AIBU to think everyone has an NHS horror story?

[corygal]

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.

Thinking about these positive messages, it looks as if those with desperate conditions are helped enormously but if one has a broken stubbed, black toe or a pain somewhere, it doesn't receive the attention it finishes up needing.

I have to day though that my son came home from school and sat looking pale, went to bed with what he thought might be 'flu'. After a couple of days, I called our doctor who went to the bedroom to look at DS. Two minutes later and he's downstairs, on the telephone asking for an ambulance because of a case of meningism and he hadn't seen a case for 10 years. We are, in the main, lucky to live here (if we pay our National Insurance).

My ds nearly died in childbirth because of doctor shortages.
My dad did die because of ineptitude and seeming lack of care on the ward he was in. By the time he got to the HDU the staff were very good, but that was just too late.
If I ever get ill, or give birth again, it will be at home, because frankly I fancy my chances better there.

I am a passionate supporter of the NHS, but think the way it is run is shocking. And I work in Healthcare,

I have had mixed experiences:

The NHS saved my baby's life when he was born with a heart defect and I cannot praise the BRCH enough for what they did for him and for us.

However, 2 years later I suffered a ruptured appendix, got peritonitis and was told by a very unpleasant lady GP who came to see me at home, that my agonizing pain was just period related and to take paracetamol

My DH took me to A&E eventually and I had emergency, life saving surgery that night. If we had taken her advice I would quite possibly not be here now...

sadie33 I don't even want to think about no NHS. DS's treatment would've bankrupted us if we'd had the US equivalent. Five weeks in hospital, two surgeries for CSF drains, five hours of neurosurgery, twelve MRI scans, six weeks of radiotherapy, two years of growth hormone and 17 years of paediatric oncology and endocrine follow up appointments and related blood tests. He still has follow up appointments as they want to learn from survivors what they did right. The NHS ain't perfect but we are so lucky to have it.

sadie what makes me really cross about your post is the 'put up and shut up' attitude.

The alternative is not no NHS - it's a better one.

And yes, I have spent most of my life abroad and lived in countries with different medical systems. The NHS is not, IME, the best out there. When so many people do have horror stories, why not try to change things?

One day, maybe, you will be the one lying in pain with people ignoring you - and then you won't be so keen to dismiss others.

And Busters, my sister has a very similar story.

Except, we grew up in the US.

Doctors in most places are decent, caring, hardworking people. It's not individual HCPs in my belief, but the system. The NHS is not the best system out there (the US one definitely isn't!) and I don't understand why people are so resistant to trying to improve it.

Well, I'm glad I don't live in America. But I did feel hugely let down when DS2 was ill for months. In and out of hospital. I was dismissed as an over-anxious mother (he was my third child so not exactly PFB).

After over 5 months of tests, MRI scans, lumbar punctures, blood tests, etc, a Neurologist admitted DS2 to a hospital. He had cancer. Leukaemia. It was missed in the initial blood tests. I received an apology and was told that systems would be put in place to ensure it never happened again.

DS2 has just finished chemo. I hope to God the delay in his diagnosis won't mean it comes back, or else I'll go after the NHS with guns blazing.

On the other hand, the NHS saved my life. Emergency hysterectomy due to internal bleeding. I wouldn't be alive today without them.

I have horror stories but then I also have really good stories.

Swings and roundabouts.

And at least we aren't lumped with a massive medical bill at the end of it

Forgot to add, OP, I'm so sorry for whatever happened to you. x

I don't disagree for a moment that it could be improved RevoltingPeasant I see doctors being prevented from prescribing life saving or life changing drugs by NICE. Today there have been reports of a woman denied eye injections that would cost £800 to stop her from going blind. But NICE only calculate the cost in NHS terms. No one seems to calculate the whole cost to the taxpayer of letting someone go blind and the support required thereafter in terms of DLA, rehabilitation, the RNIB training and giving that person a guide dog and possibly Access to Work paying for support to enable a person with visual disability to remain in paid employment.

To me it is utterly disgraceful that NICE do not consider all these factors and only look at the cost of medication. This has been a government failing for years and I'm tired of trying to raise it. The government is supposed to be full of very clever people, why the fuck haven't they worked out that it should be total social cost versus medical cost yet?

sorry for your loss, but like many others i only have positive experiences.
ds2 would not be here without the care & skill of the NHS, he will need the care of the NHS for the rest of his life & 10 yrs on & with constant nhs involvement as in & out patient, clinics, diagnostics & therapies i cannot fault them.
dh & my dad have both had their fair share of NHS use over the last couple of years & again both have received faultless care.