The NHS is falling apart

[Hold34]

I know there are many wonderful caring staff out there working in the NHS.

But overall, it's a bit shit isn't it? It's (mostly) not the fault of the staff. It's just underfunded and can't deliver what it needs to meet demand.

We all have to pretend it's great but it's not.

I just depends on your own experience. My mum is a cancer patient and the care she has had from the NHS is second to none.

I've recently brought a baby home who was born at 29 weeks. I honestly cannot fault the nhs for the exemplary care he has been given.
I also have rheumatoid arthritis and hyperthyroidism. Tho i had some difficulty getting the diagnosis, once this was achieved the care i have been given has been excellent. I do have to keep track of blood tests etc but i don't expect everything handed to me on a plate, i need to put some effort in to my well being too.

It’s under funded. Deliberately so. Full stop.
That’s been done on purpose because the Tories (who opposed the creation of the NHS in the first place) dont believe that everybody should get healthcare.

There will be lots of people with bad experiences who agree and then people like me who still have their child with them thanks to the NHS. Im grateful for it, defensive of it and would do anything in my power to see it function better. Admittedly my power is limited to signing petitions, voting and paying my taxes.

Overall, it’s bloody amazing.
It doesn’t have the funds it needs though. So people will have bad experiences.
But just the basics we get on the nhs are amazing.
It deserves more.

I don't think.it's underfunded I think the funds they get are completely mismanaged I worked in the NHS for years and they would do.things like refurbish a ward for close to £1000,000 and then close it down less than a year later .

They saved my life so that's not shit in my book and an an nhs ambulance paramedic delivered my dd so that's also not shit, the care I've received has been brilliant cannot fault it
As always if you're seriously ill you'll get treated but a lot of people go to a&e for a broken toenail and other trivial stuff and that is shit.

Underfunded*

I have used it a lot over the years. I was at the local hospital only yesterday for an Echo and Lu g Function tests. I think it's got better, I really do

I would disagree.

I went last night to A and E and then up to a ward with my 7yr old who was displaying worrying mental health problems and we were seen quickly and dealt with calmly. I was so worried that they wouldn’t take me seriously but they did. I’m so grateful to them.

The NHS is mismanaged with too many managers. Their procurement process is ridiculous - they are very overcharged for even basic things which are used in high volume eg stationery, paper clips etc as they buy them from a certain supplier and don’t shop around.

It depends in comparison to what.

Ive worked with private healthcare both here and abroad. People in the uk generally have no idea how much things cost eg medication and appointments. Some private healthcare is worse than nhs level of care or at best offers the same standard but at extortionate rates. For example our local private mh hospital charges hundreds to thousands of pounds a day but doesnt offer any more therapy or activities than the nhs equivilant. The building is nicer but the actual care is delivered almost exclusively by agency staff. Equally ive seen lots of things that can only be described as for money eg. Its in the nhs interests to get you in and out asap, this unit has people on 1:1s, and really lengthy stays that arent engaged in treatment which i would argue is about money.

Abroad ive seen incredibly snazzy healthcare options. However in my experience it depends on your healthcare coverage, so whilst i saw some exciting treatments etc, my insurance wouldn't have provided it! It was definately a higher level of care but only to a certain portion og the population. Equally people are bankrupted by hospital bills. The hospitals my insurance covered and that the majority accessed were very "nhs" style

It’s under funded. Deliberately so. Full stop.
That’s been done on purpose because the Tories (who opposed the creation of the NHS in the first place) dont believe that everybody should get healthcare.

Exactly this. In my experience, the majority of staff who work for the NHS work hard with what they’ve got available to them. It just isn’t enough.

Underfunded but on the whole amazing.
You only hear the bad, rarely the good that goes on daily.

I was previously the biggest NHS advocate.
Until my tiny baby was ultimately left to die in A&E for hours. They did save his life in the end, sadly not without lasting damage. So I have mixed thoughts.
If it cannot perform without risking lives, it needs to change.

I just depends on your own experience. My mum is a cancer patient and the care she has had from the NHS is second to none.

My mum too and the care she has had has been outstanding. My parents are elderly and the hospital arranged transport to the hospital, a 5 hour round trip, every day for 4 weeks for radiotherapy and allowed my stepdad to travel with her. I can't tell you how grateful I am as I live in a different part of the country and was unable to take her.

Yabu... hate something change something. Get involved. Write to your mp.

It is not underfunded at all. Mismanagement and lazy staff in sone areas. Went for regular chemo meant to start at 9 and staff having tea break before starting treatments and ignoring patients.

I recently had an awful experience as an inpatient after an operation and will need to put in an official complaint. The care was negligent and avoidable damage was caused.

:(

The NHS is mismanaged with too many managers. Their procurement process is ridiculous - they are very overcharged for even basic things which are used in high volume eg stationery, paper clips etc as they buy them from a certain supplier and don’t shop around.

This

Considering the shortage of funds and staff I've had nothing but great experiences with the NHS and daren't complain because we are so so lucky to have it. Yes it can be a nightmare to get an appointment but that's what private is there for🤷🏻‍♀️

I was stuck for hours in a&e a few days ago, unable to walk. Watched numerous druggies get seen to first in case they cause a scene.
Took a further couple of hours to decide what to do with me, decided it was quicker to ship me to a bigger hospital which actually extended my stay by another half day as they were too busy to see me.
I eventually discharged myself after mri results without painkillers as if I wanted some I would have to stay another night because they have 1 doctor available to do prescriptions and 1 dispenser for a huge hospital - I don't think I'm being unreasonable to suggest that is a ridiculous scenario. Surely it costs less to have someone extra dispensing drugs than have someone taking up a room for another 24hrs. There were likely multiple people in a similar situation to me.
I spent the entire 24hrs in there nil by mouth (just in case) and without painkillers as they were too scared to give me anything as I'm pregnant.
I've been in sheer agony for days and the only painkillers I'm allowed, I can't get dispensed. So yes, I think you're right OP.

And don't get me started on the time they left my elderly aunt outside in the cold for 8hrs as there were no ambulances and she had a shattered hip so couldn't be moved. She still hasn't recovered 3 years later and went from super fit and healthy to completely housebound. They also refused to fix it as 'she's old'.

I work in the NHS as a staff nurse, in a unit that does procedures.
The amount of patients that just don’t show up is increasing and so bloody annoying!!
Recently a lady didn’t show up, I rang her, and she said she was just up. I said I’ll move you to the end of the list, just fast from now. She lived 5 minutes away.
I don’t think I’ll bother, I’ll just rebook, she said.
By golly, I was fuming!
It isn’t fair to just blame politicians, too many people are abusing the NHS, and taking it for granted, wasting resources.
Also agree too much management, and NHS gets over charged for equipment.

Should have said we have no shows nearly every day.

It is woefully underfunded. Year on year, with the cost of equipment and supplies rising and more and more patients, hospitals are being asked to deliver ever increasing savings. It’s demoralising for frontline staff who aren’t able to provide the level of care they would like. It’s demoralising for management having to deny frankly essential supplies to staff just to keep hospitals open.

I find it frankly insane that there are people denying the NHS is underfunded based on their one experience on one ward.

I had never worked in the NHS before until relatively recently and it’s been a huge shock to see the knife edge the government expect hospitals to balance on and still meet the ever increasing care needs of the population. I’ve found aspects of it hugely upsetting because although I valued the NHS before, I never knew until I joined just how much of a wonderful impossibility it is, or how likely it is that it will collapse.