their drugs after therefore losing their transplants. I have had laser treatment to save my eyesight, removal of a kidney etc etc and am fortunate to have some fantastic doctors and nurses who have looked after me. I was incredibly lucky to have the 21st baby in the world born to someone who had my kind of transplant through the fantastic care of the obstetrician, transplant doctors and nurses and midwives at my hospital. I really do think hospitals can vary though and it seems that the 'best' medical staff go to the 'best' hospitals. I am not viewing the NHS through rose tinted glasses though and I have had some very unfortunate experiences. I would be worried though that if we were to adopt some kind of private scheme over here that people like myself who have many medical conditions would have to pay so much more and I would really struggle to afford that. I like the fact that the NHS offers equality to all. My travel insurance to America cost me £400 for 10 days and most private insurance companies over here would not cover me as everything could (in a roundabout way) be related to my transplant and my need for it (type 1 diabetes related). I sincerely sympathise though with people who have had bad experiences with the NHS, it must be absolutely heartbreaking.

nellie Maybe for some of my problems, but not all.

I had a mental health problem which I understand from mn is inadequately dealt with by the NHS. Medication and dla seem to be the answer.

I had 5 years therapy paid for by my insurance. Not once did I need to talk to my insurance company. The first time you use a service e.g., doc, dentist, Physio, private midwife you present your card. They deal with the insurance.