To think you don't quite realise how badly the NHS is suffering until you witness it first hand

[DaisyCat33]

My parents are sitting in A&E today. They've just hit 12 hours. My dad was sent there by his GP for severe neck pain this morning. He's had morphine and an MRI scan, but they're now endlessly waiting to see a Dr about results. He hasn't even got a bed to lay on, despite debilitating neck pain. Many people are standing or sitting on the floor.

The couple sitting next to them have been there since 3am, for difficultly breathing.

I'm shocked. Honestly I knew the NHS had it's issues, but this bad?! It's frightening. I also had an email the other day saying my NHS dentist is closing, and it's basically a "well sorry no dentist for you any more, bye bye"

I don't really know the point of this thread really, I just feel shocked and upset that this is how it is. And I think a lot of people don't even realise? My parents definitely didn't until today. They are losing the will to live sat in that hospital.

Does anyone else just feel utterly helpless and anxious about this?

I had a severe asthma attack in 2022 as a result of pneumonia.

I spent 28 hours in A&E!

I also have chronic conditions. Specialist nurses are not calling me back in months.

People waiting months for an MRI.

Watching nurses desperately ring round wards to find a bed for you.

I have witnessed all of these first-hand.

In 2012, I had cancer in my throat glands. It was removed in less than a year.

The difference between how the NHS was then and now is massive.

The NHS needs to be put out of its misery for the sake of the staff if nothing else. I believe thousands of patients are dying needlessly day in and day out. The pressure is unsustainable- and the medics and nursing staff are the best in the world, they deserve to work in a place that is supportive of their well being, well resourced, well respected hospitals that are clean, efficient and safe.

We could easily choose a model like Australia or the Swiss model and end this misery. But people are still welded to the old and decaying model that is seventy years out of date.

It’s a shame they closed the walk in clinics.There used to be 2 in South Manchester which took the heat off local hospitals.

Norway ranks as the best healthcare in the world, and guess what it isn’t free.

The NHS isn't free either.

We've all been paying for it all our adult lives.

Not everyone pays for it….

Very sadly.

"People need a bit of common sense..............."

Well, common sense isn't something you can teach so no amount of courses is going to fix that.

@Newchapterbeckons no, not everyone pays for it but for those who don't, some of us do - in spades., and are happy to but a bit of courtesy from the provider for the potential contribution would be nice! We aren't all on the take. Regrettably the NHS doesn't recognise it.

"she said that washing and feeding of patients was left to relatives to do. Not sure if this was typical or true ?"

My Spanish friend told me this is also normal in Spain, not because of a lack of funds but just a cultural expectation. This friend was going back to Spain to look after her mother who was in hospital. When I asked, she said the nurses would do this for someone who didn't have family to come to look after them.

And that's the problem, isn't it?

When something doesn't change it dies. The NHS needs to change in line with the change in population, demand and what they can supply. But the don't because they are determined not to change.

"Victim blaming? What utter rubbish!"

It's not rubbish. It's an attitude I see often, people, especially politicians, blaming the public for the NHS's problems.

We pay huge taxes too, and we are no longer comfortable with the waste, the indifference, the toxic culture, the expectation to be ‘grateful’ for less than humane care. No, I am no longer happy to continue to service a zombie healthcare service that seems to do more harm than good in some areas.

MIL, 84, currently occupying a hospital bed ( yet again, won't pay for carers and insists on going home where she can't manage and will fall, again), gave up work in her twenties to raise two DC and never worked a paid day again in her life.

@Iwasafool If you can't access the online service you can phone the surgery and a member of staff will fill it in for you
I'm able to cope with the system . It's good they will do it for you at your surgery and that you can get through on the phone but this is not the case everywhere.

Hmm. That's maybe something that patients could be paying back for in small instalments that they can afford.

But it’s okay for our generation to need two working parents now with sky high childcare costs to pay for it…

People that are intoxicated could also pay for their care.

No, because then you start with the principle of self-inflicted and where would you stop? People who occasionally eat junk food? People who take part in risky sports? As I mentioned earlier, women who wear high heels and fall?

I think if people genuinely want to keep the NHS in its current form then some big changes and hard choices need to be made. We can not continue to fund optional luxuries and non essential healthcare.

Yes the NHS is bad but I feel so mismanaged. I spent for an appointment and two staff took me to take my blood pressure, height and weight ???
my FIL had carpal tunnel op and 6 staff were in the room whilst one operated. There appears to be lots running round like headless chickens then on other hand situations like this. People also forget social care is sadly in a state as well

But it’s a choice to take part in risky sports, wear heels that could cause harm etc. All totally optional.

Maybe what we would see is people finally taking responsibility for themselves, knowing they will have to pay otherwise. Why should someone else pay for your risky sport?

Sorry but when I was young, in the 1980s I was paying tax at a basic rate of 29% a whole 9% above today’s basic rate. Mortgage interests rates were 15% when I bought my first house. We were emerging from a massive recession and under the Thatcher government who made it very clear that the debts had to be cleared before the good times could start.
Excuse me if I’m not overly sympathetic. With taxes at 29%, unemployment at over 3million, as opposed to 3 million unable to work today and employers crippled by staff shortages, you cannot compare yesteryear with today. The NHS was better funded back then because we paid for it. We are unwilling to give up our necessary luxuries to fund our health service, our priorities are all wrong. The older generation actually paid a greater proportion of their income into the system why shouldn’t they be entitled to their fair share, they willingly paid their taxes in anticipation of this.

@Gwenhwyfar the nhs already does this - have a vehicular accident and you will be charged for an ambulance etc. Has happened for decades. The premise is that you claim of the car insurance.
In a way precedent has been set to push this further and to charge in other circumstances too.