Shocked at how terrible the NHS is nowadays

[ConfusedBoobs]

I had a mammogram a month ago that showed I have calcifications that they don't think are cancer but they won't know for sure until after I've had a biopsy. Today I found out that the biopsy can't be prioritised as urgent and so will still be another month away. AIBU to think it's terrible to leave people in limbo like this?

@Knownbyanothername we have very high levels of inequality, far higher than many EU countries with good health services. That means we have lots of people not accessing dentistry because they cant afford the cost.
I have problems getting my DP to go to the GP anyway. No chance if there was a cost. For people like my dad with many appointments and tests even a small cost every time would soon be extortionate.

Why do you think the Tories want this system rather than increasing tax? They want it because poor people who tend to have worse health will pay more, while rich people will pay less. It is not about getting good healthcare.

I recently had major gallbladder issues, I had my letter through to offer a consultation next July!! By next July the pain would have gotten worse and I dread to think the sick time I might have needed from work..
I’m just very lucky I have private medical that had me in and the operation done within 3 weeks..

@LondonLife3 that shocks me. My issues are gallbladder. It took me 6 weeks from initial call to GP surgery to consultants appointment, with a scan in between. I wonder if they would have brought it forward?

@ChocolateDeficitDisorder

All part of the Tory plan...steadily underfund the system and when enough people write posts like this about how 'terrible' the NHS is, they're going to start encouraging you to use the recommended 'alternatives'.

End result a few years down the line, no more NHS and an American style healthcare system that makes lots of billionaires even richer and regular people struggling to afford food and healthcare. Sick people will die for want of insurance/treatment they can't afford.

I do hope those that voted for the Tories are all getting what they voted for.

Exactly this.

@julieca we are the only country in the whole world to provide free at the point of service.

No, we have the Scottish NHS which is separate organisation to the English NHS and operates in a different country and under a different government.

Not going to lie I'm actually terrified of what's happening with NHS.. I think about it daily, things like what if I need to call an ambulance for a family member, will we be waiting 4 hours...? I'd rather pay more NI if it means saving Nhs or scrimping some money together and getting some good health insurance in place, but even then, if you need A and E, you have to go through NHS don't you? Scary times...not to mention covid...

Honestly, an insurance-based scheme would be a nightmare for me. It would be very expensive. But I would also have to do all the admin for my parents and for a relative with serious mental health problems. And there is no way my relative would go for mental health treatment if they had to pay. They would end up sectioned and losing their job. It would have a major impact on my life.

julieca we are the only country in the whole world to provide free at the point of service.

What? This is absolutely not true.

@ChocolateDeficitDisorder
I’m fully aware of that, but the Scottish government has also done a good job of privatising parts of our Scottish NHS. No one wants to talk about that because it doesn’t fit the narrative of our wonderful free health service.

healthandcare.scot/default.asp?page=story&story=1862

I work in the NHS and have done for many, many years. Those talking about emergency care delays...as far as I'm aware emergency ambulances aren't available privately and if they are where would they discharge on to? The majority (if not all) of private hospitals do not have the expertise, staff nor facilities to deal with true emergencies, quick treatment privately brill but if something goes wrong? BTW I also vote blue!

As far as finances are concerned: I am employed with a lower end wage paying into the German system (employers have to match the contributions, the % are the same for all earners, insurance is compulsory so insurers have to take you)
health: 8,05 % of the pre-tax income, that covers me and my dependant DC.
care: 1,5 %
pension: 9,3%
unemployment: 2,4%

And if you are not earning? So rich people? Retired people?

Every time I read a thread like this, I'm so glad I'm not in the U.K. any more. The NHS is failing it's people but it's not the fault of its staff but of a government that refuses to fund it well and public who are resistant to paying in more.

