To think my current work situation in the NHS is an absolute joke *MNHQ tweaked title at request of OP*

[MooreFoolYou]

Props to all NHS workers in the areas that were hit hard by Covid, I'm not denying for a second your hard work. What annoys me, is that hospitals in areas that haven't been affected are barely running and it's just a joke.

I work in a hospital that covers a large county, we've had 3 confirmed Covid cases. Ever. Yet almost all 'non essential' departments are still shut. Deployment has ended, as it's just not needed. Covid is not impacting us at this time. I have no work to do, as my department is shut, yet still I come in everyday. I'm literally coming in to sit in the office reading a book or even watching Netflix sometimes. There's loads of us that have nothing to do! You walk on to a ward and there's 12 nurses just twiddling their hands.

Why are non essential departments still closed when there is nothing else to occupy our time? Can the NHS really afford us to just bloody sit here? It's been two months of this! Why are patients having non emergency surgeries cancelled, why are non urgent referrals being postponed indefinitely, why are we turning people away to sit here with nothing to do?

I'm just fed up of it! I'm paying someone to look after my child whilst I do absolutely nothing. I've been told I can't work from home as the cost of getting me a laptop is too high, so I must come in everyday to just be here. With no work. Zero. What is the point!

Don't you know the NHS has to protected? Even if people have to die unnecessarily for it?

The world is mad!

Terrifying

Sadly the chances of a proper grown-up debate about the NHS are now almost zero. There's no denying the hard work (and in some cases bravery) of many of its staff. But there's also zero accountability on major errors like this, and as soon as a politician dares to discuss it they are howled down.

Considering the consultant I really need to see as I'm living in constant pain is in a department that is still shut down and I've been told it'll be at least 12 months before I see them because "it's just too dangerous", I'm with you on this.

I was told to speak to my GP, but they don't want to know, as I'm under the consultant for my care.

I'm just fed endless painkillers and that's it. The problem is, it's not covid, so it's completely unimportant.

I'm hoping my hospital is an exception, as the thought of thousands of NHS employees getting paid to read books or watch Netflix makes me fear for this country. But I doubt it is. I emailed my manager again yesterday asking for guidance on how to spend my 8 hours a day as I can't find anything to do and was told to "sit tight" and "sorry, I know it's boring at the moment"

Just unbelievable.

I agree op. All of my appointments have been changed to telephone during lockdown, which I completely understand, but each time the Dr says "we need to see you face to face, your next appointment we'll get you in" and they are still telephone appointments - my furthest one is November - still telephone.

I'm having an urgent new respiratory appointment in two weeks time - over the phone!!! How?

I have blood tests every three months because of my medication. We now have to book blood tests. Next test due at end of September tried to book two weeks ago and earliest appointment is December!!!!

@PhilCornwall1

Considering the consultant I really need to see as I'm living in constant pain is in a department that is still shut down and I've been told it'll be at least 12 months before I see them because "it's just too dangerous", I'm with you on this.

I was told to speak to my GP, but they don't want to know, as I'm under the consultant for my care.

I'm just fed endless painkillers and that's it. The problem is, it's not covid, so it's completely unimportant.

Chances are the consultant would love to see you. Staff here are furious about not being allowed to work when we have nothing else to do. The days feel endless. It's so frustrating for staff and obviously even more so for people being left suffering unnecessarily. I hope they sort this chaos out soon and you can get the treatment you need.

Agreed. The knock-on effects of covid on things like cancer treatment and preventable illnesses is going to be a scandal.

What department are you working in and what other types of departments are shut?

I’ve just been to an appointment today. The hospital was pretty busy to be honest- similar to pre covid. What area do you work in? Things seem back to normal (ish) here just without partners at appointments.

I absolutely agree . Dentists are cancellinf all routine nhs appointments, my ds is under orthodontist no appointments despute starting treatment prior to lockdown.

He us under camhs , they want to do a video call to physically see him as safeguarding.. i told them he is in school no need to see him. For the 6 months he was out of school i could understand

A friend of mine who runs a clinic (nurse) says the same - cancelled clinics and only seeing the most at risk, but for the most part, watching Netflix. But at the same time, during the lockdown, and schools were only open for key workers, she had to take annual leave as breakfast club was cancelled.

