The NHS has collapsed.

[brahmahda]

It's great that no Covid wards have been overwhelmed for lack of ventilators - Clap Clap. But ...

1. My regular preventative treatment for a chronic condition has stopped, with no sign of it restarting.
2. My 13yo son needs diagnostic tests for symptoms he's had for several months, but the diagnostic clinic is closed, again with no sign of it restarting.
3. A vital service that the GP would normally provide has been redirected to a "hub" with a convoluted appointment booking process and a very long waiting list.
4. My elderly, isolated/ing mum who urgently needs a face-to-face with her GP due to a sudden decline in her health has been messed around with a complicated process that changes depends on who she speaks to (she was phoned and told she'd need to get a Covid test 10 mins before setting off for the appointment, so had to cancel it).

Of course issues of delayed cancer treatments etc have been widely reported in the news, but it's clear that they are just the tip of the iceberg. The problems must be impacting almost every family in the country to some extent, and there's no sign of them being temporary. I just can't see the NHS getting back onto it's already-shaky track in the foreseeable future.

Anyone else find this terrifying?

@sirzy - Thank you, that's useful to know. How did they determine what can and cannot wait? Considering how short-sighted she is, I didn't even notice that she needed glasses in the first place, so I'm not sure my judgement will be particularly accurate 😂

[quote Silversun83]@sirzy - Thank you, that's useful to know. How did they determine what can and cannot wait? Considering how short-sighted she is, I didn't even notice that she needed glasses in the first place, so I'm not sure my judgement will be particularly accurate 😂[/quote]
It just went off my observations, so I had noticed things like him tilting his glasses and moving closer to the TV as well as his eyes wandering more (he has the wonderful combination of short sightedness and a convergent squint so one triggers the other) so we decided he needed to be seen to get a new prescription done. It had changed so we were right.

I’ve found the complete opposite where I am (South East). My doctor sent a referral to a department in June and 2 weeks later they called me to make an appointment- for 2 weeks later! I thought I’d misheard. When I went for my appointment they said I needed an MRI - received an appointment letter 4 days later for later that week! Had bloods done yesterday and the results where telephoned through to me 24 hours later. I’ve been amazed how quickly I’m getting through the system, considering the COVID-19 situation...

@whattimeisitrightnow

Sorry, I didn’t mean the actual breast lump thing was interesting - I phrased that appallingly hopefully you know what I meant. Glad it turned out to be okay

Yes I knew what you meant I think we are just very lucky because of where we live, within 30 mins I could get to about 10 different hospitals (including Kings, Guys & St Thomas) I’m sure the situation is very different if you only have 1 hospital in the area

My DH has had 2 scans. A MRI in June and a CT a couple of weeks later. He has been written to with the results of both. Also my DM wasn't well beginning of May so I took her to see gp. Phone appointment and face to face on same day. They told me to take her to A&E and she was admitted.

I’m really sorry you’ve had such a bad time. I’ve actually had really good NHS care during this time - my GP surgery has a system where you fill in a form and they call you within a day, and I actually love it as I have space to say all the things I’m normally trying to nervously rehearse in my head. I’ve had blood tests and hospital appointments during this time.

I know it isn’t the same for everyone and I’m sorry to hear about bad experiences but I don’t think the nhs has collapsed - I think some individual trusts are doing a poor job.

This is why the whole "The NHS coped with Covid" stuff has annoyed me. No, the NHS did not cope during the vital 4 months when Covid was at it's peak. It only 'managed' because so many other services were shut down. I say this as an NHS worker and a patient.

Service are now starting to reopen. One of the problems where I work is that wards were opened in clinic areas, and it takes time to these to be reverted back. But those services are running at about 75% now on telephone and video appointments.

I have had nothing but excellent service from the NHS during lockdown. I had a breast lump scare in April. I had a mammogram and ultrasound within 10 days, and when they were inconclusive, a biopsy only a few days later.
I have also had two pre arranged for long term condition appointments that were booked for April / May rebooked for June, and had further tests done in hospital since then. Surgery I was expecting in May will be delated till probably November.

So, no. The NHS hasn't collapsed. It is rebuilding and delays, unfortunately, will happen. But it also didn't cope with Covid like the bloody Tory government like to tell us.

I think it's the way it's re opening that's a problem too though.

So I've had roughly half a dozen appointments throughout lockdown. Two were f2f as they were to re programme an implanted device so had to be done that way. The rest should have been f2f but we're changed to telephone - I completely understand. In all of those telephone conversations though, I've been told that they need to see me f2f and so a new appointment will be made for "once this is over". One of those appointments was in March and the new appointment was made for end of June - they still weren't doing f2f so again it was over the phone. Again, I need to be seen so waiting for another appointment.

Now, all of these appointments are usually every three months, and at each appointment usually, treatment is changed, or something is adjusted but this hasn't been happening, they've just put me in a holding pattern. Who knows when I will actually be seen and treatment can catch up? My dear is it will be early autumn, just as the second wave starts and this will happen again.

Meanwhile, people who were scheduled to have appointments in August and September will be having them as normal, so those who were due appointments during March,April,May and June are being delayed until much later in the year but people with appointments in August and September will have appointments on time.

I explained to one Dr how I've deteriorated and that I'm concerned I won't make up list ground and they said that I was probably correct and they're sorry it's happened - I know it's not their fault but how does that help me and others like me?

I've also had appointments cancelled and not re booked - physio/hand therapy/Podiatry and I just can't make contact with anyone who can re book. It's a mess. Fair enough if you have to cancel but why on earth aren't lists kept so that patients are contacted when clinics are running again?

