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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

260 replies

ScaredyDog · 03/09/2011 15:45

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.

OP posts:
mummymccar · 03/09/2011 16:35

Huge fan of the NHS here. The Doctors and Nurses work so hard and have to put up with a lot of crap. I really wish the government would sort out nurses pay to accurately reflect just how much they do for us. I'm in Wales so we have free prescriptions here too so even better!

vividgingerchilli · 03/09/2011 16:38

I think it is pretty brilliant...and really awful. I have had one awful experience with a misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy "If you have a positive pregnancy test then everything is fine" and "You might have had a miscarriage" and "There is definately no baby" to "Oh we were wrong it's a blighted ovum" and "You were never pregnant" and then recommending a D&C without doing a scan first when I got pregnant again immediately.

OTOH I've been referred to a private hospital and seen by a fantastic consultant, am having an operation at a date that suits me and at a time that makes it easier for me to arrange child care.

You get good NHS staff and bad NHS staff just like you do in all walks of life.

TidyDancer · 03/09/2011 16:43

I'm sorry for what you've gone through Cogito, and I can totally understand why you want to blame the NHS for that. I disagree for obvious reasons though, mainly that bad individuals within an organisation (and granted, you've had more than your share of bad) do not make that organisation to blame.

Again, am so sorry for what's happened in your family, but the NHS itself is still absolutely fantastic.

scaryteacher · 03/09/2011 16:45

Belgium Iggly, and it works a bloody treat. They are also very thorough, to the point of bluntness sometimes and will dig and dig til they get to the bottom of a problem. They believe in prevention here rather than cure, and the standard of cleanliness is amazing.

Took my Mum into A&E on a Saturday night with a suspected TIA and she was seen immediately, kept in overnight and a follow up cardiology trace done two weeks later. All we had to do was photocopy her EHIC card and take it in.

It's very swept up and efficient and I can't fault it at all.

Iggly · 03/09/2011 16:49

how is it funded in Belgium?

mummymccar · 03/09/2011 16:52

Just read some earlier posts - with regard to private hospitals, 2 years ago my nan went in for a routine knee operation and contracted C-Diff, blood poisoning and a host of other things. The doctors knew she was poorly but discharged her despite the protests of the family. They took her straight to an NHS hospital where the doctors and nurses worked around the click for days to save her life. We are very, very fortunate to have her still with us. We later found out that the doctor who operated on her had been banned from working for the NHS and had several complaints pending against him at this hospital. As far as we are aware he is still working there. Disgusting after what he did to my nan. So private hospitals aren't actually that much better in my experience!

comeonpilgrim · 03/09/2011 16:56

YANBU.

Our MPs all have to vote next week on the biggest proposed changes to the NHS since 1948. Now, I don't think the NHS is perfect (it's pretty bloody good though), but the proposed alternative is very worrying and short-sighted.

You can use this link to email your MP if you are also worried about the future of the NHS.

It honestly takes less than 2 minutes!

Feminine · 03/09/2011 16:58

It is fantastic...I REALLY appreciate it more as I have been in the US for 6 years!

I have had wonderful experiences of healthcare here, but its not available to all ~ and it comes with a price!

It has also taught me not to moan when something has to be paid for by me/us ie dentist. It should be free and easy to find an NHS dentist ,but it is an over stretched institution now and I am grateful for any time something comes 'free' at the point of treatment:)

Animation · 03/09/2011 17:07

Yes I agree, we are soo bloody lucky!!

I love the UK for having a National Health Service.Grin

AlpinePony · 03/09/2011 17:15

Netherlands iggly, for one. Run your eye over a map of northern-western Europe for others.

eaglewings · 03/09/2011 17:18

Friend in India lost her mm to asthma, the dr had written a prescription, family had to get the meds from local pharmacy. By the time it was ready her mum had died in the hospital bed.
The daughter has a bad allergy to nuts but was not able to afford an epi pen so was living on a knife edge. We get epi pens for free.

I've written to a NHS hospital to complain about treatment of my great uncle one new year, not for compensation but because I thought the nurses were too understaffed.

PedigreeChump · 03/09/2011 17:21

I see the very worst parts of the NHS every single day as part of my job. And I still think it is one of the most amazing things about Britain and that we should be extremely proud of it.

MilkNoSugarPlease · 03/09/2011 17:31

YANBU

NHS or private, there will always be the good the bad and the ugly....frankly I thank my lucky stars that we have the NHS

BalloonSlayer · 03/09/2011 17:36

I was talking to my sister in Australia - which supposedly also has 'free healthcare' - about my DS's teeth which are apparently bad enough to be straightened on the NHS. She was Shock - DS1 has a generally nice smile (from a distance) and although his teeth are uneven and crowded don't look at all dreadful. My sister's DS, on the other hand has teeth that really do look awful, plus those ones that grow out of the gums. She reckons it will cost her $7000 to get them sorted.

