AIBU to be grateful for our NHS?

[EssentialHummus]

No, it's not really an AIBU, but I'd like the traffic.

We hear so much about what's wrong with the NHS, and it's a total political football at the moment.

I spent the morning at a major London hospital - I'm pregnant and have a thyroid issue that needed urgent-ish attention. It was two weeks from GP appointment to specialist. Everyone today - from cleaners to porters through receptionists, phlebotomists and two very experienced consultants - was attentive, friendly and efficient. The lady who drew blood from me did it painlessly. Everything was clean and tidy, with patients seen and attended to as promptly as possible.

There were a few frail older people in the clinic at the same time as me, and the care taken over them was, again, attentive and thoughtful.

If I'd gone private (as I thought I'd have to do to be seen quickly), today's exercise would have cost £350-400 - a month's groceries and petrol for us.

That's it really. If you work for the NHS, thank you. You folks seem to be taking fire from all sides at the moment, but I'm so, so grateful for the care I received today.

That's lovely to hear. No doubt a lot of the replies will be full of people who have had less than satisfactory experiences though.........

The NHS isn't broken, society and social care is.

The NHS bears the burden of underinvestment in social care at a time when we are all living longer and being treated for more complex conditions.

The NHS also bears the tremendous cost of our unhealthy lifestyles. The cost for medication that is effectively treating lifestyle illnesses is immense, from high blood pressure medication to type 2 diabetes and so on.

We need better education on health and care but we also need to accept some personal responsibility. As I society we live in an age of unprecedented access to information that can help us in our decision making and yet at times we exhibit such ignorance.

I'm thankful for the safety net the NHS provides and the fantastic staff who work in it but I'm fearful of the future.

Oh I agree. Between DS and I, we've certainly been appreciating the NHS in last month or so. I've been in the hospital at least once a week for various tests and appointments for us both about various things. Always quick, hardly any waiting around. Staff so friendly and helpful. I dread to think how much all the consultant appointments, scans, blood tests and upcoming MRI scan would cost if we had to pay privately. I'm fact as neither of us are 'ill' the chances are we just wouldn't bother and wait until it's too late/ really serious rather than precautionary investigations and early intervention.

Its awful they are so over worked and under paid. To work under so much pressure and hear so much about the abuse they get is terrible. OK it's not always perfect but it's a million times better than nothing.

YANBU.

The thing is, people complain a lot about the NHS.
I watch a lot of American reality TV, have family who live over there etc. And I can safely say that the only difference between the NHS and a privatised service is that you pay. The wait times for A&E, Drs, Mental Health therapies etc are all the same, but you get a bill at the end. There's the fact that a GP/Consultant can reccomend a service but if your insurance do not think it is necessary, it is denied.
There's the fact that if you have cancer, but forgot to tell your insurance you had a verucca in 1998, they will deny your claim for chemotherapy, even though the 2 are not related.

People say "oh they could afford more HCP's if the NHS was privatised". They could afford them, but as it would then a business, they would rather have that salary in their pockets, so they wouldn't hire them.

I agree with PPs - a lot of NHS resource is spent on dealing with the fact we have a severe social care crisis going on, especially for the elderly.

Then *be a business

I am truely thankful for our NHS, having had three babies at our local hospital, the care I received was great. The only thing I noticed is the lack of staff in the labour ward, but other than that the staff were attentive, friendly and helpful, the lack of staff, I think is mostly down to the government cuts. As someone else mentioned, the NHS is taking the burden of patients with long term health issues, such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure etc. We have also had an influx of health tourists, using the NHS services at the tax payers expense, which I don't agree with.

I agree I'm pregnant and have had recurrent miscarriages and the staff have been kind and compassionate over and above their duty.

I have had private treatment in the past and the bill came to over £1k for a straight forward procedure not including drugs I was prescribed.

We don't realise how very lucky we are till it's taken away from us.

YANBU people can be very ungrateful. The NHS does an amazing job & people need to accept it is a national service not a private service. So sometimes you do need to wait - but most of the time people get looked after really well. I don't know of any other country where you can get everything for 'free' (yes I know we pay taxes but not everyone does and they get the same treatment - rightly so may I add). In most European countries you have to pay to see a GP and for medication. I think the NHS should be celebrated and also respected more. People need to accept that it is not a bottomless pit of money, and not feel 'entitled' in the vein of 'oh I have paid in so I am jolly well going to get my money's worth' even if it means resources are wasted.

Poppyfleur has hit the nail on the head. I am a nurse and also proud to work for the NHS. As a patient I have had treatment for MS that costs thousands and thousands of pounds. I can not imagine having to have the worry of paying for it. Or stressing about wether insurers will pay.

YANBU
I love our NHS, it's saved my life on 3 separate occasions, we all need to ensure its protection.

I would hate to see us getting to the American state of affairs where people who can't afford insurance are left to suffer. I read recently that the Vice Presidents son was struggling to pay for cancer care. That is scary.

I agree without the NHS I would not be here today, from the bottom of my heart I thank everyone who works in it and they do it without fuss and dedication. The care I have received has been superb.

Yanbu.
They saved dd1's life.
They prioritise really well. Most of the complaints seem to be for long waits for minor issues from serial goers.
The problems are caused by exploitation.

I completely agree. They saved my life when I was 17.
This year I have had a miscarriage and am now 30 weeks pregnant again and the care we have received has been wonderful. I never have a problem getting to see my gp or midwife. This pegnancy I've had to be taken by ambulance to a&e as i collapsed ( low blood pressure, too hot, lack of food) and have also been monitored for reduced baby movement. No complaints from me.

The GP saw my friend who was in crisis (mental health) within 15 minutes of her call on the first day open after New Year. She hadn't even said what was wrong but the receptionist obviously had very good intuition. I genuinely believe that saved her life.

I feel the same about the NHS. Feel protective over it!

Had to ring 999 for the first time last week when my DC 2 had breathing difficulties. Paramedics got him to hospital quickly and the doctors and nurses were all amazing.

We have to protect it!

YANBU, I'd be very ill and bankrupted if I lived in the USA. I doubt I'd be able to get health insurance.

It's nice to hear positive stories. Are you hypothyroid? I know that needs watching during pregnancy, but I guess either way it's off needs attention. If you want an eye opener go abroad then unfortunately need emergency treatment, most complainers would see we have a real gem. Hope you're ok and get sorted ASAP

Are you hypothyroid?

I have Hashimoto's, so I'm hypo with phases of hyper. I've had more blood tests to monitor things, but touch wood all OK for now.