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?

I wouldn't say I've been failed but things definitely could have been dealt with better.

I started with UTI symptoms mid June. Rang the gp surgery, triage nurse phoned me back and prescribed antibiotics.

By day 4 of antibiotics symptoms were much worse with excruciating pain in my back, nausea, raging temp and still the urgency/frequency of a UTI.

Had to ring out of hours as it was a Saturday. Antibiotics changed, was told it sounded like it had gone into my kidneys.

A week later still not feeling much better, gp prescribed more of the same.

Another week goes by and I'm better than I was but still struggling with pain and UTI symptoms.
Gp prescribed 3rd lot of different antibiotics.

Throughout all this I was told the the lab at the hospital was refusing to test samples unless from a pregnant woman or child so the GP was basically guessing which antibiotics may work.

Several weeks later now I'm still not feeling well, have been referred for an ultrasound due to severe kidney pain which may take weeks due to them catching up, and I've now been told that the infection has probably become embedded which could take months to clear up. Something that probably could have been fairly simple to treat has turned into something much bigger and will end up costing the NHS more.
It doesn't make sense.

So sorry to hear about your Husband's treatment. It really isn't fair.

@TwoHoots74 i had a ruptured aneurism - not sure how I'm still here but the treatment couldn't have been better once the diagnosis was made. I think it's a postcode lottery- I've continued with chemo, seen consultants via zoom type calls and been seen in person when I've been flaring. The consultants clinics here have continued

Our hospital has taken over the private sector one so that patients can be seen for treatments and consultations in a smaller socially distanced and sanitary environment. the only struggle has been for 4 weekly bloods but with a stern discussion with the gp practice, they allowed non gp requested bloods to be done

It makes me so angry that different areas are failing when others seem to be business as usual. Even gp appointments have continued here with a triage phone call and zoom or in person appointments with a nurse practitioner or gp.

My 8 month old had surgery at 5 days old and was supposed to have an appointment at 6 months to see the surgeons to see his stitches and all had heeled, they sent a letter to cancel and not even had as much as a phone call to let me know what's going on. He also whilst in intensive care had a scan on his heart and they found an asd ( a hole ) and said it's only small but needed another scan when he's 7 months and they will not book an appointment for it!... Feel absolutely fuming too

www.thestar.co.uk/.../sheffield-womans-quality-life-next-non-existent-after-surgery-cancelled-due-covid-2944629

@GingersRum

I was diagnosed with cancer a week before lockdown started. I was warned I would have to wait for surgery, I waited just under 20 weeks to have my op. I hope it doesn't prove to be too long.

I am so sorry. My DH was diagnosed in March 2019 and I have spent so much time thinking how awful it wound gave been a year later,

Have you had your op now? Do you still have chemo/radio to go?

@Freckleyou20

My 8 month old had surgery at 5 days old and was supposed to have an appointment at 6 months to see the surgeons to see his stitches and all had heeled, they sent a letter to cancel and not even had as much as a phone call to let me know what's going on. He also whilst in intensive care had a scan on his heart and they found an asd ( a hole ) and said it's only small but needed another scan when he's 7 months and they will not book an appointment for it!... Feel absolutely fuming too

How worrying for you. My Ds was very ill as a baby snd is now a strapping 22 year old but I still remember the worry and confusion that I felt at that time.

B12 injections stopped, told to buy a blood pressure machine as they don't know when they will do checks again.
Paeds and Paeds opthalmology appointments cancelled in may. Got a text in July saying we will call for opthalmology, be available - Noone called.

@Feelingpoorlysick

I wouldn't say I've been failed but things definitely could have been dealt with better.

I started with UTI symptoms mid June. Rang the gp surgery, triage nurse phoned me back and prescribed antibiotics.

By day 4 of antibiotics symptoms were much worse with excruciating pain in my back, nausea, raging temp and still the urgency/frequency of a UTI.

Had to ring out of hours as it was a Saturday. Antibiotics changed, was told it sounded like it had gone into my kidneys.

A week later still not feeling much better, gp prescribed more of the same.

Another week goes by and I'm better than I was but still struggling with pain and UTI symptoms.
Gp prescribed 3rd lot of different antibiotics.

