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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

HowDoYouOwnDisorder · 04/01/2023 22:20

NHS staff are nice, I am sure

But the NHS as a system is broken by underfunding and mismanagement

people can’t seem to understand that criticising the NHS is not the same as criticising nhs workers

people love to say things like: oh well, this lovely HV saved my life in 1998 so I love the NHS

But loving the NHS won’t make it function. In the meantime old people are left lying on the floor for hours, days …in pain with broken hips, and no ambulances and no hospital beds.

Hotpinkangel19 · 04/01/2023 22:21

Saved my husband's life last year when he was in a life changing accident.

MilkyYay · 04/01/2023 22:25

Oh and i will just never forget the nurses in PICU. One of them calmly bag ventilating DD over and over, she must have had a fucking awful shift, and she just bloody got on with it and didn't let me see how bad it was. I only realised when i over heard her handing over at the end of her shift.

Nurse Laura (i won't say the hospital as its outing) you're a star and we never forget you.

Roseberry1 · 04/01/2023 22:26

The NHS I have experienced is not the same one on the news at all. Over the past 10/15 years I've experienced:

My dm in ICU - Amazing care and they saved her life.

2 births - brilliant care.

GP service, although the initial appointment line is lengthy, a telephone/face to face appointment within good time.

999 for anaphylaxis - were there in 5 minutes.

Stroke - Amazing care, I mean Amazing!

Abnormal smear - colposcopy within a month and follow up great.

Blood tests done promptly.

Df - knee replacement, brilliant care.

My experience of the NHS is Amazing.

dizzydizzydizzy · 04/01/2023 22:32

My GP is absolutely amazing. I'm feeling fairly well, mentally and physically, for the first time in a few years. In large part it is due to the endless time, patience and care I have received from my GP. Previous GP told me there was nothing they could do to help and put phone down.

TheFormidableMrsC · 04/01/2023 22:33

In March 2020 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 days before lockdown. I had surgery on lockdown day and was home the same day. My treatment was seamless throughout the pandemic. I've never been more thankful for the NHS than I was then.

MilkyYay · 04/01/2023 22:34

But loving the NHS won’t make it function. In the meantime old people are left lying on the floor for hours, days …in pain with broken hips, and no ambulances and no hospital beds.

This just hasn't been my experience.

DDs emergency care was fast, coordinated and organised.
I broke my foot and was seen in 2 hours, x rated etc. On a sunday.

Ive never waited longer than about half an hour for ambulances (for DD struggling to breathe as a baby twice, me haemoragging during a miscarriage with retained placenta).

We've had easy access to consultant gynaecologists, obstetricians, paediatricians, cardiologists, endocrinologists, dieticians, feeding clinics.

Thepollonator · 04/01/2023 22:40

An amazing consultant at John Radcliffe hospital saved my life after a massive brain haemorrhage (SAH). This was after two ambulance men came out to me and told my husband just to give me 2 Paracetamol, he refused because of the state I was in!
They took me first to my local hospital were I was diagnosed after they called someone in to do an MRI and sent me straight off to the specialist hospital. I was treated amazingly all the time I was in and have received excellent after care!
Excellent NHS hospital staff!

flumposie · 04/01/2023 23:08

Helped me to have a child (ivf treatment). Then emergency c section 13 years ago today. Always thankful, especially today .

2chocolateoranges · 04/01/2023 23:14

So many times:

saved my sons life when he was born
when my mum had a stroke she was in hospital within the hour as fast action is hugely beneficial when someone has a stroke.
cared for my sibling in ICU for a month after a suicide attempt,
gave my mil over 30 years more life after her cancer diagnosis meaning she got to meet and see 8 grandchildren grow up.
saved my grans life with a pacemaker giving her 20 extra years .

I could go on and on but those are the most memorable ones.

Lannielou · 04/01/2023 23:42

Saving my life, I have a serious heart condition. I am seen at a specialist hospital, I take gold standard medication and have an S-ICD which is expensive. If I lived in America I would be dead.

My son was born at term with group b strep, again the nhs saved his life. He is now 15

lettucesandwich · 05/01/2023 07:23

When I was a dc the NHS was absolutely brilliant. I remember a doctor coming to my house to diagnose tonsillitis! Was so so much better, I often wonder how many people wanting to save the nhs are basing it on views through rose tinted nostalgic glasses. Nowadays I have to literally fight and argue just to get a telephone call. And even then I'm number 18 in the queue on the phone when the surgery opens at 8am despite ringing the minute the clock turns 8.

GrunkleStan · 05/01/2023 07:38

Took my son to a&e during pandemic with symptoms of testicular torsion (which I knew about from reading about it on here).

Arrived at 1.00pm. In theatre by 3.30pm.
Bloody amazing.

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