I work in paediatrics and our surgeons were getting very frustrated when it became clear that children weren't being affected very much. They felt they could have started operating again a lot sooner than we actually did. However we are in a major city that got off very lightly. We spent most of lockdown colouring. I got flamed when I mentioned that at the beginning. As people said we should be being redeployed etc. But we just weren't needed.

I agree. But you won't get anywhere saying this. The 'second wave is coming and we're all going to wind up dead' brigade will be here shortly.

Very odd. My hospital has had over a thousand patients admitted with covid since March, but everything is up and running again now, albeit slower than usual due to the need for PPE and social distancing.

Struggling to think of what department wouldn't have any work to at least catch up on

My mental health team is still very much running. We have had to deal with staff shortages due to childcare issues, having to isolate due to major health issues etc. We have also been redeployed at times to manage other departments where theres been a large chunk of staff who are isolating. Lots of things are also requiring more staff eg as group activities cant be done

To be honest although the actual impact of covid has been low for our team, the resulting difficulties has been manic.

@Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd

I agree. But you won't get anywhere saying this. The 'second wave is coming and we're all going to wind up dead' brigade will be here shortly.

Ah yes, the ones who think we should be locked down, stuck at home eating dust in a darkened room and you are selfish and a murderer to even think you need to go to a hospital.

I'm in a non patient facing department. Purely administrative. No reason for us to be closed, yet we are.

Honestly besides A&E, the chemo unit and the maternity ward I don't think a single department in this hospital is operating as usual, and barely anyone is attending A&E at the moment. Lots of clinics cancelled, and almost all clinics that aren't are on a telephone basis, some being done over video (zoom physio FFS!)

I'm happy to hear some hospitals aren't the same. I can only talk about my particular hospital, in my particular health board. But here atleast, it's an absolute joke.

I think it's very different across the different trusts.
My ds has had surgery, tests, outpatients, dietitian appointments and gp face to face and phone consultations as required over this period.
I have been waiting for over a year for surgery (had a date for March that was cancelled). My consultant is still doing cancers only. Because my case is not life threatening its on the back burner however the longer I wait the more I deteriorate and unfortunately won't get that back. The letter I had last week states 'we know you've been waiting over a year unfortunately we can't tell you when surgery will restart'.
The big worry for many is that if they don't get treatment before November they may not get it till spring as they'll then blame winter pressures /covid/backlogs.
The NHS staff who deal with these patients are not to blame its a management /government issue and the system was struggling prior to covid.
Op I can understand your frustrations. something needs to be done and departments seeing some patients is better than none let's just hope morecan be opened up soon.

How do you know no one is attending A&E?

Nothing wrong with zoom appointments if things can be done that way it’s safer than having people hanging around for hours.

I’ve had several appointments and an operation since lockdown so urgent things are happening.!

@Houndabouttown

How do you know no one is attending A&E?

Nothing wrong with zoom appointments if things can be done that way it’s safer than having people hanging around for hours.

I’ve had several appointments and an operation since lockdown so urgent things are happening.!

I have not said no one is attending A&E. I have said barely anyone is attending A&E in my hospital, because that's the case here. A&E admissions all across the UK have fallen to a record low since covid. Some areas may have picked up again but definitely not here.

I had a zoom physio appointment and in my experience it just doesn't work. I understand doing what we can where we are too busy to see people face to face, but where we are not I think departments need to get back to normal. Desperately.

We have been trying to get my husband in to see an NHS dentist for about 10 weeks now. He has a dental abscess so bad that he has lost over 2 stone because he isn't able to eat properly. His face is swollen and he can't sleep properly. It got so bad he went to A & E 5 weeks ago. They gave him penicillin and sent him away, telling him to see a dentist. We worry every day that it is spreading but nobody will see him and help him. I guess if he gets sepsis and dies it will be OK because it won't be a covid death.

I personally can't believe that someone had the gall to put the letter nagging me about my "missed" smear test in the post. I can't get an appointment for one.

I have been to the vets (sadly) six times in the past two months. They were extremely compassionate and allowed my husband and I to both say goodbye to our cats.

I can have a haircut. Yet I can't have a nurse stick a speculum up a bit of me that only coughs as a party trick.

Bloody hell Op, that is crazy.

I'd be tempted to whistle blow.