To think the NHS is no longer fit for purpose

[alloutofducks]

I have just had a hospital consultation cancelled, following 6 months of extreme pain. I can apparently go back on the list, along with everyone else, in the Autumn. This is "because Covid", as the departmental secretary said on the phone.

The NHS can't cope with Covid. If it can cope with Covid itself, it won't be able to cope with the MH problems caused by lockdown. If it somehow miraculously copes with Covid and the resulting MH problems caused by lockdown, it certainly won't be able to cope with people in extreme pain for other reasons. Or people with long-term, life-limiting conditions.

The NHS was set up at a particular point in history where it worked as a model due to the make-up of the population (among other things).

There was none of the mawkish "our NHS" sentiment: it did its job, and did it reasonably well, on balance.

Now it seems that the increasing sentimentality about it is in direct proportion to its essential failure as a system.

We don't become tearful and pot-bangish about "our education system", for example. While we may sometimes feel like weeping with gratitude about the long-suffering teachers who have to put up with our DC on a daily basis, we expect the education system to get on with educating our children. Likewise, we expect the legal system (again: not "our" legal system) to uphold the law. And so on.

This is not a dig at anyone who works for the NHS (my sister and her partner do, for context). But AIBU to think the NHS simply doesn't work now and needs radically overhauling, preferably in a cross-party way?

Which are the needless managers ? Many managers are nurse managers otherwise known as ward sisters.

Unnecessary management is such a tired old trope, always trotted out by people who have no idea what they’re talking about.

I agree with pp saying people don't actually have a clue and just trot out the 'needless managers' trope because the tabloids love it so much. Nobody has ever been able to point out a needless manager and have it stand up to scrutiny against the reality on the ground. The 'oh but diversity managers' trope is the worst for this - people really don't have a clue what diversity means and how important it is for patients and staff alike.

People think the NHS is great because it’s free and they compare it to the US healthcare. If compared to other European countries it is not great. I also think people overuse it because it was free. When first came to Britain from a country with great health service but you pay to see your GP, I was shocked by how often people here went to the doctor and I had never heard of people going to the GP for a cold, cough etc
I think the NHS should start charging adults for ad hoc appointments. There is also a huge problem in the Uk because the population is very overweight and eat a lot of junk food.

Bearded - totally agree. Its because its free that its used the way it is.

Be prepared though - its a religion in the UK. You cannot question their processes, the daft things they do, the lack of ownership. You learn to roll with it but you cannot take your eye off the ball. My DM was in hospital last year for 2 weeks. I had to be there most of the time, things got forgotten, nurses were cleaning her and chatting over her in their own language, one nurse completely ignored my Mum when she asked what they were doing procedure wise.

When she was checking out no one seemed to be in charge of discharge so she effectively waited all day to leave, no ownership. I asked that she not go home in the dark as she needed transport and it would be difficult to transport her for all sides due to the darkness.

Needless to say no one took ownership of that even though they told me to come back by 1000 for discharge.

@sunglasses123, agree with lack of ownership, accountability and to be brutally honest I also think competence. I was told by a GP to stop breastfeeding my ds when he was very ill with diarrhoea as a baby and only give him Ribena🤷🏻‍♀️

These threads always descend into anecdote - “oh, I nearly died when” and “the nurse was so rude to me”. Thanks to the NHS I’ve had 43 years and counting of extra life so I’m quite well disposed to it.

It’s underfunded and money is being misspent all over the place. But the fundamental principle can’t be faulted. It just needs to be made fit for the 21st century.

Sorry Also, it definitely CAN be faulted! We want to make it the best we can. It needs to look at other countries in Europe to see how they work.

It really really cannot carry on with money being thrown at it and in your words ALSO "money is being misspent all over the place"

You missed the crucial words “fundamental principle”. That’s entirely right, it’s the execution that’s problematic.