Both boys have epipens for food allergies. My DN has two - one at school and one for home. My DS has six. Two for school, two for him to carry around in his school bag and another two for home. I offered to pay for the last two but the GP said not to worry, bless him. My sister would like some more but they cost too much and she is a tightarse

Original poster
ScaredyDog · 03/09/2011 17:37

Back from the second hospital of the day :)

Very nice doctor, was scared they would put me on a drip as that's what first hospital suggested, but just got antibiotics for a week.

Three quid to park (bit steep for 20 minutes but hey ho) and the cost of a prescription - as long as the ABs don't make me sick, I'm very happy!

OP posts:
anothabubbla · 03/09/2011 17:46

Yes. YABU.

Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 03/09/2011 17:51

I am having the misfortune of going through a missed miscarraige and the HCPs I saw on Thursday and Friday could not have been kinder to me. My DH and I were treated so well and with a lot of compassion.

YADNBU, OP .

i did have a fucking bitch of a midwife when I was in labour with DS but I cannot slate the NHS because of that rotten, evil woman.

Feminine · 03/09/2011 17:59

There will always be problems with the NHS (or any system for that matter)

But,if you need a doctor you can see one in the UK.

In my neighborhood (in the US) people actually can't afford to even pay for a routine visit.

I think there is probably better universal healthcare being offered in some places ,but those countries have the benefit of not being totally over -stretched.

AfternoonDelight · 03/09/2011 17:59

YANBU

In the past 8 weeks I've been in my doctors surgery at least 8 times for various different things after having DD. The staff there are wonderful, I was seen within 20 mins of calling them when I started getting gallstone pain and I didn't know what it was. I've had numerous prescriptions which I haven't had to pay for due to maternity exemption.

I don't want to even imagine how much all of this would cost me in the US. I really don't understand the concept of, "We've saved your life, here's a bill."

I love love love our system.

larrygrylls · 03/09/2011 18:03

YABU.

The NHS is in the fortunate position of doling out a life saving service. Anyone who has a life saved is absurdly grateful. We certainly were when our 5 week old baby was looked after in intensive care for a few days. However, that is what good doctors (and other HCPs) do regardless of the economic model. The outcome would have almost certainly been the same in any G7 country with modern medicine (and a fair few outside the G7).

The problem with the NHS is we are supposed to feel so honoured to be treated at all, despite the fact that we have actually paid for it through our taxes just like anyone else pays for it in any other model. And no matter how slow it is or how rude the people are, or how disgusting and unhygienic the surroundings, we are told that we are being treated "free" and should be grateful.

Well, sorry, my only good experience of the NHS has been paediatric intensive care. My wife's two births were a shambles, as was her treatment when she had a serious infectious disease while pregnant. And, as for GPs, don't even get me started....

FabbyChic · 03/09/2011 18:12

Considering prescriptions are free in Northern Ireland and they are run by the same government I find it appalling that we have to pay prescription charges.

Oh and as an aside they pay no water rates in NI either or Council Tax.

NellieForbush · 03/09/2011 18:13

YABU.

100% agree with larrygrylls about the idea that it is 'free' therefore we should be grateful no matter what sort of service we receive.

The NHS is at best hit and miss.

There are much better models of healthcare out there - not to compare us to America or the 3rd world - you only have to look to Europe.

Think its a bit ridiculous calling this country 'over-stretched' compared to European neighbours in a similar financial situation to us. Still able to afford to drop cruise missiles on Libya so this argument doesn't really wash with me anyway.

There are some great individuals out there but too many rotten apples for the NHS to be considered 'wonderful'.

quirrelquarrel · 03/09/2011 18:36

It is brilliant.
Especially CAHMS (sp?). Diagnosis-free. Hours spent watching old home videos- no problem. Lovely people- everywhere.
Free for dentist appointments twice a year (ooo but nearly ending! or maybe it's 21 the stopping age...no, I doubt it). Free BC and dermatitis products. When I freaked out over seeing floaters and having migraines, the optometrist couldn't find anything wrong and still kept telling me to come back if I was worried, and spent ages explaining stuff to me and showing me things in books.

quirrelquarrel · 03/09/2011 18:37

Well. It's free for me! And I'm grateful about that...or to my parents, at least.

Robotindisguise · 03/09/2011 18:53

Quite right.

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