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Original poster

To be scared of how poor healthcare is now

81 replies

Rinoachicken · 11/04/2023 12:30

So I dislocated my kneecap on Sunday. I’ve done it many times, - I have an mis-formed kneecap and will need a new knee in the future.

I don’t always need medical attention, depends how bad it is, but this time was a bad one.

Called 111 and went off to the walk in centre. They said that I really needed a knee brace but unfortunately they’d ‘run out’?!

So now I am left with a wobbly unsupported knee while I wait for my appointment at the knee clinic - a wait I know will be long.

I can’t just buy a cheap knee support off Amazon as my knee structure is not ‘standard’ so they would do more damage - I need a hinged open front brace. Which are about £100.

Ive tried calling the knee clinic at the hospital, to see if I can get the brace for while I’m waiting, also tried the physio department. No one answers the phone. No email address. No voicemail. No way to contact them at all.

I am worried about doing further damage to my knee while it is unsupported, but cannot access the equipment I need.

Ive been told I will get a new knee eventually, but won’t be eligible until I’ve lost my mobility or am past 65.

Now, I am currently 40, despite arthritis in that knee I’m reasonably fit, not overweight. If I had a new knee now, the prognosis for full recovery would be good. I would be able to run around with my kids again and drive without pain.

But instead they will wait until I’m old and in a wheelchair, so less mobile, my muscle tone will be worse and prognosis for recovery will be poorer. But hey it’s cheaper - since the knee will likely outlast me. 🧐

How did we get here? Where you can access even basic healthcare and where it’s fire-fighting rather than future-proofing quality of life.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rinoachicken · 11/04/2023 12:31

Where you CAN’T*

OP posts:
FrostyFifi · 11/04/2023 12:33

You shouldn't have to because you pay NI but is there any chance you can afford to get the op done privately?

februarysunset · 11/04/2023 12:34

I'm with you OP. My DF is waiting for a life-saving heart operation. He was told he needed it in October. Still no date. In the meantime he isn't allowed to do anything that makes his heart rate go up and he's got to live with the threat of an imminent heart attack hanging over him.

This is a man who has worked for the government all his life and paid his taxes. Now spending his retirement wondering if he'll drop down dead at any moment. It's shameful.

HaroldTheStallion · 11/04/2023 12:35

That's really awful and I agree with you, the state of healthcare is very frightening nowadays.

Badbudgeter · 11/04/2023 12:35

That is poor. Can you call back 111 and ask if they can send you to a different clinic with stock or can you afford to buy the right one? I think the squeaky wheel gets the grease and I’d keep pushing at GP and 111.

Felixss · 11/04/2023 12:36

If you can try to go private. I've had a few elective procedures done abroad in Europe much cheaper my own private room, good nursing ratios and good meals. My DH has had his dental work, the flights were only £39 return.

Felixss · 11/04/2023 12:37

februarysunset · 11/04/2023 12:34

I'm with you OP. My DF is waiting for a life-saving heart operation. He was told he needed it in October. Still no date. In the meantime he isn't allowed to do anything that makes his heart rate go up and he's got to live with the threat of an imminent heart attack hanging over him.

This is a man who has worked for the government all his life and paid his taxes. Now spending his retirement wondering if he'll drop down dead at any moment. It's shameful.

Can you save and go abroad if it's really dire ?

MavisMcMinty · 11/04/2023 12:38

At the next GE, Tory voters should STAY HOME - PROTECT THE NHS - SAVE LIVES

MeMyBooksAndMyCats · 11/04/2023 12:38

I'm with you op.

One a&e doctor FAILED to do a urine sample and sent my son home despite having diabetes symptoms (he was then admitted 5 days later extremely unwell.)

Then the hospital sent us home with medical supplies, like a sharp box, blood sugar strips, etc. and told us it wasn't there problem and had run out! I mean seriously a hospital running out of sharp boxes? Behave!

Skybluepinky · 11/04/2023 12:41

They r probably run off their feet with the junior doctors being on strike.

Lordofmyflies · 11/04/2023 12:42

You're not wrong OP. I've just joined a private healthcare group which pays for treatment if the NHS wait is longer than 5 weeks. (And I work for the NHS!) I will pay for it by making a cut to eating out or cooking an extra cheap meal once a week.

LizzieSiddal · 11/04/2023 12:42

It is in a dreadful state but if I were you, for the immediate term I’d pay the £100 for the correct knee brace. It will mean you won’t be in pain and will also mean your knee won’t get worse.

Felixss · 11/04/2023 12:42

Most of my elective care is now private , people will accept poor treatment and massive waits because it's "free" it's not it's paid by taxes. We have this rubbish model now where you have to pay the extortionate private fees and tax because there's no hybrid model set up.

