To ask where in UK has consistently good hospital and health care so we can plan a move there in later life?

[Scandala]

We are not ready to move yet (young DC and careers in London) but we won’t be fit forever so I have one eye on the future decade/s.

Inspired by another thread about over-stretched local hospital, I wondered whether there are any hospitals/trusts that are consistently well run, despite current cuts and pressures?

I know nothing stays the same forever but where would you move to based on performance in previous years for later life if you wanted access to hassle-free NHS care?

Are there any areas of the UK that offer great quality of life and great healthcare?

I'm in the n-east of Scotland and can't fault the NHS care I've had in recent years. My mum is in Glasgow and getting excellent cancer care, even though it was diagnosed during lockdown. Her treatment started immediately despite all the various restrictions.

I had a breast abscess recently and my wonderful GP was straight on the phone to the hospital, who were waiting for me to arrive at 5pm on a Friday night. I was seen immediately (I had 6wo DD with me who the staff were so accommodating to) then had ongoing appointments with breast clinic for a further six weeks, all of which happened without a hitch. I've also had two babies in three years and felt well looked after and cared for. I've also never had issues getting GP care when I've needed it.

I know it's a postcode lottery, but I've been very fortunate, having read some of the horrible stories on here.

@gogohmm Out of curiosity where do you live- sounds good

I disagree. There is a huge postcode lottery. The difference in the management of trusts can be substantial. The best run (NHS Managers - not government), are way ahead of the worst.

I personally wouldn't go back to the 1960's. Regardless of the current state of NHS care now, we have so many more (and expensive), treatments and cures available now than back then.

Major city.
I had breast cancer treatment in 2019 and made contact with several others going through the same process.
Those being treated in London and Manchester had a completly different experience in so many ways from the trivial to the serious.
I saw an oncologist once during the whole 9 month process. The rest was all done second hand via nurse specialists. Those in the cities saw their oncologists every couple of weeks.
I had to travel a 2 hour round trip for many, many appointments because my local hospital had limited facilities (even fewer now)

Pointless question - a good area now may not be in 5 years' time - never mind longer.

I would say London as you have a much greater choice, and many specialist hospitals are there but that's the only one that is different

Op lancaster is a small city. It is surrounded by countryside.. near the sea and it has a hospital in the city centre ( all walk distance )and a regional hospital half hour away . So it is possible .

Sheffield has several teaching hospitals and is next door to the Peak District national park.

Services in rural areas are often very poor, even areas you wouldn't think of as being particularly 'rural'. We are 45 mins from nearest hospital in an affluent mixed demographic area. All the services are concentrated in the big towns with very little reaching us as its not cost effective so send people out that far to a small population group. The services my parents got in Croydon were vastly superior to that available to similar patient groups locally. Public transport to reach them is dire and taxis prohibitively expensive, and in many cases patients are deemed 'out of area' for services and are not eligible...

Dorchester, Dorset. Lovely acute hospital and my parents have always had brilliant healthcare from GP, physics and in-ward teams. Can't fault them.