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Original poster

When did the NHS make a difference to you?

113 replies

tryingtobenice3 · 04/01/2023 18:30

what was a time you had a positive experience with the NHS? Or was there a time the NHS helped you or a particular HCA, doctor, nurse etc did something that made a massive difference to you?

Obviously there’s been a lot of posts on here recently about the state of the NHS- people unable to get a GP appointment, people waiting days in a&e, people unhappy with the treatment they’ve had (or lack of treatment in some cases) not to mention all the different opinions on the strikes. I’m not denying or pretending these problems don’t exist because it’s awful right now. I have so much respect for NHS staff right now- I have NO idea how you cope with it all.

I just thought it would be nice to have a thread on here with nice stories or times someone in the NHS made a difference to you. Just to have a positive thread in case it cheers anyone up or makes a difference at all.

I’ll go first- my GP surgery, which isn’t always easy to get appointments at, have been so supportive and amazing when I was unwell. I was seen on the same day and the GP was so patient and lovely meanwhile I cried because I was frightened and felt so unwell. I never felt like a burden and I’m sure she was tired and fed up and wanted me to leave so she could see her next patient, and I probably held up her day and clinic diary as my appointment took well over the time, but I never forgot how kind and sympathetic she was when I was so unwell. It made such a huge difference to me. I ended up getting sent straight to the hospital and admitted for a week and I probably would have been too scared to go had she not been so kind and supportive to me

I’m not pretending the NHS is perfect and I know this is not going to fix the problems that other people have had, and it won’t help the staff with how overworked and under appreciated, but I just thought it might be a nice idea to have a nice thread with nice stories to show nhs staff how much we really appreciate them☺️

OP posts:
PrayingandHoping · 04/01/2023 18:39

All the time! Seriously.....

My daughter has Down Syndrome. She has an amazing team supporting her who are all contactable when needed and take excellent care of her and support me

She also has an open door at the a&e. Everytime we go in they are amazing, I can't say a word negative. Yes at times even with an open door I may have to have a wait, but I think once you've had admissions you just learn that cogs don't turn as fast as perhaps you'd like, but if they need to they absolutely do.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 04/01/2023 18:43

Went to (new) surgery because I couldn't shift a cough. As I was a new patient the GP took my BP, which was sky high. I was immediately put on meds and sent for blood tests to find out if there was any underlying cause, and a few months of tests picked up blood cancer. Treatment has been exemplary since then.

user1494050295 · 04/01/2023 18:46

In the last ten years loads. my family and I have had multiple visits (me half a dozen surgeries at various hospitals). Without the nhs I would probably not be here. It is incredible. The care exemplary. Thanks 🙏🏻

missy111 · 04/01/2023 18:49

My sons birth (33 weeks)...he's now 9!
Lots of specialist input during his early years, and now thriving!
My health-I have a team of specialist nurses who are always there providing help and support..
My husband-emergency surgery without which he would not be here.

Also our amazing GP practice who have never let us down, despite never ending pressures on them!

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 04/01/2023 18:49

The only time was when I had a child coming out of my vagina.

They we’re really lovely to me. I was young and scared and clueless and the midwives were just so sweet and helpful.

Squabbledee · 04/01/2023 18:49

I've saved the NHS tens of thousands as they couldn't give me the help I needed.. Hmm

SingleSnickers · 04/01/2023 18:50

Age 36 with PE just before covid hit, diagnosed with APS - can't falut them

ladymalfoy45 · 04/01/2023 18:51

Every GP appointment. Every smear. My daughter's jabs. My care whilst pregnant and in hospital after DD was born. Her care when diagnosed with reflux.
My mum's care,dads care,siblings care.DHs care.
Everytime my family have needed them .

beeswa · 04/01/2023 18:51

Amazing with me and my son when I went into early labour .

9 weeks later saved his life when he had meningitis .

TiredButAlive · 04/01/2023 18:54

I recently had a scare, profuse post-menopausal bleeding. I contacted my surgery online (they have a great system to triage) and a GP phoned me within 2 hours. I was put on an urgent pathway and saw a consultant 2.5 weeks later. As you can imagine I was terrified it was serious and help would be hard to get but I was given the all clear. All the staff involved were professional, caring and understanding. Thank you NHS staff. So sorry you are dealing with so much crap right now. Tories out!!!!

GettingMarriedAgain · 04/01/2023 18:55

So many times over the years.

My GP surgery is amazing. You have to book a telephone appointment with a GP to discuss your problem unless it’s an emergency but you never have to wait more than a day or two to do this and if they need to see you they’ll often get you in on the same day. And despite being a big surgery I almost always seem the same doctor.