LizzieSiddal · 11/04/2023 12:44

And I don’t think things are sustainable as they are. Just one example, My BIL is going for physio, he can easily afford a taxi but he’s got an ambulance taxi picking him up once a week and taking him home. It makes my blood boil.

Felixss · 11/04/2023 12:45

You should just pay the £100 if it stops your knee getting worse. The longer you have without it the more damage is being done and the NHS won't be in a rush to fix it. I know it's weird as we have always in our minds that we don't pay for healthcare but you only get one body so it's the best investment.

Original poster
Rinoachicken · 11/04/2023 12:45

Unfortunately there is no way I can afford to go private. I absolutely would if I could.

I work in the NHS myself, but in mental health, my mum is also a nurse. I know how bad it is, but it’s just so upsetting and makes me so angry for everyone left like this. It’s such a false economy - we ending need more expensive treatment later, or the outcome is not as good. It’s totally backwards.

For a government so obsessed with keeping people ‘in work’ and everyone being ‘productive members of society’ - well how do they expect people to stay in work and be productive when they cannot get their health needs met to enable them to do that?! Then when you are no longer able to work, because you haven’t been able to get the healthcare you need to make it possible - you are then penalised for that and badged as ‘lazy’. I have no words for how utterly vile and disgusting this government is.

OP posts:
mumsneedwine · 11/04/2023 12:46

They are run off their feet with the doctors not being on strike. That's the problem. So many have left the few that remain can't keep up. Pay more, less will leave, we still have an NHS and care will improve.
No more pay, loads more will leave, no NHS but a private service which some will not be able to afford (see posts above). Is this the plan ????
Take home pay for a junior doctor (who will be the one performing CPR on you at 2am) in UK, £1,600 a month. In NZ, £4,000 a month, for less hours. Why would they stay ?

Original poster
Rinoachicken · 11/04/2023 12:47

I think I am going to have to try and find the money to buy the expensive one if I can

OP posts:
Felixss · 11/04/2023 12:47

Rinoachicken · 11/04/2023 12:45

Unfortunately there is no way I can afford to go private. I absolutely would if I could.

I work in the NHS myself, but in mental health, my mum is also a nurse. I know how bad it is, but it’s just so upsetting and makes me so angry for everyone left like this. It’s such a false economy - we ending need more expensive treatment later, or the outcome is not as good. It’s totally backwards.

For a government so obsessed with keeping people ‘in work’ and everyone being ‘productive members of society’ - well how do they expect people to stay in work and be productive when they cannot get their health needs met to enable them to do that?! Then when you are no longer able to work, because you haven’t been able to get the healthcare you need to make it possible - you are then penalised for that and badged as ‘lazy’. I have no words for how utterly vile and disgusting this government is.

Put the £100 on credit card if your knee declines and you can't work you will be financially worse off.

Original poster
Rinoachicken · 11/04/2023 12:48

I fully support those striking btw, worst possible week for me to do my knee again.

OP posts:
proppy · 11/04/2023 12:48

Take home pay for a junior doctor (who will be the one performing CPR on you at 2am) in UK, £1,600 a month. In NZ, £4,000 a month, for less hours. Why would they stay ?

They shouldn't stay but realistically how can the country afford that? The economy is fucked, inflated house prices & shit wages & now higher taxes.

proppy · 11/04/2023 12:49

Oh & the small matter of the ageing population

mumsneedwine · 11/04/2023 12:49

@Rinoachicken I am so sorry. It's a massive mess at the moment. I can't listen to the BBC today as they seem to think Doctors are all lazy, greedy rubbish. If they didn't care about the NHS they'd just leave and earn more money with better conditions either here in private hospitals, or abroad. But they want the NHS to survive, so they fight. Wish everyone would do more than clap for our health workers.

mumsneedwine · 11/04/2023 12:52

@proppy they are not asking for that. They are asking for £19 an hour, not £14. Going from £29,000 to about £34,000. Country could afford £7 billion to bail out a bank a few weeks ago. Costing the full pay rise for all NHS would be £1.03 billion. And would save money as less expensive locums would be needed. They've just written off £48 billion in unusable PPE (bought from their friends).
Or at least negotiate ! The government have not done that.

Whenisitsummer · 11/04/2023 12:56

Have you tried calling the fracture clinic as they should have them. I think it’s completely unacceptable for this to happen , if you need a brace you should be provided with one! Keep it when you do get one , so you have it at home for next time. In terms of the knee replacement, there is a reluctance to replace joints when people are still very young. It isn’t about cost- a young persons expectations of their new joint and their high activity levels means they are much more likely to wear the new joint out , at a much faster rate than someone older will. The need for revision surgery within only five years is high for under 50’s. A second replacement is much more difficult to do, less likely to be successful and more prone to complications. It may be worth asking to be referred back to orthopaedics so that you can have a discussion with the specialist about all the pros and cons etc.