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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder how long it will be before the NHS ceases to exist?

112 replies

DuchessofNorks · 08/05/2015 19:24

3 years? 5 years? How long will it be before those deemed "rich" enough will have to pay through the nose for health insurance?

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 08/05/2015 22:29

With Dentists, if they charge and you refuse, you can discharge yourself and go to another practice. It is more difficult to find ones that take on NHS patients but there are other dentists.

hiddenhome · 08/05/2015 22:30

I agree with discharging dna's

People with memory problems are a challenge.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 08/05/2015 22:31

We're luffley aren't we Grin

And rare. And getting rarer.

ShouldIworryornothelp · 08/05/2015 22:31

Podiatrists are amazing. My dc go to one because of flat overpronated feet. Because of early and continued podiatry care we may have solved a life of joint pain. Hopefully!

hiddenhome · 08/05/2015 22:32

Oh and they liberated me from my evil ingrown toenails which I'd had for 15 years! I still can't get over the lack of pain Grin

hiddenhome · 08/05/2015 22:33

Yes, I have a soft spot for the podiatry dept.

hiddenhome · 08/05/2015 22:35

Especially soft are the tops of my toes which are nail free Grin

Allwayslookingforanswers · 08/05/2015 22:35

Read the history of Southampton hospital. Maybe the NHS are not always best placed to run services?

hiddenhome · 08/05/2015 22:37

Some places are good and some are bad.

You'll find this anywhere.

Our local hospital and GP services have been fine so far. I'd gladly pay higher taxes for this service.

IndyBindy1 · 08/05/2015 22:38

I was at the reception desk picking up a prescription today and the two patients (both elderly) behind me were talking about having to rebook their appointments as they had 'forgotten' their last ones. One had been gardening and the other shopping. So that's four appointments in total for two people when you have to wait a couple of weeks to be seen. They were chuckling about it, made me so cross but, as has been said, people don't value something they see as 'free'.

I think the NHS needs to reign in the surgeries and other services it offers. Is difficult to say how, but I don't think weight loss surgery should be on the NHS. Also, breast enlistments/reductions can be paid for with loans. If it is that important to you and would change your life that much then you need to be willing to work for it, not presume that the NHS will cover the cost. I'd like a new car but I don't expect others to fund it.

hiddenhome · 08/05/2015 22:43

See, in my harsh world, if they've been shopping and gardening, they ain't really sick. Cheeky beggars.

JohnCusacksWife · 08/05/2015 22:44

The amount of waste in the NHS must be astounding though. If that could be rectified it might go some of the way to addressing funding problems.

My DH was due to have routine surgery. The first attempt was a farce and are sitting in a ward, prepped for surgery for 10 hrs the OP was cancelled. He then had no less than 5 alternative apps made, each of which were cancelled by them. Then the 6th appt card came through the door but the date wasn't suitable so my DH called to cancel. He called at least half a dozen times, it always went straight to answer m/c and each time he left a message saying he couldn't make it and asking them to confirm the cancellation. He never got a reply. On the day of the supposed operation he got a call from the hospital asking him where he was! No private business would ever survive with that level of incompetence and inefficiency.

GraysAnalogy · 08/05/2015 22:45

70% of tenders went to private companies between 2013-2014.

I used to do tenders for a company that competed with the NHS.

Businesses can offer what nhs providers cannot, at cheaper prices. BUT that means the NHS loses it's patient centred values. It loses everything it was supposed to be; because it's being led by businesses who's aim is to profit.

GraysAnalogy · 08/05/2015 22:46

john there is a shocking amount of waste.

We (front liners) have come up with ideas to help. We're apparently encouraged to do this and get magical gold badges if we do. They're nearly always ignored though.

hiddenhome · 08/05/2015 22:48

I encounter a lot of wastage due to medication being prescribed in error etc.

You honestly wouldn't believe the waste per month. It's awful. Makes me cross and frustrated.

ShouldIworryornothelp · 08/05/2015 22:49

Operations get cancelled due to emergencies coming in.

I have caused many a routine op to get cancelled for which I truly am sorry

JohnCusacksWife · 08/05/2015 22:50

Grays, all the more reason things have to change. Where's the incentive for anyone in the public sector to be more efficient/effective? They get paid regardless of outcome/customer satisfaction etc. I have no time for arguments about underfunding when there's clearly so much waste in the current system. Why throw good money after bad?

ShouldIworryornothelp · 08/05/2015 22:51

Medication does me in

Try this for 2 weeks but have a 6 week prescription. Not working. Try this instead.

hiddenhome · 08/05/2015 22:53

I had to stop my essure procedure half way through as they didn't use an anaesthetic and I was in too much pain Sad I was conscious of the waste of money, but it was unavoidable. It was like torture Confused

JohnCusacksWife · 08/05/2015 22:53

Should, I understand that but that wasn't the case in my DHs case. The consultant just decided to switch her list around and as a result ran out of time. It was a shambles from start to finish.

hiddenhome · 08/05/2015 22:55

We're regularly delivered medication that clients have been taken off.

Everyone is on osteoporosis prevention, even the immobile bedfast clients Hmm

Pure carelessness and stupidity.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 08/05/2015 22:56

there was a programme a while back about gastric bands. I was Hmm but watched it.
I'm (judgily) thinking "Well no-one goes to bed a normal weight and wakes up weighing 26 stone" prepared to tear the programme to pieces.
The Surgeon said "This operation cists £5000. The next step for patient Mr Y is insulin, which costs the NHS £1000 a year, so this operation have saved that."
Also heart, joint, asthma, problems related to obesity.

I think - vasectomy reversal ,cosmetic surgery (especially repair of 'botched' private cosmetic surgery ) , tattoo removal, most IVF shouldn't be on NHS.

GraysAnalogy · 08/05/2015 23:00

john actually they don't. If we don't hit targets funding is cut, or there's incentives for if we do.

We have one of the best healthcare systems in the world. We will soon be edging towards the US system, which incidentally doesn't rank high at all.

hiddenhome · 08/05/2015 23:03

I often wonder what the uninsured very sick and terminally ill do in the US. Do they just shove them in a bed in the corner and let them die in agony? It's barbaric.

We desperately need to value the NHS and quit taking the piss by misusing it Sad

hiddenhome · 08/05/2015 23:05

It's strange how people destroy things then cry when they're gone. It's how a small child behaves and then reacts.

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