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?

The psychotherapist I saw who treated my GAD, health anxiety and OCD was amazing. I had telephone appointments all through Covid. She was wonderful, really saved my life. She was a true angel x

I’ve had a mixed bag. They saved my life when I was in a coma, but they also refused me therapy which caused damage. They saved my sons life, but they also caused irreparable damage to his urinary system by not diagnosing him for almost the whole first year of his life. They saved my husband from cancer, but they also failed to diagnose (and treat) strokes which have left him permanently disabled. One of my family members has a great GP, who’s doing all they can to help them, but has been waiting years for a diagnosis with disabling symptoms.

One of my births was rubbish and I had to change hospitals 3 days before my due date and had paramedics who hadn’t seen a birth before (commonplace) and was threatened with police - but the issue turned out to be no available staff in that hospital for the care I’d requested (they chose to threaten me instead of explaining).

One of my births the hospital didn’t listen when I was in labour (fast births) and so I gave birth alone with my DH. However, I had a fab registrar who was brilliant through the antenatal process.

It’s very mixed and I am very, very grateful for the positive care - but it has to be mentioned with the negative experiences too because it’s crucial the amount of people facing those same negative experiences are reduced, and to do that, they have to be spoken about and acted upon.

(And no, I’ve never voted Tory or Leave - before people ask, so mine is one of the little difference votes that will remain labour.)

My father was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of a gold ball. From being admitted with headaches he was diagnosed and given surgery within a week. Sadly it didn't work and he went straight onto the chemotherapy. No waiting, angelic, kind staff and since we were caring for him at home, we were given home nurse visits and domestic help as well. From diagnosis to passing away peacefully at home was only 13months but we were supported and helped every step of the way by our local council and the brilliant nurses of the NHS. We are nothing but grateful.

I went to A&E 3 weeks ago after symptoms I'd seen a GP for worsened drastically and I had a 'warning sign' symptom develop. I live in a city with a very busy A&E, I was triaged in about 20 mins and quickly moved through to testing which revealed a heart condition (I'm in my 40s). I had numerous tests and procedures, and was an in patient for 2.5 weeks. My care was exemplary from literally every person I encountered. I was discharged at the weekend and am incredibly grateful- they saved my life, and the ongoing care will help me return to a sort of normality.

Dh had a routine blood test last March. He was told he had something not quite right with his blood. He was sent for an ultrasound on his spleen and only had to wait till August. His follow up phone appointment with the consultant was booked for early October. They cancelled it and then he only had to wait until the beginning of February to be told over the phone that he has a condition that will be life threatening if left untreated. The consultant has sent him some links so that he can read about it, and will be back in touch once she's met with her team to discuss treatment options.
I have to say, I'm really impressed 🎉

Faultless care for my children, always there when I need it.
I had long and complicated births and the midwives were amazing, they were with me every step of the way and were kind

I had a two week referral at the end of November, biopsy and a cancer diagnosis by mid December, an MRI/X-ray a week later and was given a surgery date for 9th Jan. It was all so quick and efficient.

Unfortunately on the day of surgery I waited gowned up and fasted for seven hours then cancelled because they simply didn't have a spare bed for that night. As it was likely to be at lest another month wait I ended up booking privately for a week later with the same consultant.

So in answer to the question in my experience some of it is amazing and some not so much. I also found there was a lot of conflicting advice re after the surgery.

I was in a really lovely ortho trauma ward for 5 weeks, I was able to leave after one week but had to stay as the bed in another MH hosp was not available. I was so happy there, made friends with 3 or 4 lovely ladies. Nurses were great, meds bang on time. Enough pain relief. Ward meals just about bearable (was being treated for anorexia so had to eat 4000 cals a day) and I put on nearly 7 kilos. The hip surgery was fantastic, I loved the feeling of coming to from the anaesthetic! So I really enjoyed that stay even though for the last 2 weeks I was on section so not there through choice anymore. I've maintained my weight at that level ever since.

I had a horrendous experience when DD1 was born (the Trust now has a huge maternity enquiry during the period of time she was born in) so I'm generally not our local hospital's biggest fan. However, the post asks for positives - so a relatively recent one - fell down a step, twisted my ankle and couldn't weight bear on it. Went to A+E, who said that if we had transport, we'd get seen much quicker and x-rayed at the walk in (well hop-in in my case) the other side of the city, sent us across there with the postcode for sat nav and an appointment slot - was in, into x-ray and back home again with crutches within about an hour.

For honesty's sake - I work in the NHS myself (not in our local acute Trust), but the people I work with are fucking amazing that we all manage to keep the service levels up and waiting times relatively low (compared to the same service in the next door area we run at 8 weeks compared to their half a year), despite current recruitment restrictions meaning no one is being replaced unless desperately needed - I'm now the only person remaining in one incredibly busy and deprived area, down from 3 staff a few months ago. That's the level of shit we're up against.

