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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:
longfingernails · 03/09/2011 20:10

On the contrary. I support the concept of cheap at the point of use (and free for most stuff).

What I object to, vehemently, is the way that the govermnent actually RUNs hospitals. Thankfully the influence of Whitehall bureaucrats is waning with Foundation Trusts, etc, and will be effectively reduced further under the Lansley plans.

There is no reason why there shouldn't be taxpayer funding covering private provision.

NellieForbush · 03/09/2011 20:10

PIMSoclock Whether you get value for money depends on the care you receive. If it is shit care it doesn't matter how much or little you paid for it - its worthless.

And of course we have no idea how much larygryls will pay in NI and taxes (in his lifetime) either so its really impossible to know if he's getting his moneys worth so to speak.

PIMSoclock · 03/09/2011 20:18

longfingernails NHS trusts became health boards some time ago. The governments may fund hospitals but they certainly do not run them. Perhaps you need to update yourself with current clinical governance frameworks and national safety bodies??!

PIMSoclock · 03/09/2011 20:20

Nellie, you could give the very same argument about private health care.
Pay £250 a month and never use it, that value for money??

NellieForbush · 03/09/2011 20:20

I don't want to knock the NHS too much but feel like people here are viewing it through rose tinted glasses.

A1980 You mentioning "My sister's keeper" reminded me that there is an appeal in my local paper to raise money for a 5 year old boy with CP to have an operation in the US that is not available here or on the NHS. This operation will enable him to walk. His parents are trying to raise £60,000! Shit.

NellieForbush · 03/09/2011 20:28

I'm not proposing a private health care system PIMSoclock but would like to see improvements in the NHS which would make it consistently wonderful (as it should be) not so haphazard. Even those people on this thread extolling its virtues seem to have had their fair share of poor experiences at the NHS. This should be the exception.

PIMSoclock · 03/09/2011 20:32

Nellie
That operation you are talking about is for cerebal palsy spastic diplegia and has limited success soo far.
It's safety is still being assessed but once it has been proven as a safe effective treatment, the surgeons in this country will look for training and equipment to provide it

A1980 · 03/09/2011 20:33

All those people who say the NHS is so shiity, why does it have such a problem with health tourists in that case? It can't be that bad.

NellieForbush · 03/09/2011 20:39

Its all relative isn't it A1980. I mean compared to the 3rd world its better. As someone else said, is the third world really the benchmark we want to use?

SiamoFottuti · 03/09/2011 20:41

Compared to a lot more than the developing world (seriously, 3rd World? Hello 20th century calling, they want their terminology back) its better.

If you want consistently wonderful you're going to have to double your taxes.

EldonAve · 03/09/2011 20:47

I think it needs reform
But it's a huge beast and a massive task

Glitterknickaz · 03/09/2011 20:50

As I said before for those who need emergency care the NHS is fabulous.
If you have a long term condition however which needs treatment through your life, and it's not actually life threatening then you may feel that whilst the will is there to help the money is not.

BalloonSlayer · 03/09/2011 20:56

"to raise money for a 5 year old boy with CP to have an operation in the US that is not available here or on the NHS."

my bolding

So if it is not even available in this country at all, why is its non-availability a failing of the NHS?

BalloonSlayer · 03/09/2011 20:58

"If you have a long term condition however which needs treatment through your life, and it's not actually life threatening then you may feel that whilst the will is there to help the money is not."

I would totally agree with that re the NHS. Could you explain how private health care handles this better?

TheRealMBJ · 03/09/2011 21:03

YADNBU

Until one has seen and experienced both sides of the coin in private medicine as I have (both as patient and practitioner in private as well as SEVERELY underfunded state medicine) it is impossible to fully grasp just how good the NHS. It delivers world class care and research andit helps asses cost effectivity of treatments and will care for every single one of us in the way' valuing each our lives regardless of the money we have in the bank or the car we have on the drive.

TheRealMBJ · 03/09/2011 21:04

Good god, that is badly written. Should read: every single one of us in the same way, valuing each of our lives equally

BoastingByStealth · 03/09/2011 21:05

I'm SOOOO proud of our NHS and think it sets us apart as a civilised country.

I had two complicated pregnancies, and the thought of having to worry about paying medical bills on top of everything else is awful.

To understand the massive difference between us and (e.g.) America's systemof medical insurance, watch Michael Moore's documentary "Sicko"

Fuckthis, I agree: The NHS is bloody wonderful

NellieForbush · 03/09/2011 21:15

It would seem that unless you are TheRealMBJ it is

impossible to fully grasp just how good the NHS

IME it could be wonderful but sadly leaves a lot to be desired.

londonlottie · 03/09/2011 21:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
ScaredyDog · 03/09/2011 21:34

Glad to have started this thread - of course, there will be bad experiences like I said, and I'm not surprised really to have had people disagree with me.

I suppose knowing there is something badly wrong with my foot, knowing it's a weekend and worrying about being seen quickly and effectively has focused my thoughts about the NHS.

I've had bad experiences, as have family members.

But sitting here with a foot looking like a slab of meat, and despite that knowing that it looks and feels better than it did four hours ago, I'm very grateful.

I'm also very grateful for my nan's breast cancer treatment and her continuing excellent care for Parkinson's.

For her partner's care for his heart and lung problems, for the hospital who delivered my niece and looked after her mum.

For my mum's care when she had a seizure last year, and even for helping my boss out last week when he had a disgusting infection in his finger.

I wouldn't like to think of the alternatives if we didn't have our NHS.

OP posts:
Glitterknickaz · 03/09/2011 21:35

The private system couldn't do better wrt long term conditions. I'm just pointing out that there are certain issues with the NHS which sadly do affect people's life outcomes.

That's not to say for a second I'd be without it.

BurningBridges · 03/09/2011 22:37

This seems like an odd debate to me - every time someone comes on and says they've had a bad experience, or several bad experiences, with NHS treatment other posters come back and say oh that's just you sorry to hear that but your bad experience doesn't mean it isn't wonderful. So exactly what bad experience or experiences would make it crap?! Or are we simply saying that any free healthcare is great healthcare?

NellieForbush · 03/09/2011 22:41

OP Perhaps an alternative to think about would be the one described by LondonLottie in the post above your own?

SiamoFottuti · 03/09/2011 22:54

Simple question. Would you rather have:

  1. the level of tax you pay and free access to GP's, hospitals, everything you get with the NHS or
  2. about the same level of tax but a £50 charge to see the DR, £100 to walk into A&E, have to pay for everything for children, full costs of medicines, dentists, opticians...etc etc.
A1980 · 03/09/2011 23:17

If you have a long term condition however which needs treatment through your life, and it's not actually life threatening then you may feel that whilst the will is there to help the money is not.

Glitter, I have a long term endocrine condition that is not life threatening but needs long term treatment. I've had nothing but the best care and follow up properly.

The NHS may not be perfect for thing such as mental health and other non life threatineing conditions but how would private be any better. In fact there is no profit in mental health with private compnaies, it's long term, expensive and they wouldn't give a shit.