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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think everyone has an NHS horror story?

162 replies

corygal · 10/08/2012 22:46

Because I have, and he died. Went from ok to dead in 3 days. Violently. In hospital. The details are so simple, and so distinctive, that I can't out them on yer interweb. But at the inquest the doctors lied. Then lied again in court, as it happens, so no one can talk about it even 5 yrs on as it's still doing the court rounds.

So what has happened to you and the people you know? I'm posting because the expression 'everyone makes mistakes, even dedicated NHS staff' on a current thread has made my teeth itch.

OP posts:
LadySybildeChocolate · 10/08/2012 22:49

My mother was discharged with an infection induced dementia because they hadn't bothered to take basic observations. The following day she fell over at home and shattered her femur. 2 and a half years later she's finally getting a new hip. 2 and a half years of being in constant pain and barely able to move.

I'm so sorry about your experiences and your loss. Sad

Raspberrysorbet · 10/08/2012 22:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sirzy · 10/08/2012 22:50

I don't. I could fill a thread with positive stories but like most things it is the negative stories that people talk about and try to make seem like its the norm.

Dont get me wrong it's awful when things go wrong but the good stories by far outweigh the bad.

FunnysInLaJardin · 10/08/2012 22:51

sorry for your experiences. But no I only have praise for the NHS, for both myself and my family

LemarchandsBox · 10/08/2012 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JammySplodger · 10/08/2012 22:53

Sorry for your loss cory but I also only have had good experiences.

hiddenhome · 10/08/2012 22:54

My late husband was misdiagnosed by the GP and ended up with a spinal cord compression which left him disabled. He died from cancer a year later, but the disability could have been avoided if the GP had referred him to hospital when he went to see him with the large lump on the side of his neck Sad

ds1 has had very poor care and I had to go private to find out he has adhd/aspergers. The GPs have been totally useless in referring us to the right professionals. ds1 is nearly 14 and still suffering socially Sad They have been bloody incompetent and useless regarding his obvious problems. I still don't know how on earth people manage to get an adhd/asd diagnosis for their children because we've suffered for 12 years and still nothing is done.

The podiatry people at the local hospital have been very good with me though. Can't fault them Smile The Sunderland Eye Hospital is also very good, can't fault them either, very professional and well run place.

Whenever I go to the GPs with something, they usually don't know what to do or what it is, so I just diagnose myself and try to find my own treatment/remedy. GP gave my the wrong antibiotics for my kidney infection once.

From what I can see, most doctors and esp. GPs are bloody useless though.

plus3 · 10/08/2012 22:54

Sorry, only good experiences here as well.

LindyHemming · 10/08/2012 22:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Socknickingpixie · 10/08/2012 22:57

sorry for your loss but yabu some people have amazing experances like me, my eldest is alive because of the nhs

rosyposyandc · 10/08/2012 22:57

Numerous bad experiences for me and most people I know so sorry I don't believe the good ones outweigh the bad.

germyrabbit · 10/08/2012 22:58

yes, my dp's auntie died in the late 80s from a routine op

Original poster
corygal · 10/08/2012 22:58

Don't apologise for good experiences! You give me hope, thank you.

OP posts:
TequilaMockinBird · 10/08/2012 22:59

Yes, my late father was sent home from hospital with a chest infection after previously being in hospital with a collapsed lung.

He died from lung cancer a few weeks later Sad

CaveJohnson · 10/08/2012 23:00

Sorry for your loss.

I have only had good experiences bar a couple of nurses that were clearly having not great days. And a doctor who was a bit snotty when my mum asked him to prescribe me antibiotics on my brother's appointment. He told her off Blush I was about ten btw!

Moominsarescary · 10/08/2012 23:03

I have good and bad,

One of the worst was when my great grandma died, shift change over happened an hour later and a hca came in and asked my nana to help turn her ( 28 years ago now) my nana said but she's died. The hca said don't be silly. Noone had bothered to tell them on handover.

This was after days of them calling her the wrong name, giving her the wrong medication, loosing her notes and not giving her any pain relief for hours and giving her sausage and chips to eat when she was on a soft diet.