A US system is not the only alternative - there are plenty of examples in Europe that are better than the UK's - but we pay more for them. There is the Australian model, which seems like a bit of Europe and a bit of US. But yes there would be issues with rich/poor areas - where I live in France is basically a medical desert because we are on the Swiss border and HCPs earn more in Switzerland, so they work there.

The French system is really good in many areas. 70% is paid for though taxation and you can chose to pay the other 30% yourself as you go or get a top-up insurance to cover the difference. But à GP visit costs €25, so not expensive. Many medications are pennies. The cost of insurance isn't high.

The Swiss system is great, but expensive, though poorer people get help to ensure they have basic health insurance. I access it through international insurance and it's worth every penny. My DH has special cross-border insurance. Between us we pay about £10,000 a year - I'm not sure how much he would pay in the U.K.. I have had 7 surgeries there, all booked on a day of my closing, mostly within a month of the consultation (a couple within a week!). Follow-up care is amazing. Now under a wonderful pain clinic where the staff are like a second family.

DH worked in Sweden for a year and again they pay more in taxes (taxation is high anyway) but healthcare is almost free at the point of delivery - for outpatient treatment certainly everything is free after the first €100 each year.

Missed appointments have to be paid for in many countries if you cancel with less than 24 (sometimes 48) hrs notice. Things like falling ill with Covid would be an exception. It's an incentive not to waste your HCP's time.

If the U.K. switched to private, the same staff would be providing the care in à hopefully more efficient manner - but undoubtedly extra staff and hospitals would be needed too - there is no quick fix.

OP i hope you get seen soon.

Go private - I wish there was a way to stop paying for the NHS, it is utterly useless especially for diagnostics.

God this really worries me.
Paying for missing appointments sounds fine in theory. For anyone with mental health issues or pre senile dementia, it is a nightmare.
Paying £25 a GP appointment is a lot if you have to go a couple of times a week. Most serious conditions here are managed through GPs. This would get very expensive for the illest patients.

Taxation is the fairest way to pay. Poor people pay less, rich people pay more.

I’m fully aware of that, but the Scottish government has also done a good job of privatising parts of our Scottish NHS

The Scotgov has outsourced temporarily to reduce waiting times in NHS hospitals...it's certainly not part of a greater plan to dismantle the Scottish NHS as the Tories are doing in England.

The governments of both countries have very different plans for the future of their health services.

Go private - I wish there was a way to stop paying for the NHS

And if you can't afford private...what then?

"If the U.K. switched to private, the same staff would be providing the care in à hopefully more efficient manner"

No this is not what would happen. It would simply cost more. And look at what happened in Nottingham. Internationally renowned eye care service was privatised. Now barely manages to provide basic eye care, rather than the complex operations it was doing.
Look at what happened with other services we privatised? There have been so many scandals, latest with Priory group.

Going private doesnt help. Some people have as long a wait privately at the moment as on the NHS. Because the issue is a lack of staff.

@ChocolateDeficitDisorder

I’m fully aware of that, but the Scottish government has also done a good job of privatising parts of our Scottish NHS

The Scotgov has outsourced temporarily to reduce waiting times in NHS hospitals...it's certainly not part of a greater plan to dismantle the Scottish NHS as the Tories are doing in England.

The governments of both countries have very different plans for the future of their health services.

Where can I find out about the Conservatives plans to dismantle the NHS?

Yeah they just basically don'r cate at this point.
By they I mean the ones running and funding the whole operation at a governmental level. Although to be fair it also doesn't help that the only people we put through medical school are the most privileged of society meaning they are also the least good at problem solving..

Agreed. My 2 year old was in severe pain for over a month awaiting surgery earlier this year. Going private wasn't even an option, as paediatric general anaesthesia for small children has to be done in a hospital with access to paeds ICU and only NHS hospitals have that. I almost lost my mind. I'm ready for the UK to move to the French or German system .

@AutumnInBustletown I am sorry to hear that. But what difference would an insurance system have made? Its still the same staff who would do it. Only difference is you would have paid more.