Let's turn the ( usual) NHS negativity around with your positive experiences

[Tiredallthetimeneedsleep]

Fed up with the latest negative NHS 'headline' so I thought I'd start a thread to share my positive experiences.

Had MRI booked within 2 weeks of seeing DR. Was seen on time and the staff were brilliant.

What are YOUR NHS positive stories?

Why? People like you act as if the NHS is some sort of untouchable sacred organisation that should be immune to criticism. It’s not - a lot of people have rubbish experiences. The standard of care in a lot NHS hospitals at the minute is atrocious and patients have every right to voice their concerns and complain

The only positive experience I’ve had (in 50 years using the same hospital) is days before the first lock down when DS had a deep cut stitched. We were in and out in 20 mins.

I was only waiting in A&E for 12 hours with my elderly mum the other day 🎉

Nope, but OP is as they’re so ‘fed up’ of NHS negativity. God forbid people be honest about bad experiences!

Had some utterly horrible experiences with them but I would say they were great when I broke my nose. Walk-in centre (male) nurse was awesome, and I got it fixed as an emergency the following week.

Did an e consult, got a response in 24 hrs and told to book an appointment. Got offered a very convenient phone call appt so I could be at work and just take the call. Spoke to Dr at appointment time and she was very sympathetic and spent time discussing my symptoms. Asked me to get bloods done, was able to book myself online and offered 5 different locations and appointments starting that next day. Got results 3 days later and Dr due to call me back this week.
I don't like waiting around waiting rooms and I love econsult.

I was referred for scans and saw an endometriosis specialist within 6 months.

It only took 20 years to get there 🤣

Then I went private for the operation as I would have been waiting for about 2 years on the NHS.

In all seriousness, I have had a few loved ones with cancer in the last few years and their care has been really amazing.

Lump in my boob was assessed same day I called by a nurse at the GPs, referred to breast clinic and seen within a couple of weeks, mammogram and ultrasound and all clear. Gold standard service.

Our local minor injuries now runs as same day urgent care and gets people in and out with a huge range of conditions saving the GPs time and local people from a long drive and wait in bigger hospitals, it's fantastic.

My gp when I was suicidal spent the time to help me and ran over her appointment time by 45 minutes as she could see I was in a terrible state. She then insisted on weekly appointments with me for over 6 weeks and got the community psychiatric nurse to visit me at home and then got me on the list for 2 lots of counselling. I'm forever grateful that she did. That was 15 years ago so not sure if my experience would be the same now what with all the cuts etc.

I’d love to be able to give an example of a positive experience but sadly that isn’t possible. Every time my family and I have had to engage with the NHS the experience has been truly terrible.

Exactly!

The NHS is not exempt from criticism as an organisation. People are allowed to voice their negative experiences and say it's not good enough. Most of us will have good experiences, OK experiences, and bad experiences.

Some people have a total blind spot when it comes to the NHS, which should never be criticised, ever. Or think that every single person working for it is an "angel".

Personally I think the NHS has had it, it needs a total top to bottom reform and the sooner we adopt a system of insurance like they have in all of western Europe the better.

If hearing about positive nhs stories gives people a boost, then that's a good thing. It's not denying there is a problem.

Journo?

About two years ago I rang the GP surgery hoping to make an appt about possible ADHD. The receptionist sighed and said, 'Yes, everyone thinks they have it now. I can't get you an appointment for another 6 weeks'.

I had the (phone) appointment and got precisely nowhere. I'm pretty sure there had been a recent influx of enquiries and the GP was very dismissive and sounded completely fed up with 'everyone' thinking they have ADHD.

Really put me off, especially as the waitlist for assessment is so long. And it was pretty upsetting to not be taken seriously and 'gatekept' from a specialist.

A few weeks ago I plucked up the courage to try again. I was number 36 in the queue so idly looked on the surgery's website while I waited. Found eConsult, filled it all out detailing my symptoms and struggles, while still on hold. Got a callback from a lovely Dr the next day, and before we'd even had a chat she said she was happy to refer me having read what I'd written. Did the questionnaire and it's all gone off.

Sorry it's not quite what you asked for, but it's a relief to know I'm finally 'in the system' although I know it'll be a long process.

It does. Why else would OP be sick of and fed up of posters simply being honest about their care. It’s not good enough and people simply accepting it because the NHS can do no wrong in some people’s eyes is part of the problem

Thanks for trying OP, it's sad people aren't allowed to keep a thread positive despite the numerous other negative ones. It's not about silencing people with negative experiences- that's everywhere - but one positive thread would have been nice

The NHS were great when my child injured his hand. He was rushed through A&E, very quickly assessed and treated. The doctor and nurses were lovely.

That was my last positive interaction with them and it was almost 20 years ago. Unfortunately everything since has been a negative experience.

My experience is that the NHS can be both wonderful and dreadful in roughly equal measures.