Emergency child surgery cancelled because of the doctor strike

[Nindaelita]

Yes... just had the phone call yesterday. My daughter's emergency eye surgery was just cancelled, she has glaucoma and uveitis which medication isn't touching it at all so she can lose her eye sight.

What you make of this? I really feel helpless and the only thing the hospital told me was they can only reschedule it for in a few weeks time. What if she doesn't have a few weeks time anymore?

I understand why these strikes are happening and I support them as does many people. Everyone should have good work conditions and a pay salary accordingly. But until you have a member of your family on the line for emergency treatment and you feel like you being let down by them happening you won't understand the despair some people go tro...Meanwhile let critical patients on a limbo.

Judge me all you want but my child and hundred others are being put in a dangerous situation.
And I don't think I'm being AIBU..

this is truely awful for you and your child OP. I cannot imagine how stressful this must be for you.

unfortunately if nothing changes in the NHS then this type of situation will be normal as the service is becoming increasingly overstretched and junior doctors are leaving

What like the OP's child? Typical Tory attitude.

And fuck anyone caught in the crossfire I guess.

And before people whine saying the NHS is under funded it’s not. The funds are poorly managed. Poorly is putting it lightly.

I am so sorry, you must feel utterly desperate.

It's the government's fault

I agree with this in part.

every year the Obesity related illnesses cost the NHS billions. This is a burden on the system that, as individuals, we largely can control.

smoking related illnesses also cost the NHS excessive amounts. As well as alcohol and drug related issues. We do need to have a conversation about the NHS, the use of it and how we can all do more to help take care of our own health where possible to limit the burden on an overburdened system.

A friend of mine who is a consultant in a London hospital just messaged me to say that on nights she will be covering approx 250 inpatients and all emergency admissions (approx 30-60 is usual) with just 3 other members of staff due to the strike. She is aghast that there is not massively more news coverage of the fact that people are going to die because of this. And the BBC is pissing around making fuck ups over football pundit tweets. I support the doctors and completely blame the incompetent govt but why the hell this isn't all over the news I don't know. It's not even anywhere on the top stories on the BBC app.

Im so sorry this is affecting you. This government are totally reckless and don’t care . Most Tory MPs can afford to go privately and as long as it doesn’t affect them they couldn’t care less.

I saw Steve Barclay failed to turn up to a meeting with the BMA on Friday and then wrote to the BMA at 10pm at night after everything has already been cancelled. He is a total idiot. The sooner we have a general election the better.

also can’t believe that the bbc aren’t even reporting on it

Nope ots underfunded.

A friend of mine who is a consultant in a London hospital just messaged me to say that on nights she will be covering approx 250 inpatients and all emergency admissions (approx 30-60 is usual) with just 3 other members of staff due to the strike

All of that work would usually be done by one medical Reg and 2-3 medical SHOs. The fact that four consultants are aghast at having to cover says it all really doesn’t it? (I am a consultant, and was a Med Reg until 2018).

How is that anything to do with this thread?!

You either support them in strike action or you don’t. You can’t say you support them so long as you personally are not effected by strikes.

@Mortimercat
FFS her child's SIGHT is at risk. It may seem abstract to you but this is the reality.

OP, I am genuinely so so sorry this is happening to you both. I just despair at what is going on in this country the last few years, I really do. I am an OT in the NHS by the way, and yes, we are beyond underfunded but I just can't agree with the strikes for the impact on patients like your little girl. The government are not listening to the strikes - we need to think of another way.

For heaven's sake not the child. The NHS should be there for people like her but it's not because in the UK we had a culture of eating processed junk, not having 7 fruit and veg a day, not exercising.

We also think the NHS is "free" so use A&E instead of pharmacy/ GP/ MIU and call an ambulance because they don't drive a car.

Call every news outlet - your story needs to be heard.

Good luck OP.

Totally normal for that to be covered by 4 doctors out of hours. When I started as an F1 in 2016 I was responsible (one week out of medical school) for all medical patients in the hospital (approx 250). Had the med reg and an SHO for support but they were mostly there for the admissions. Often I was asked to go help admissions too. F2 surgical job covered all new admissions and all already admitted surgical patients (100+) on my own while the reg went to sleep.

It’s not safe and people already die because the service is stretched so thinly. Due to erosion of pay and conditions more and more of us are leaving medicine or emigrating - that will stretch out of hours cover even thinner (and massively increase waiting lists for the routine stuff).

I find it genuinely confusing that your friend doesn’t understand non-strike conditions, who did she think was looking after patients out of hours? If the consultants are this out of touch then god knows how the general public are supposed to get it!

Junior doctors will do the 'cutting'. Two of my c-sections were performed by 'junior' doctors - albeit, very senior ones!
I think the fact that they are referred to as 'junior' doctors gives the public the impression that they are fresh out of med school, inexperienced and under constant supervision. The reality is that 'junior' refers to those 'below' consultant level; who remain 'in training'. Some of these doctors have been in 'training' for 8 years and are highly skilled and specialised, yet are still referred to as 'junior'.

This.

Another one who is absolutely appalled for you on a personal level.

another one who understands that doctors’ pay and terms have been gradually eroded by a government determined not to listen or to treat them correctly. They were treated as expendable. So what a surprise to find them so crucial.

I'm completely clueless but she certainly isn't. I've checked with her and they have 7-8 people doing this usually so this is a significant cut. And the people covering don't have the skill set of junior doctors so can't take bloods etc (I wouldn't know what the etc is tbh as I work in a completely unrelated field. However, I do completely trust my friend who has worked in hospitals for more than 20 years and really doesn't bullshit).

I'm also massively in support of the strike (as is she) and know the NHS is on it's knees, just utterly furious that there is not more media coverage.

7-8 doctors on overnight for a hospital population of 250 plus admissions? Not to get all four Yorkshireman about it but that’s sounds bloody luxurious (although still when you think about it not good enough). The junior doctor’s rotas must be horrific for that to work out and still do day on calls/clinics/normal ward days etc.

This is the situation everyone will be in soon when doctors continue to leave in droves. This isn’t a dramatic statement it’s completely accurate. I am a junior doctor myself and from my medical school cohort of 200 approximately 80 or so are still practicing in the uk. This number will continue to plummet. The conditions are worsening and educated people do not want to do this job anymore, the nhs is understaffed constantly and will continue to cancel surgeries and let down patients while it falls apart. I’m really sorry op, this is so so unfair on your daughter.

And that’s the hardest part - those of us left work harder and harder and still let our patients down every day.

I am sorry you’re in this situation OP, I really am and I can only imagine how difficult it is for you. I hope they’re able to slot her in asap and I’m sure her team will be triaging all the skipped cases.

christ @purplejungle a child losing their eyesight is just a bit more than disruptive isn’t it. Some of the comments on here are awful.