To be scared of how poor healthcare is now

[Rinoachicken]

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.

Hi @Whenisitsummer yeah I am
on the orthopaedic waiting list. There are potentially some alternative procedures they could try instead of knee replacement, but again it’s a waiting game.

I have been trying the fracture clinic all morning and no answer - which is not surprising as they will be on the bare bones staff.

@mumsneedwine you misunderstand, I haven't said they don't deserve that. Of course more investment will be a long term benefit eg reducing more reliance on locums. The gov are motivated to write off the PPE loans, a lot of people got rich from that. That doesn't mean they have the same inclination towards the NHS though...Why did they scrap the NHS tax levy?

Love how people assume everyone can just immediately lay their hands on a spare £100 these days, let alone "go private" - and every time I see that it suggestion it infuriates me more! Soon it'll be a default suggestion and just an acceptance of the new norm, similar to food banks.

@Rinoachicken I don't think it helped being Easter Sunday to be fair. Is your GP any use, mine has a direct line to the local "minor injuries" (before the Tories fucking closed it) and has arranged access to medical equipment eg slings. If you have a local Red Cross they sometimes have mobility equipment available to loan?

A and E would probably have one but they may insist on seeing you and X-rays etc? It's just a fucking nightmare, I regularly dislocate my shoulder and have been told to stop relocating it myself and go to A and E to have it done. A few months ago I waited over ten hours on a chair with it dislocated until I fainted into a pile of someone else's sick on the floor which had been there for hours <nice> The staff were absolutely on their knees, some in tears and the doctor that relocated my shoulder had been there for longer than I had...I was there for 14 hours in total.

So last time it happened I put it back in myself, it fucking hurt without the good drugs but better than waiting in so much pain for that long. Like you, I'll cost the NHS more in the long run.

Everyone who has experienced shit like this, please write to your local MP and make as much noise as possible. OP I hope you get sorted. I wonder if someone on MN may have one? I seem to have every brace or sling but that one, or I would offer.

@proppy apologies. I'm sure if someone did the sums they'd find that a pay rise and keeping staff would be cheaper than losing them and using locums.

Love how people assume everyone can just immediately lay their hands on a spare £100 these days, let alone "go private" - and every time I see that it suggestion it infuriates me more! Soon it'll be a default suggestion and just an acceptance of the new norm, similar to food banks.

I think it already is the default, I know 4 people who went private in the last yr. Healthcare is becoming more polarised, those that can afford it can bypass the waiting lists & better treatment.

The NHS had many problems ,mainly in how it's run ,but my son scollapsed in February with a necrotic, pancreas he had a Diabetic Ketoneacidosis,his blood pressure was in his boots ,I called the paramedics ,and I can't fault them they were there within minutes ,rushed him straight to resus,to stabilise him and he was in critical care within an hour ,where his care was exemplary,.

It may be a case of turning up there if you are able to get a lift, you can just explain you have been trying to get through on the phone all morning. As there will be a record of your consultation re: needing a brace the nursing staff should be able to issue one.

I finally spoke to someone in fracture clinic!! They took my details and someone will call me back (I hope!).

@WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles its awful isn’t it - sorry you have similar trouble with your shoulder as I have with my knee!

I tried my GP first but they couldn’t help. At one point the hospital switchboard guy thought A&E might be worth a try so I spoke to them and unfortunately they only have the cricket splints - which are no good for prolonged use as they totally immobilise the leg - they are designed for short period use before you are fitted with a hinged brace at clinic - which was fine when your clinic appointment was the next day or in a few days time - but not when it will be weeks (months?) away - I’d loose muscle mass and would have a much much longer recovery.

They were lovely though and agreed it’s a hinged brace I need - but fracture clinic are the only place I can get one.

This. If you are in employment, get a bank loan if at all possible. It's your quality of life, you can't let money-saving NHS protocols dictate everything and basically ruin your life.
I wonder how long you would need to wait in a compulsory insurance funded system like France or the Netherlands?

No it's that some people won't ever spend on healthcare even though they only have one body. My grandparent was complaining about waiting for his cataracts to be sorted he changes his car every year he could afford it. I get there are some people who cannot afford it as they are on the breadline but some will happily splash out on cars, holidays but not their own health.

I can’t afford to take out a loan that I wont be able to afford to pay back.

I work full time, as does my husband, we both work in the NHS. I have two children both autistic, one with complex needs.

We don’t have holidays. Ever. We have old cars. Really I need an automatic to save my knee on the clutch, but I can’t afford to change my car.

It’s not a matter of choice. It’s not a choice that’s available to me.

So from this we can already see the privatisation of the NHS has begun 😞. Those who can, pay to skip the queue. Those who can't, suffer. And who makes money from this ? Look at the boards of the private healthcare companies- lots and it's of MPs 😡

@Rinoachicken hopefully fracture clinic will be able to sort you out with the right brace 🤞

@MavisMcMinty I wish! Theyll be out there, supporting Boris and will vote Tories again

Yes, I hear what you're saying, it's all a bit scary. Cancer referral times are running into 5 weeks instead of two. It's a really bad time to be unwell.

Be angry at everyone abusing the public purse (criminals, corrupt politicians, illegal immigrants, able-bodied long-term benefits, all of these qualify).

The more they take what they shouldn't, the less will go to you.

Maybe, @UnshakenNeedsStirring - but I think it more likely true blue Tories will simply not vote, rather than vote for any ghastly woke/communist party. And “Boris” has gone now, and won’t be back - I have no doubt that many people voted Leave in 2016 and to “Get Brexit Done” in 2019 because of Boris Johnson; the entire UK catastroclusterfuck of the last 7 years is on him, and he didn’t even believe in Brexit himself.

This is so rubbish
They could have done a Robert Jobes bandage which is admittedly old fashioned but would hold your knee supported. It is alternating layers of crepe bandage and cotton wool bandage. Hot and bulky but effective

I think this is a real problem in the NHS. Back in the 70s we were talking about preventative medicine, yet still today, nobody can get physio until they can no longer walk. I couldn't get a DXA scan until I had had 3 fractures. I was left on steroids for 4 years while my osteoporosis got worse, because prednisilone is cheap and the good drugs (for autoimmune disease) are expensive.
I would willingly pay more tax/insurance but the whole system is an expensive, inefficient mess.
I have family in Europe and they have a much better health care system. They pay a bit more health insurance and there is a co-pay system based on income, but they get excellent health care in a timely fashion.
I know which I would prefer.

@Rinoachicken this one is £38. You shouldn't have to be buying your own but it actually might help if you have your own if you have knee issues?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185843545604?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=KnOrHB0VRbK&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=nMHaESfuRK-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Thanks for the link @iamanidiottt

Wish I’d been able to just keep the last one I had but they do always make you give them back!

This democracy thing is a real bugger !.

We get what we vote for OP. I can only think this must be what Tory voters want because nobody is stupid enough to think the won't harm public services.
Labour left the UK with what was regarded on many international measures as the best health service in the world, 13 years of Tory rule, and look at us now.

Labour left the country in a sorry mess - Gordon Brown piled up debts, took us into the recession when we had a structural deficit that was out of control.