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?

To those people saying ‘don’t blame the NHS, blame the government’ - I despise this government and don’t usually pass up an opportunity to criticise them, but surely PHE and local CCGs must bear some responsibility for this mess?

I absolutely see that the PPE issue is the government’s fault (although our local hospital never ran out because the trust’s boss started ordering it as soon as he became aware that Covid existed, so local management does play a part). I also see that the general lack of pandemic preparedness (after the failure to respond to the problems identified in that mock pandemic exercise a few years back) can be attributed to the government. I also understand that underfunding is the government’s fault.

But to my knowledge Boris isn’t sitting in his office saying ‘cancel all cancer treatment, phone appointments only’. And different trusts have taken different approaches which suggests these issues can’t all be down to central government.

As I say, I thoroughly enjoy criticising this government, but not if it means that other people/bodies responsible for these problems escape accountability.

Reading these stories is heartbreaking, it makes me angry that there is a postcode lottery going on here. Our family have been one of the (very few) lucky ones, my mum was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer at the end of February with not a great long term prognosis. We were terrified about what would happen regards her treatment but as it happens she has had all the consultations she has needed (by phone), all her chemo treatments have gone ahead as planned, the chemo was moved to the private hospital, she's had scans when needed and when the results showed that the tumour was now operable, she was brought in for surgery ten days later. She's now nearly at the end of her treatment.
Why is this standard of care is not uniform across all of the nhs trusts? We live in a high covid area in West Yorkshire, so the hospitals have been busy, but still maintained oncology services. Why are other hospitals unable to do the same?

Of course missing ante natal appointments and children missing vaccinations matter and it is fine to feel angry and let down

I had a potentially serious issue picked up through a routine midwife visit. Some parents won’t end up getting their children vaccinated for lots of reasons

@PhilCornwall1

Even on here some people want everything to stay near lock down until covid cases are zero - madness

Oh there are loads like this. We should all be locked down again, but harder this time, screaming about a second wave, which in reality I think they want it. They quote facts and figures that are complete bullshit. Have a friend or a friend of a friend who is either a respected epidemiologist or high up in dealing with this. It's all crap and they make themselves look like twats.

The reality is, if and when they face a real problem, such as redundancy or a serious health problem, they will then start singing a different song and grow up.

That not really true though is it? Many people don't believe the solution is all or nothing. Not the same as wanting to remain in total lockdown or relishing the prospect of a second wave.

It's terrible. I phoned 4 weeks ago and asked to see a doctor as I randomly had a stabbing pelvic pain and since have felt like my vagina is just going to fall out. They phoned and prescribed painkillers, 2 weeks of codeine later, it's still an issue. Phoned again, they gave me antibiotics, I said I didn't want to take them without knowing its an infection os they eventually asked me to bring in a urine sample, all clear. Phoned again today and am waiting for a phone appointment again.

Having to tell the receptionist each time is not fun either, I'll go to urgent care if they don't see me today because its having an impact on my mental health.

I blame the GP surgery, they are seeing people when necessary and it's them who have decided not to see me and fob me off with tablets.

My mum has been waiting since March for face reconstruction after having her ear/part jaw/part tongue/ and face muscle removed. She had cancer that the Drs didn't react to quick enough hense the massive 13 hour surgery and loads of radiotherapy. She is struggling to eat, can't close her eye and has lost so much weight. It isn't fair but don't know what to do. I feel desperately sorry for all the people having to wait and the worry this involves. It's costing lives!

They also won't replace my 3 month overdue implant, bit an issue because of the whole vagina falling out thing but that's also pretty crappy of them

I'm so sorry to anyone who is being let down, mines pretty minor but knowing I'm not waiting because people in actual need are being seen is awful! What are they doing?!

talkingkrustydoll as a fellow parent of an anorexic 15 year old, I wish you and your daughter all the very best and hope she can get the proper care she needs very soon It's an absolute scandal how you have been treated

I’m on holiday for the first time since lockdown (in the UK). I’ve been served by staff at close quarters in bars, restaurants and shops, wearing non-medical masks. Necessary cleaning is being carried out but they certainly don’t have to deep clean the area after every single customer. If it’s ok for this to happen then why are GPs’ surgeries and clinics still shut or have to deep clean and leave an hour’s gap after every single patient? (Not that I disagree with telephone consultations, in many cases they are fine and more convenient for the patient, but that should free up time for the patients who really need a face to face consultation).

@mummy2oneandtwo

Oops hit post too soon 🤦🏼‍♀️

I assumed healthcare would be reinstated, but nope!!!

It's resulted in my Drs surgery giving me the b12 vile and needle needed and suggesting I find someone trained in administering injections. We do know a nurse who is willing to give it to me outside, but then I thought last night how will we dispose of the needle safely with no sharps box etc???

To think that this is happening with even more serious and urgent medical care is truly terrifying, when every other part of the country appears to have reopened!

You can learn to do it yourself. I have given myself, with the help of DH, 3 injections during lockdown. I had the vials of B12 but when I asked my GP if they would give me a syringe to do it myself, they said no. So I did some research on which size I needed and got some off Amazon.

Watch a few Youtube videos to learn how to do it yourself, it is not that hard, the first time was fiddly but we are now a dab hand at it

I last had the injection at the GP in Feb. It is now August, there is no way I could have gone without it so long, I already have neurological symptoms since diagnosis if they get any worse, I do not believe they ever improve. I am not risking my health just because the Gp surgery have closed shop.

