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Original poster

NHS in a state

204 replies

Feellikescrooge · 23/12/2014 17:06

My DF is in his mid 80's and my DM died in April and my DB died suddenly ( road traffic accident) in October. Two weeks ago he went to his GP feeling very unwell. She called an ambulance and sent him to hospital they sent him home late that night, the first I knew was a call from my DF in a taxi because he didn't have enough cash, I had only left him an hour before.

Next morning he attends his regular dialysis appointment and the staff there are so concerned they call for medical backup and he is transferred to A and E at the end of the session. Again he is sent home in the middle of the night without my sister or I being contacted.

The following day I call in at about 10 am and find him on the floor unable to get up, a man who a week before was walking 4 miles plus a day with his dog. Again he was admitted and this time he was kept in. Last Thursday he had a heart attack and was transferred to the CCU. Yesterday he was sent home, when I got there I said to the nurse he did not seem well enough and she shrugged and said that beds were being cleared for Christmas.

I insisted Dad stayed with me and heard him calling at 3am terribly poorly. He was blue lighted to hospital and is now in Intensive Care having been given the Last Rites. I know they are under pressure, my DH was a GP, but surely there is something dreadfully wrong if people as sick as my Dad are being continually sent home.

OP posts:
GraysAnalogy · 23/12/2014 23:16

Funny really how all you've banged on about is money elephants. You'd think you were privately funding every sodding procedure and prescription from the way you're talking.

We all pay for the NHS.

hiddenhome · 23/12/2014 23:17

Where did I say children are adults? Confused

HelenaDove · 23/12/2014 23:18

You said that children should have to pay. Go back and take a look.

handcream · 23/12/2014 23:19

Nagy - you are assuming that the older person only has their pension, not in all cases. Inheritance, lack of willingness to spend money, I know a good few relatives and people around the area who wouldn't dream of paying for anything that they think they can get for free.

The poor pensioner struggling by on the state pension indicates that they probably haven't worked, we cannot keep supporting people and the choices they make in life where the NHS is concerned.

I cone from a generation where women worked far more than they did 40 hrs ago and I have taken personal responsibility to get my own private pension.

Happyringo · 23/12/2014 23:19

I think elephantspoo just has an axe to grind and is enjoying winding people up, so I'm not going to read or respond to it.

hiddenhome · 23/12/2014 23:19

I think you'll find it was another poster who said they. You go and look Hmm

BakewellSlice · 23/12/2014 23:20

handcream many people on the state pension have worked from a young age.

HelenaDove · 23/12/2014 23:21

The poor pensioner struggling on their state pension means they have probably worked for low wages. You are talking an incredible amount of bollocks on this thread HH

GraysAnalogy · 23/12/2014 23:21

so I'm not going to read or respond to it

I'm going to take a leaf out of your book

hiddenhome · 23/12/2014 23:21

It was handcream that said that.

hiddenhome · 23/12/2014 23:22

Read the bloody thread. I have said none of these things.

HelenaDove · 23/12/2014 23:22

Your post saying that children could pay so now you can pack in the gaslighting!

handcream Tue 23-Dec-14 23:01:44
I think most on this thread agree that the NHS needs to change and throwing endless pots of money at it isn't the answer.

Fwiw - I would stop the following - we just cannot afford it

Stop health tourism

EU residents not allowed to use the system for 2 yrs. if they really are as some claim young healthy people they will have little need of it

Put the drunks in a special holding area. Charge for their care. Everyone will claim they have no money....

Don't make prescriptions free for all, why should children not pay, why is there a view that the elderly shouldnt have to pay either.

Charge people for missed appointments

Stop treating the NHS as the Holy Grail. It's a free system that is abused again and again.

Make nursing a career with more student places. Bring in immediate English tests for all nurses. Not being able to speak perfect English is an accident waiting to happen.

Stop ivf treatments

Stop gastric band surgeries. We need to take responsibility for our size.

handcream · 23/12/2014 23:23

My Fil retired from the NHS at 60. His pension alone puts him in the higher rate tax bracket. It really cannot continue...