Throughout all this I was told the the lab at the hospital was refusing to test samples unless from a pregnant woman or child so the GP was basically guessing which antibiotics may work.

Several weeks later now I'm still not feeling well, have been referred for an ultrasound due to severe kidney pain which may take weeks due to them catching up, and I've now been told that the infection has probably become embedded which could take months to clear up. Something that probably could have been fairly simple to treat has turned into something much bigger and will end up costing the NHS more.
It doesn't make sense.

So sorry to hear about your Husband's treatment. It really isn't fair.

That sounds so painful

You can’t diagnose people by phone. I now hear that our gos are going to carry on zoom throughout the winter. It doesn’t work

The government are too busy coming out and saying 'the NHS coped through the first wave' look how excellent a job the NHS done !
The NHS only coped through the first wave of covid because it dealt with nothing else only covid....had it been as much business as usual for all other non covid problems it never would have survived !
We have been on both sides of the coin with a family member having had tests for cancer just before lockdown and only in the last number of weeks have they had the follow up appointment and it would seem they have cancer and now have to wait for more scans and tests! Normally this would all have been dealt with under the 2 week wait however it's been 5 MONTHS ....it's terrible to think what the outcome is going to be in such a delay in diagnosis and treatment
On the other hand we have had excellent treatment when we have had to attend ED on a few occassions with a DC who has underlying conditions we couldn't fault the care the attentiveness and the waiting times were also a lot less infact pretty much no waiting at all ! Admitted to a ward and we couldn't fault the care from the staff at all working in PPE all day long which I'm sure is exhausting but still having the time and compassion with DC and myself
Its certainly not an issue with the majority of hard working staff doctors nurses whoever but clearly a massive failure by the government brought on no doubt by years of underfunding the NHS

Some terrible stories on this thread already and I am so so sorry to these people

@barcodescanner

B12 injections stopped, told to buy a blood pressure machine as they don't know when they will do checks again. Paeds and Paeds opthalmology appointments cancelled in may. Got a text in July saying we will call for opthalmology, be available - Noone called.

Awful. You need to call them and keep on calling

Because it's absolutely crucial for the govt to keep up this "NHS are heroes" propaganda. If that slips then the whole thing falls apart - people will start expecting a basic level of needs to be met. The staff will start expecting to be treated fairly and paid properly, and given some real protection during this pandemic, and patients will start to expect proper healthcare within reasonable time frames. That would be disastrous for the govt.

Best just keep quiet OP. Bang some pots and pans. Have a big round of applause.

@gallbladderpain

The government are too busy coming out and saying 'the NHS coped through the first wave' look how excellent a job the NHS done ! The NHS only coped through the first wave of covid because it dealt with nothing else only covid....had it been as much business as usual for all other non covid problems it never would have survived ! We have been on both sides of the coin with a family member having had tests for cancer just before lockdown and only in the last number of weeks have they had the follow up appointment and it would seem they have cancer and now have to wait for more scans and tests! Normally this would all have been dealt with under the 2 week wait however it's been 5 MONTHS ....it's terrible to think what the outcome is going to be in such a delay in diagnosis and treatment On the other hand we have had excellent treatment when we have had to attend ED on a few occassions with a DC who has underlying conditions we couldn't fault the care the attentiveness and the waiting times were also a lot less infact pretty much no waiting at all ! Admitted to a ward and we couldn't fault the care from the staff at all working in PPE all day long which I'm sure is exhausting but still having the time and compassion with DC and myself Its certainly not an issue with the majority of hard working staff doctors nurses whoever but clearly a massive failure by the government brought on no doubt by years of underfunding the NHS

Some terrible stories on this thread already and I am so so sorry to these people

I am so sorry for you family member, if We had been going through the cancer diagnosis of 2019 in 2020 I hate to think what would have happened. The worry alone of waiting 5 months must be unbearable

I had to wait 10 weeks for treatment for a minor issue;the problem was that the minor issue left untreated had become a major issue and now even though I've had treatment for it;it's been difficult to get rid of and is still causing issues and could affect me for a long time;there is a lot of pain and there's going to be scars.