Fair enough if you have to cancel but why on earth aren't lists kept so that patients are contacted when clinics are running again?

I agree. I had my diabetic review/check cancelled that was due in March. I phoned a couple of times to ask if they were going ahead again yet, to be told no, but "phone back next month" to see if they've re-started. I phoned a couple of weeks ago, to ask, and was told, yes, they've restarted but all appts have gone until October! So they've been giving appointments to people who are due now, but completely ignored all those who've been waiting longer and couldn't be bothered to contact people like us in the meantime.

Surely it's better for the patient to deal with those waiting the longest first rather than letting others have their appts at the normal time and making those who've missed wait even longer? It makes no sense.

Surely it's better for the patient to deal with those waiting the longest first rather than letting others have their appts at the normal time and making those who've missed wait even longer? It makes no sense.

Completely agree. And what happens if we are in the second wave come October and everything shuts down again? People who haven't been seen since March will be left for how long?

Really glad to hear that many have had positive experiences, but it does make me think it is a bit luck of the draw as to whether someone is on top of your case or not.

I was referred for an endoscopy back at the start of the year when the services were still running as normal at our local hospital. My GP told me to chase it up in late February after I'd heard nothing. I left an answerphone message but never heard back. A few weeks later everything with the virus of course escalated and I read online that it was deemed a high risk procedure for transmission so would not be happening for the foreseeable future.

Still haven't heard anything six months later. Not even a - you're on a list but it will be a while. It was supposed to be to rule out anything serious - well, I guess that ship has sailed. I'd really like to think someone's looked at my notes and decided it's unlikely to be serious so no urgency. But I doubt that's the case.

More negative news: BBC News - Kent: Backlog of cancer screenings caused by coronavirus
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-53528268

They are trying to block book the private hospitals but the managers have missed a few vital issues. It’s all very well asking surgeons to perform an operation on an nhs patient in a private hospital, but there’s no on call cover.

Not only the nhs, the private system is also collapsing due to the nhs basically block booking their hospitals out

DS2 can’t access speech and language therapy f2f. Mind you, wearing a mask is prob the worst thing that a SALT therapist/patient could do, so maybe virtual is the lesser of two evils in this case.
To answer your question, OP, I too am terrified.

I was meant to have an eye operation in
May to prevent the condition getting any worse. I first had an appointment in October. Was put on the waiting list in December. Haven’t heard a word. No idea what they have been doing or when my operation will happen. My sight could get worse and the operation is to prevent this. My sight won’t recover. It’s a total shambles.

Just got a private claim agreed but still not sure if this will speed anything up.

Agree and disagree
To say COVID has fuxked things up would be an understatement

But dealing with a dental emergency I’m speaking to people and getting drugs diagnosed , which is better than nothing I guess

YANBU

I feel for you and others with long term health conditions.

I really hope thinks improve soon.

Good luck.

I agree.
My dd is under 3 different teams, and has had referrals to two others. We finally seem to getting somewhere now with appointments, however it took me complaining to pals and the threat that I would take it further if needed to get my daughter the services she needed.
We've had phone conversations, changed to face to face, cancelled, changed back to phone cancelled and that went on for months. My mum works in our local hospital and has said it's never been so quiet and that it seems 3/4 of the staff aren't doing anything. I'm seething at the state of it all.

I agree. My oldest had an appointment for an ear condition in March, which got cancelled. Yesterday we got an invite for a new appointment through the mail - for yesterday morning.... Letter had been dated oMonday for a Wednesday appointment 45 min drive away, so there was no chance of it reaching us in time.
Tried to call the hospital, no chance getting through. So send them an email, saying that the letter arrived too late, apologies for missing the appointment. Got an email
back this morning stating that they can’t change the appointment on the 9th of september, so for the time being they‘ll expect us to be there one 9th. Which was yesterday.

I've still been receiving hospital appointments throughout lockdown lockdown. Wherever possible they have been by telephone which I am really happy about. I'm not sure why it's so different in some NHS trusts.

I have found the opposite, I had a suspected blood clot and I was seen within a few hours of ringing 111. My mum also had to have an ultra sound and got called into the hospital the same day she had her gp appointment. My cousins daughter has been seen throughout for orthodontist appointments and my step daughter has been having zoom calls weekly with her Cahms support worker. It would seem it’s a postcode lottery and some areas are coping better than others.

I had a suspected TIA on Tuesday. From calling my GP in a total panic and the ambulance arriving that took 45 minutes. I was taken to a&e and assessed half an hour later.

Whatever the NHS problems are they are still coming up trumps in some regards and I am so, so grateful. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life and when it mattered I got great care from some lovely people.

Thankyou QEUH Glasgow, you really are wonderful.

It seems to be a lottery, which is commonly the case with the NHS.

I have received my reminder for a smear test but haven't tried to book yet.

The only other person I know about is a colleague of my husband's, who is back at work after having had breast cancer and finished her treatment. It appears to have taken place during lockdown as usual, so three cheers for her local NHS, anyway.

Another one who uses the NHS and also works in the NHS. I am still having my regular blood tests with a regular follow up appointment. Appointments are over the phone (which works out better for me as in turn I don't have to cancel my clinics and affect my patients). I was referred to another consultant team for a new issue and had an appointment in a fortnight and tests ordered the next day. Member of the family has been diagnosed with cancer and apart from one test (which wasn't needed for diagnosis or treatment) everything has run on time.

My clinics are all full and apart from when I have been sick I haven't cancelled a singe clinic, they are mostly over the phone, but I do have some face to face. My DNA rates have gone down. I've had patients email me things that I need to look at and we discuss them over the phone. If schools have to close again I am set up so I can just carry on working at home and still do clinics remotely.