HelenaDove · 23/12/2014 23:24

Oh beg your pardon. Sorry Though in my defence there are so many spouting hateful crap about ill people pensioners and children on this thread it blurs into one after a while.

handcream · 23/12/2014 23:24

Think I might have said children should pay, why shouldn't they? The NHS needs to change, there cannot be great chunks of the population who think they don't have to...

hiddenhome · 23/12/2014 23:24

Today 23:01 handcream

I think most on this thread agree that the NHS needs to change and throwing endless pots of money at it isn't the answer.

Fwiw - I would stop the following - we just cannot afford it

Stop health tourism

EU residents not allowed to use the system for 2 yrs. if they really are as some claim young healthy people they will have little need of it

Put the drunks in a special holding area. Charge for their care. Everyone will claim they have no money....

Don't make prescriptions free for all, why should children not pay, why is there a view that the elderly shouldnt have to pay either.

Charge people for missed appointments

Stop treating the NHS as the Holy Grail. It's a free system that is abused again and again.

Make nursing a career with more student places. Bring in immediate English tests for all nurses. Not being able to speak perfect English is an accident waiting to happen.

Stop ivf treatments

Stop gastric band surgeries. We need to take responsibility for our size.

----

Read the poster's name you illiterate arse Hmm

HelenaDove · 23/12/2014 23:27

HelenaDove Tue 23-Dec-14 23:24:20
Oh beg your pardon. Sorry Though in my defence there are so many spouting hateful crap about ill people pensioners and children on this thread it blurs into one after a while

Im NOT illiterate. But i am teetotal Unlike many on here!

handcream · 23/12/2014 23:28

Helena -what would you change. I have come up with some ideas. Not all will be popular but why do you think older people and kids are a special case.

Not all pensioners are short of money...

piggychops · 23/12/2014 23:31

In Scotland we have minor ailments clinics at the chemists. It saves tying up the docs time and would really work well in England. Those entitled to free prescriptions can see a pharmacist for medication, a script is issued which you sign and get treatment for free, e.g. calpol, verucca treatment, conjunctivitis treatment, hay fever meds.etc
This really frees up the doctor's appts for more serious stuff.

hiddenhome · 23/12/2014 23:31

Who are you calling drunk?

handcream · 23/12/2014 23:33

I thought Scotland had free prescriptions...

hiddenhome · 23/12/2014 23:34

In my experience (elderly care) the baby boomers and the elderly are very demanding of the GPs time. Quite arrogantly too and often with no good cause. If they can afford it they should be charged.

WellThatsLife · 23/12/2014 23:35

I agree with charging for missed appointments, they are a huge waste of resources.

Prescription charges are another matter, if universal charges are brought in more provision needs to be made for those on low incomes or need multiple medications or have long term conditions.

I am grateful for the nhs, my dd1 has chronic asthma, her monthly medication would probably cost about £100 a month, not including appointments and hospitalisation

hiddenhome · 23/12/2014 23:36

I don't think they could ever charge for children because some parents wouldn't pay out for their meds. Not all parents are decent people.

elephantspoo · 23/12/2014 23:38

I've wrote letters, I've started and signed petitions, I've requested meetings, I've reported incidents, I've gone to councils, I've supported strikes, I've met with unions, I've been to court for patients, I've changed jobs, I've been SUSPENDED for demanding change.

WE HAVE TRIED. There's absolutely fuck all we can do now except offer the best care we can do within the limitations we have been set, and keep on doing the above despite being ignored, shouted at, ridiculed and shot down at every effort.

Then I commend you for your efforts. The system is indefensible. It is also unsustainable. I wonder why we never see NHS staff actually telling the truth on TV, in them media? I can only assume that you signed away your right to honesty and truth when you decided to dance with your particular devil, but like the Official Secrets Act which I have signed, your right to tell the truth to the public is protected in law.

At least if staff were willing to be honest and transparent about the goings on in the NHS, we may see change. Let's face it, it will only change by one of two means. Either the public will outcry and the Government will reform the system (read sack everyone and privatise), or the staff will outcry and the Government will reform the system (sack everyone and privatise). The public are quickly becoming appalled at what they see as abuse and waste of THEIR money.

No I don't work in journalism, and I have quit my job in the past because I was unwilling to act immorally towards the public.