How many people have been failed by the NHS during lockdown?

[Polnm]

My DH has cancer.

His appointment in April was by phone
His appointment in August was postponed until October

How is this acceptable? Hospitals are empty whilst patients can’t access care.

GP appointments by zoom with a 2 week wait for a basic blood pressure check in person or to take bloods

Why isn’t there more publicity and outrage about this?

We can’t be the only family going through this surely?

@LunaMuffinTop

The NHS bashing didn’t take long to rear it’s ugly head again did it yes things could be better but at the end of the day we are still trying to deal with the pandemic and nothing is back to normal yet. It’s not the hospitals fault that people can’t be seen at the minute you want to try blaming the government not the hospitals that are trying their best. Bet everyone complaining on here about missed hospital appointments and blaming the NHS are the same people who where stood on their door step thanking them not that long ago. What happened to thank you NHS or has that gone out the window now that they aren’t quite so important anymore. Is it not better that your DH is being kept safe from coronavirus by having to wait a bit longer for a face to face appointment or would you rather have him laying in a hospital bed alone dying from coronavirus. No one is getting to see a doctor at the minute it’s shit but I think the idea behind it might be to try and stop the spread of the virus again you know so that millions people don’t end up dead.

So, you are saying that people dying unnecessarily of cancer, aneurysm and so on are less important than people dying of Covid?

To all those saying its the government not the NHS surely the variation in experience on this thread shows its a local Trust or CQC issue. I know people who've had regular treatment, scans etc. cancelled though nothing as serious as some examples here. My dad did his annual diabetic check on the phone and asked the nurse how he was supposed to check his own feet.

But, I got an appointment at my GP for a routine smear 2 days after I called, mum had an excellent video call consultation + antibiotics for a leg infection (both NW) and my Midlands based friend had an appointment, tests and results within a week after some symptoms she thought may be the cancer she survived four years ago coming back.

The postcode lottery is awful.

@LunaMuffinTop perhaps you'd like to explain to my DC why their DF was unable to access medical help and died far too young.
No NHS clapping here.

@RunningAwaywiththeCircus I meant in primary care in my locality, I should have clarified. I've no idea what's been going on in the hospitals or in GP surgeries outside my county. Judging by this thread, obviously some practices are not operating the same as we are. I've no idea why, if we shut our doors and diverted to 111, we'd have the CCG to answer to.

The nhs was told to focus on covid so we did.

The nhs was told to discharge to care homes so we did.

The nhs was told to stop everything else so we did.

The public were told to stay at home so they did.

The nhs has now been told to deliver 100% of planned activity next month. But still socially distance and isolate patients.

Fuck knows how that will happen.

The nhs didn't fail, government failed. Both in the instructions they gave and in the decades of underfunding which meant we couldn't have been less pandemic ready if we'd tried.

One are that has really impressed me was MH.
Within days I was back under full support of mh and therapy started. Normally I'd have to wait for months for the therapy part.

Same with Camhs, they stepped up.

I can understand why dentists aren't fully up and running. But things many of the other things could be done. They should be wiping beds etc between patients anyway, and it's not like they weren't getting infectious patients before Covid.

@RunningAwaywiththeCircus I'm further north in Lancs and we've been operating a reduced (but still there!) face to face service alongside the remote consulting, as well as staffing a separate hot clinic to see suspected Covid patients in our local area. I started the thread feeling annoyed at the NHS bashing...I'm now feeling more angry that we seem to be offering much more of a service than other areas and are working our arses off when others might be sat at home!!

And before Covid, when I did have to attend hospital appointments, SD was easy due to appointment times.

GP surgery were triaging over the phone so when you did go in, very rare you saw another patient. Also meant no waiting around 20 minutes after you should have been seen.

They can also insist that those who aren't exempt wear a mask.

I'm not sure about 80% of GP work being replaced...who will do the work gradually being moved from secondary care . We have responsibility for complicated insulin initiation and management which was moved to primary care with no funding, for example. Hospitals are expensive, we are cheap for the NHS to run.

It is hard to get my head around the variation.

On the plus side I do know people who have had to use a and e and have received exemplary care in the past few weeks.

OP so sorry to hear that, sending best wishes.

On a lesser level Ive had 8 weeks of hell only having go appts by phone for Severely slipped disc (private mri after 2 weeks), severe sciatica, and last weekend on top severe d&v bug which nurse friend said should have been hospitalised. I've been in horrendoys pain (paramedics ended uo taking me to a and e at one point) prescibed tonnes of painkillerz which all have bad side effects.

Last weekend was last straw. Wroye to Gp v clear not conplaining but describing in detail last 8 weeks (I'm also main carer to disabled ds and dd with ASD. Separated from ex with Bipolar currently hypomanic).

She called me, clearly angry "well what do u want me to do that Ive not already done!" vv upsetting. having to rely on private osteo and private acupunturist for treatment and human interaction and care. Do not see why GPs cannot do at least some appointments via video. All our CAMHS have been, as are pribate physio. I now have an NHS physio review next Thur by phone. Ridiculous. Apol for typos. cant sit down still.

@TwoHoots74 I’m very sorry about your brother

And they aren't routinely testing for Covid at the moment.
My dd was rushed in Friday lunchtime and admitted. THey took bloods and urine as normal.
She went up to the ward got settled all very quickly.
A couple of hours after walking into the hospital she went outside. Wore a mask when needed, SD and the rest.

When she returned to the ward she had to be swapped because she'd gone out.

Different hospital trust another friend was sent to a&e. Again not tested and admitted. Stayed there for 3 days and no swab.

Swabbed not swapped 🤣

So, so sorry to read people's stories and their losses.

i would also echo another poster and if you a life is in danger, call 999. I did at one point when my pain literally made me cry put with every movement. Paramedics were very clear i should go to hosp. The gas and air in the ambulance was the first real effective pain relief I'd had in 2 weeks. The a and e doc prescribed diazepam and i was so much more comfortable. Numerous phone appointmenys with different GPs didn't treat me effectively. How can you possibly effectively treat somrone with a severe slipped disc and severe sciatica by phone???

I totally know that its the government who are fundamentally at fault here. Im a massive supporter of the NHS. But i dont think my GP surgery has got their approach right.

80% of primary care services bring fulfilled by other means sounds impossible to me - the current workforce could not take the demand surely. If you are based in primary care or NHS workforce planning, then I'll accept your opinion/ estimate/ assessment, otherwise I'll ignore thanks.

@thereisonlyoneofme ❤❤❤