It's sadly impacted my quality of life physically and mentally.

@popsydoodle4444

I had to wait 10 weeks for treatment for a minor issue;the problem was that the minor issue left untreated had become a major issue and now even though I've had treatment for it;it's been difficult to get rid of and is still causing issues and could affect me for a long time;there is a lot of pain and there's going to be scars.

It's sadly impacted my quality of life physically and mentally.

I hope that it improves

I assume the cost of treating it long term is much greater as well

My 7 year old's grommets fell out in June. Because he was born with a cleft lip and palate his hearing suddenly got worse as the glue ear came back with a vengeance. It's a 6 month wait to get a hearing test to confirm what we already know. Then goodness knows how long to see the ent consultant and then have the operation. We are probably looking at a year to 18 months at least before he gets grommets and he will spend the whole of year 3 being unable to hear. Meanwhile we get no support at all and I am trying to learn some basic makaton via YouTube so he can communicate better.

@elliejjtiny

My 7 year old's grommets fell out in June. Because he was born with a cleft lip and palate his hearing suddenly got worse as the glue ear came back with a vengeance. It's a 6 month wait to get a hearing test to confirm what we already know. Then goodness knows how long to see the ent consultant and then have the operation. We are probably looking at a year to 18 months at least before he gets grommets and he will spend the whole of year 3 being unable to hear. Meanwhile we get no support at all and I am trying to learn some basic makaton via YouTube so he can communicate better.

That is so sad. Can you call his original ENT consultant? ( I would recommend trying their secretary). Or can the school help -the LA will gave a specialist hearing service

Some of this is due to crowded waiting rooms and it quicker to do a telephone consultation but I agree they should be offering more.

All of the replies make me feel so sad. Such unnecessary sadness affecting so many people.
My issue is nothing in comparison but I was due my smear test in May, I'm in my 30's and all previous smears have been fine but I feel like I'm a ticking timebomb for not having it, for no real reason I can't shake the feeling. It'll be my first one since DC2 last year so I just need that reassurance.
It makes me wonder the true cost of COVID

Hospitals definitely aren’t empty. The one I work in was as busy today as it always was. 30+ patients waiting to be seen in urgent care, 4+ hour wait.

Nowhere near as serious as Cancer, but I have severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and was put on a biologic drug in January along with all my other medications. The biologic has killed my immune system and has given me some bad infections. One was almost an ambulance job.

Rheumatology was shut down the beginning of March and still pretty much is. I've had two consultant appointments cancelled and all I've had is a call from the nurse. I told her all the issues I'm having and was told to "battle on with it for another couple of months" and to "call me if you don't think the injections are working". I told her I'm not qualified to know that and need to know how bad these infections can get, to which she replied "sepsis, so be vigilant".

I'm holed up on the settee again with another one that started yesterday, so looks like night 2 without sleep.

Have been told I won't see the consultant face to face for at least 12 months as it's too dangerous. What annoys me is, Rheumatology are based 3 miles from the main hospital. Again, in the nurses words "but you will see him, as it's vital you see him because of your medication". Just not vital for 12 months I guess!

Hopefully the infections won't see me off before then.

He’s been failed by THE GOVERNMENT. Not the NHS. The NHS are trying their best.
You’re directing your anger at the wrong people.

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.

Not anything like as worrying as most previous posters, but I was referred to the anaesthesiologist due to pregnancy with a pre-existing minor back problem. They're refusing to take referrals, which means I'll be going into labour not knowing whether I can have an epidural. It is worrying me (particularly wondering what happens if I need an emergency C-section).

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.

My DD is highly unlikely to die from coronavirus, she will live her whole life with the impact of receiving essential eye surgery and audiology care.

I’m allowed to be angry about that while also appreciating the work nhs staff have done in dealing with the pandemic. It’s possible to hold more than one thought about the same thing.

I’m shocked to hear this. I’m
British, but working overseas with private medical insurance and it’s very much business as usual with our primary and secondary care centres here.

I do keep up with the U.K. press, and I’m surprised this hasn’t been more widely reported. Some heartbreaking stories on this thread.