AIBU to think that most of us take the NHS for granted?

[Kampeki]

My niece has recently given birth to twins. They were born prematurely, and both have had breathing difficulties. She and her husband are from a small rural community, and they have very little money. So far, they have exhausted all of their savings to keep the babies in intensive care, as well as all of the savings of her husband's extended family. If we were not able to send them money from here, she would have to take them home.

My dd spent a week in the special care baby unit after she was born, and it was a horribly stressful time, but I didn't even give a second thought to how much her medical care was costing. I took it for granted that she would get the support that she needed.

My niece and her babies will get the help that they need, but I wonder how many other women around the world are forced to take their premature babies home because they can't afford to stay in hospital.

Made me realise how very lucky we are. We must never let the government take our NHS away.

I don't think we do take it for granted; most people I know are hugely appreciative of the services and support offered by our NHS.

I do think it's shocking when you have friends and family abroad who have to pay for insurance or risk not having treatment for life-threatening illnesses, though. We have friends in the USA who've had similar hearing problems to DS1. DS1's operations have cost us nothing while our friends in the US have had to teach their child sign language and are still saving for his the first operation (DS1 has had three so far and his hearing is as good now as it'll ever be). It's utter madness.

Bloody hell that's awful You're probably right though. Bad press, bad experiences, money wasting for silly reasons and excutive salaries - that's all we get fed BUT

My sister is in America so I am all to aware of what happens if you don't have free healthcare. I personally, have been very ill this year and the immuno-suppressants I need to take weekly to stop my body attacking itself cost upwards of £500. I am eternally grateful but I know others have had a bad time as it is so inconsistent.

Sometimes until you are put in a position of something not being 'free' do you realize how much you took it for granted. God, I hope that never happens.

Also, what a lovely family you are, helping out your niece and her DTs. It's a gift they'll be grateful for the rest of their lives (which isn't at all why you're doing it, I know, but what a gift to be able to give). To you all, and I hope they're home safe and strong soon.

Hope the babies are home and better soon.

I think a lot of people do take it for granted. Not so much for the big things but for little things that could be dealt with at home or with a trip to the chemist.

If we are to keep it we need to massively overhaul it and stop giving away so many freebies and start implementing small charges for things and getting shot if management.

I say this as someone with chronic physical and mental health problems

OP, I think when something major happens, people do appreciate the NHS, but for low level stuff many people don't appreciate it - look at missed GP and hospital appointment stats, and the number of threads on here complaining about the fact that some aspects of healthcare (teeth and glasses mainly) aren't 100% free

Personally I don't think the NHS in its current format is sustainable or desirable.

I have never taken it for granted. Do most people really?

Tend to agree Lunch if we are going to be able to keep it in any form at all. The growing population must put extra strain on the whole thing.

Perhaps we need to bring in charges akin to dentistry for gp level procedures and minor surgery etc

Stop the free prescriptions entirely. Get a prepayment card.

When trialling medications ffs doctors don't prescribe a whole months worth in one go if there is a chance after 2 weeks it needs changing

Free meds at discharge from a&e, why?! Ive got so many pain meds from them my gp actually asked why I hadn't had my prescription refilled recently...

NHS emergency care is absolutely fabulous. Those of us who have always been covered by it absolutely take that for granted though perhaps in a good way - we are outraged by stories such as that of your niece where financial considerations even enter the process.

I think Mumsnetters are as bad as anyone else for taking it for granted both by taking advantage and by assuming it can be all things to all people. For example, whenever someone comes on in distress she will be very kindly and sympathetically advised to consult her GP with a view to getting a long course (or multiple shorter courses) of counselling/psychotherapy. Now, while I can see that that might benefit many, it fails to take into account waiting lists for such services measured in months if not years, with patients dying before reaching the top of the list. It isn't a given that these services can actually be available to us and if the "one in four" statistic is correct it would be completely unsustainable for everyone with temporary mental health issues to have counselling.

I'm a medical secretary (and ex-nurse). I think a lot of people DO take it for granted actually.

On Thursday this week I booked a full clinic of new/first appointment patients for my Consultant. Not one person turned up!

thenightsky if a whole clinics worth of people didn't turn up are you sure the patients were actually aware the appointment had been made?

I agree with you OP - I think that we do.

Sirzy I've been doing the job long enough to double check addresses and not trust the computer to churn out letters unchecked. My patients get my personal touch. Some of them failed to attend for the second time running, despite me ringing their mobiles the day before!

thenightsky I have to say I have found my DNA rate to have plunged recently - EVERYONE turns up, since we started having a system where people get text reminders the day before their appointment if they have signed up for them. I wonder what's happening with your system. We did find when we were told that the system was sending automatic appointment letters for us, that every letter was informing them about an appointment at the wrong end of the hospital...

I am from another country. My DM had terminal cancer and was in hospital for six weeks prior to her death (on morphine). Her critical cover insurance only covered two weeks and the cost of the hospital bills crippled my family's finances. It was a ridiculous cost per day. I think the NHS is overstretched and under resourced (and don't get me started on people who claim for oilatum, calpol etc on prescription just because they can, not because they have to) but a wonderful, wonderful institution.

anna I've PM'd you.

When I had an awful experience giving birth (no midwife, on a ward with a drunk bloke telling me to shut up as there was no room on maternity, no pain relief despite begging) and afterwards (I was not given stitches as there was no one available, suffered vaginal prolapse and put on an eternal waiting list for repair surgery) everyone including family told me I should be grateful for the NHS.

I am grateful for the NHS. I am not grateful for the way it has been cut and cut to the point people are suffering terrible care and made to feel like they're at fault if they dare complain about it..

Yanbu, sometimes I read threads on here about people wanting to complain about the pettiest problem and I just think how ungrateful and ignorant.

I agree. And it's not just the emergency care or life saving stuff. There are charities in America providing sight tests and glasses for children.
We are so very very lucky!

Anne l too had a very shit experience of giving birth on the nhs which has made my opinion of the nhs very skewed.

When l was at my absolute most vulnerable l couldn't find one person to give a shit about me and l just cant get over that. My gp is fine as long as I'm assertive with her.

Never taken it for granted and especially as my mum has been a nurse for over 30years and the abuse she put up with