I am currently being treated for cancer and while there are problems with delays and staff shortages, the care I’ve received in hospital has been amazing. Particularly from the chemotherapy nurses who are unfailingly professional and caring despite working in difficult circumstances.

Gawdknows · 04/01/2023 18:56

They saved my daughters life when she was 6 hours old. The nurses in ICU/NNU & the consultants could not have done more.

My brother had an accident abroad a few years ago & was on life support. The hospital called us & needed a payment of £8K before they would be prepared to operate on his fractured skull & brain bleeds.

The NHS has been abused & let down. But it's still standing. Just. We are bloody lucky to have it.

soundsgreektome · 04/01/2023 18:58

I had a full hysterectomy in September. Absolutely amazing treatment, all the staff went above and beyond. I was really well
looked after. Couldn’t fault a thing. Apart from being a bit apprehensive - I could almost say it was enjoyable 😆

NerdyBird · 04/01/2023 18:59

NHS, maybe more specifically the consultant/hospital side of it has been great for me in a few ways.
Diagnosed and corrected deviated septum when I'd been told it was allergies, pretty good management of my auto-immune condition. And thank goodness for affordable prescriptions as I could be on some medication for the rest of my life.
And when I had my daughter - it all happened fairly quickly so lots is a blur but everyone was lovely. I'd also been to them a few times with worries over bleeding and movements when pregnant and they were always reassuring.

WallaceinAnderland · 04/01/2023 18:59

When my dd was born 12 weeks premature.

Every time we've needed anything, the NHS has been there for us. Even the 2 A&E visits last year and one operation.

Smoky1107 · 04/01/2023 19:00

Helped with fertility issues. 2 births, one child with epilepsy, two womb tumours and a hysterectomy. And it's given me a lovely career that still has lots of scope

dcbc1234 · 04/01/2023 19:00

The 'assumption' you are maybe making in starting a thread like this is to assume that you wouldn't have mostly had a decent experience in an alternatively-funded system.

HappyHolidai · 04/01/2023 19:00

Many times (I was born with a serious medical problem that needed operations and ongoing monitoring - 46 years and counting).

But also this week. I have post-Covid fatigue and needed to be signed off from work. I put in my fit note request just before 8:15 yesterday and the GP turned it round within an hour, which meant that when I phoned work I had the note and could do it all in one go. So appreciated when even just organising the admin of getting signed off wiped me out til lunchtime.

AnonKat · 04/01/2023 19:01

All the time! Just recently I went in for sore ears, seen in 2 days from using online booking system. During the appointment I mentioned that my husband was unwell, doctor phoned him that morning and saw him that afternoon.

Nanatokidsdogshampsters · 04/01/2023 19:01

During the pandemic I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Watching the news where it was saying that NHS cancer patients were having their treatment delayed.
That was so far from the truth. I had my first operation 3 weeks after my diagnosis.
Second operation was 4 weeks later and I only had to wait 8 weeks for radiotherapy.
Even now I am usually seen the same day by my GP if I'm Ill.

But most importantly they saved my children's lives one born at 33 weeks and the other at 29. This was nearly 40 years ago.

PlantDoctor · 04/01/2023 19:01

Since birth! Had a major op as a baby. Saved family members many times too. Thanks, NHS!

WallaceinAnderland · 04/01/2023 19:01

dcbc1234 · 04/01/2023 19:00

The 'assumption' you are maybe making in starting a thread like this is to assume that you wouldn't have mostly had a decent experience in an alternatively-funded system.

I would absolutely expect a decent experience in an alternatively-funded system.

Balloonsandroses · 04/01/2023 19:01

My daughter got cancer when she was 6. The NHS saved her life and funded proton beam radiotherapy overseas for her rather than traditional radiotherapy which would have left her with far more side effects. And my GP supported her and us all the way through and up till now 2 years later when they’ll see her really quickly for reassurance if she develops even a minor symptom that scares her (only happened once but I was so grateful to them)

DiscoStusMoonboots · 04/01/2023 19:03

A nurse sat with my dad as he died unexpectedly from COVID complications at the tail-end of lockdown. There was no time for us to get there - he was gone in minutes. She sat with him, held his hand and phoned us immediately afterwards to break the news. She called a few days down the line too to check in. It's this story that I have to hold on to in order not to lose my mind whilst navigating IVF on the NHS during a period of extreme challenge and underfunding.

ItisallPooh · 04/01/2023 19:05

Saved my life multiple times over just in the last 12 months. Clearly understaffed and overstretched but the doctors and nurses who looked after me were absolutely amazing.