Goofymum · 10/08/2012 23:03

I have had good and bad experiences. An A&E team saved my life, a surgeon saved my husband's sight but only after the cock up of another doctor. My MIL has had fantastic fast treatment by doctors to give her a hip replacement within 24 hours but then appalling after care by another team. It's all down the the individual and of course the NHS cannot be judged as a whole.

edam · 10/08/2012 23:03

there are horrible tragedies that could have been avoided on the NHS. And in private healthcare, and every other healthcare system, I'm afraid. My lovely Godmother is permanently disabled thanks to crap nursing care after a private operation in a hospital run by a major health insurer - who then had the cheek to chase her for payment. (She paid up, didn't have the energy to argue.)

Friend of mine who has had serious illness in the past has had some very worrying symptoms recently. Now has private health insurance through work. Which is great, but she's having to do all the running around - advisers and even doctors keep asking her who she wants to see, so she's having to do all the research to work it out for herself. While still being no closer to an answer about what is actually wrong. (Private doctor made the appalling mistake of opening discussions about the results of a scan with the immortal line, 'Oh, I wouldn't worry about that unless you've had brain surgery or something...' Obviously hadn't bothered to read the notes because she has indeed had brain surgery.)

TeamGBIWI · 10/08/2012 23:04

I have only positive experiences. Either my own birth stories or that of my mother - who had fabulous care from the oncologists in Leeds. Sadly she died from advanced breast cancer (from an infection, sustained at home), but the care that she received, from her diagnosis through various surgeries and then in intensive care, was second to none. And not only the medical care, but the personal, human care that she had from the nurses, doctors and surgeons.

My dad continues to receive amazing support and care with his diabetes, and a long-term auto-immune condition that he suffers from, as well as having two eye operations.

My eldest son was rushed into hospital last year with quinsy. Thankfully only an over night stay, but dealt with swiftly and with great kindness.

I'm very sorry that your experience wasn't a good one. People do make mistakes, sadly.

I think, though, that YABU.

Unfortunately we tend only to hear about the things that went wrong. For the vast majority of people, things go well/as they should.

CaliforniaLeaving · 10/08/2012 23:04

It's very sad to hear such stories about healthcare no matter where you live.
My family has received wonderful professional care for the NHS whenever anyone has been really ill. We don't have any horror stories and hope we never do.

LadyBeagleEyes · 10/08/2012 23:06

I've also only had good experiences with the NHS.

ladywithnomanors · 10/08/2012 23:06

I'm so sorry for your loss OP Sad
I have only had positive experiences of the NHS. I was employed as a specialist nurse for 5 years and all I can say is that the vast majority of NHS staff are fab but you're always going to get staff that make mistakes.

Bingdweller · 10/08/2012 23:06

So sorry for those who have had awful experiences with the NHS, I can't begin to imagine the depth of grief and anger you must feel Sad.

I'm another one wh is going to speak up for them however and can honestly say in my experience they are wonderful. From my local GP and hospital to the various specialists that look after me in my ongoing treatment with cancer.

I consider myself extremely lucky to live in an area where NHS provision, on the whole, is excellent. Of course there are many exceptions to the rule but my own personal experience has been very positive at a time where I have been scared, confused and in pain.

I just wish that treatment was of a consistently high standard for everybody who needs it.

edam · 10/08/2012 23:07

It's a strange thing but if you ask people their opinion of the NHS, people who have used it recently are more positive than people who haven't. There is a clear statistical difference between those who have been patients in the past year and those who haven't.

Kladdkaka · 10/08/2012 23:09

I was passed from pillar to post for most of my adult life as they tried to cure my depression. Dosed up on every anti-depressant under the sun and put through all types of therapy. Nothing made any difference.

Moved abroad, went to doctors here for repeat prescription, was taken off anti-depressant and referred for assessment as he thought I didn't seem depressed. Found out I was autistic and finally started getting the help and support I'd missed out on for 40 years.

They also assessed my teenage daughter and she is autistic too. NHS psychologists told me many times over the years that there was nothing wrong with her, I just needed to be a better parent Angry

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