My disabled son has had all his much needed therepy stopped. Same for all the other kids I know with special needs.

The local centre that is a lifeline for so many parents and children with special needs has shut and has no plans to re open.

Many of these kids aren't ill or vulnerable to the virus. They have developmental and/or behaviour problems and physical disabilities. My own son has been in nursery this whole time which was oked by his Dr. There is no reason for those kids to be denied help and denied a place to have fun and learn.

He's not seen 1 Dr or therapist since this started. Hes due an op which has been further delayed. God knows when that will happen.

I think there are a lot of services that will never return. They'll use this as an opportunity to reduce nhs services.

So many sad stories.

I can see that many NHS staff are frustrated.

The guidance was that childhood vaccinations must continue. I have been doing full clinics of them all the way through. Surgeries that haven't have not been following the rules.
Same for B12, never stopped here.
And FSRH guidance is implants now valid for four years for contraception. Same as Mirena.

Sorry Mirena is six years. Useable also extended by a year.

It's resulted in my Drs surgery giving me the b12 vile and needle needed and suggesting I find someone trained in administering injections. We do know a nurse who is willing to give it to me outside, but then I thought last night how will we dispose of the needle safely with no sharps box etc

This isn't new tbf. Dh had to give me injections after I gave birth. They should have given you a disposal box which is then collected.

I don't think it's the end of the world to make people administer their own regular injections. If it frees up nurses time so they can be doing somthing more specialised. Diabetics don't go to the nurse every time they need insulin do they.

cpt that's good to know, thanks! Don't suppose you also know how to put a fallen out vagina back in..?

GP’s should be called to question about what they were doing in the midst of this crisis - patients were dealt with by 111

What a sweeping statement to make! Our surgery was open all the way through lockdown, front door open and people able to enter. We continued childhood vaccinations, smears and some chronic disease management. We have also been trying to help patients beyond our competency when we have been unable to refer to hospital clinics. For example, our local lymphoedema staff were furloughed! And pain management consultations were redeployed to the Covid frontline.

We cannot open completely face to face as before. We cannot have waiting rooms stuffed with people, there needs to be social distancing and staggering of appointments. Time is needed for cleaning between patients. So remote consultations where possible are here to stay while these measures are needed.

I agree that some of the examples on this thread are terrible, individual GPs are accountable for their own clinical decisions. I'm pissed off with the general 'what are GPs doing?' comments when most of us are trying our very best in difficult circumstances.

That not really true though is it? Many people don't believe the solution is all or nothing. Not the same as wanting to remain in total lockdown or relishing the prospect of a second wave.

If you take a look at a lot of the threads on here, there are a lot like this. My parents are like it, as are others I know.

My mother is a great believer that we should all still be locked down and shops shut. She's a bloody idiot.

The nhs are going by government guidelines. It's really not the nhs you should be blaming here. Consultants, physios, GP's, health visitors etc are as frustrated as you are. Get angry by all means but please make sure you are directing your anger at the correct people.

I'm so sorry to all those people who have had treatment stopped and suffered during this time. It's awful and the consequences are tragic in some cases here too.

I didn't really realise how fortunate we've been in my city tbh. A lot of treatment has still continued and, although not all of it has happened in the same way, my own family have still been able to have continued treatment and medical help. We are fortunate in that we have more than one large teaching hospitals I think.

@Hairyfairy01

The nhs are going by government guidelines. It's really not the nhs you should be blaming here. Consultants, physios, GP's, health visitors etc are as frustrated as you are. Get angry by all means but please make sure you are directing your anger at the correct people.

But the stories on this thread would suggest the opposite. Massive variations in experience.

@Polnm

Of course missing ante natal appointments and children missing vaccinations matter and it is fine to feel angry and let down

I had a potentially serious issue picked up through a routine midwife visit. Some parents won’t end up getting their children vaccinated for lots of reasons

Meaning increased risk of stillbirth. This phone shit has to stop. Healthcare is not a fucking call centre.

Weirdly despite no GP’s doing anything other than online appointments, I was invited in for a smear which ended in the nurse trying to refer me to the hospital because of a lump where shouldn’t be. The urgent referral was rejected so I am stressed thinking cancer as you do. I have also had to pay for an appointment privately for a physiotherapist to treat me where I developed a frozen shoulder suddenly as in so much pain. The only help from my GP was after two difficult to get phone only consultations was a drug dealing amount of painkillers!? When I wanted to know what was wrong and medical help. The galling thing is that the private hospital is attached to the NHS hospital with no one being seen on the NHS but it’s the same professionals seeing people privately! I can’t afford to pay for a consultant appointment though for my ‘lump’ but I may have to as it’s five months now and no sign of hospitals returning to normal and starting to see all those they haven’t for months!

It seems to depend where you live. I’m in the NW.
I’m 60 and post menopause and towards the end of July I had some unexpected bleeding. I delayed a week whilst plucking up courage, then rang the GP and received an appointment at the surgery with a nurse practitioner for the next working day. I was referred under the 2 week rule and was seen and treated in hospital mid August (it was a cervical polyp). A total of 19 days from appearance of symptoms to treatment which included 6 days delay while I procrastinated.
I’m so sorry for all those waiting and suffering.