The nhs is incredibly mismanaged and needs drastic reform, but we need to fight to improve it lest we end up with a far worse system.

My encounters with the staff within the nhs have been nothing but wonderful. They've saved my mum's life once and my dad's twice. Provided me with excellent care during each of my labours and were genuinely amazing during a very late miscarriage. When I've been in having my most recent child it was very evident the effect that understaffing is having on the wards but I still found the staff to be amazing albeit working in an increasingly crappy situation.

Ultimately healthcare free at the point of access is an incredible thing to have and we mustn't become complacent.

My son wouldn’t be here without the NHS, the specialist care we have received over the last 16 years has been exceptional.

The amount of money taken to keep him alive would have run into the millions if we’d lived in the US.

I have direct access to a peadiatric consultant who has known my son all his life.

I owe everything to the NHS, my sanity, being able to keep working full time, the list goes on.

Since January, I've had no problem getting GP appointments. I've had an MRI done, ENT appointment and last Thursday was referred to gynae (not sure how long that one will take.) Hadn't been in contact before Christmas - this is all new stuff (yes, I do appear to be falling apart.)

I thought it was wonderful that they "squeezed me in" for my prebooked surgery after a nine hour wait in a plastic chair and being told I'd probably be canceled. Very kind of them, even if they did rush it and fail to find what they were looking for.

My DP - seen by a consultant the same day as his GP appt, got into the 2 week cancer pathway immediately, scans done quickly and surgery within 6 weeks of seeing GP. Touch wood, all clear over 12 months on but has regular appointments with various departments and all very efficient and helpful. Have had a few emergency situations where he's been prioritised too, even in a busy A&E.

Me - rang 111 for non emergency (I thought). Told a 6-8 hour wait for non emergency ambulance, fine I thought as wasn't expecting to go to hospital. 4 hours later, ambulance arrived, got me to hospital and queue jumped to get me admitted straight away. So much for me thinking "ah, it's nothing much"! Seen quickly, admitted early evening and the rest is a blur of pain and morphine. Couldn't complain once about the whole process, everyone was brilliant.

I’m sorry to say an MRI booked in two weeks is not a positive experience. In a system that was working that two weeks would be one day.

Okay, two positive experiences in a sea of bad. It took months to be booked in, but I had to go into hospital for a gynaecologist day surgery and the nurses were really wonderful. So kind that every time I think about it, it makes me smile.

For the second, I had been raising a problem with various GPs for years and they were quite dismissive. I changed to one of these nhs online services and a new GP took the time to listen and made a referral so it finally got sorted. Now every time I have that issue I can speak to the same GP so it’s a really great service to have.

Edit: another positive experience, actually. I once needed an ambulance. I was told it was going to be hours but someone got to me in 10 minutes and I was in the hospital in 20ish.

I have had rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years. During that time I have seen many consultants and been on several different drugs. My treatment has been (mostly) effective, professional, kind and accepting of me as the patient being the expert in my own care. A recent change in medication has been very effective and I'm extremely grateful I have access to it. When I was first diagnosed I was convinced I would become severely disabled. That has not happened thanks to advances in testing and medication. So yes - in this case my experience has been very positive.

A satisfactory outcome from an interaction with the NHS should be the norm as it is for any other organisation. Do people comment on how great it is that when they turn the tap on water comes out?

No, but having spent time in places where I've had to collect water from the river and purify it before using it, I do think it's great that I have potable water at the turn of a tap.

This

I’m pregnant and my midwifery care is amazing. All my appointments are at home at a time I choose so no hanging round. I can have as many as I want (within reason!). My midwife is so kind and understanding and will hopefully be there when I give birth too (one out of her team of 3 will be).

I’ve also been in maternity triage 3 times recently and have been seen quickly and efficiently. Once I was seen by a doctor within 10 mins and a more senior doctor within another 10 mins even though it wasn’t urgent at all. When I got upset due to previous trauma they were so empathetic. I went in a couple of days later and the doctor remembered me so I didn’t have to go through it again.

i have also had shit experiences but in others it’s been the best it can be.

Same day GP, CT scan quickly, hospital great appointment on time, results a week later

Having had several long water outages in the last couple of years, part of me is happy every time I turn the taps on. Thames Water is considerably more shit where I am than the NHS.

Is the Tory PR machine kicking in pre-election?

Saved my son's life when he had a brain injury, worked through the night to remove part of his skull to allow his brain to swell. Yes I did write and thank them.

The workers in the nhs are mostly outstanding it's the inadequate system they have to deal with that let's us all down at times.

Lots of positives, was transferred to the best plastics hospital after I was blue lighted after a major accident, was triaged quickly, put in a wheelchair then sprinted with when I had a bizarre reaction to something, was admitted and then the poor nurse was rushing round sorting out meds to ensure I got home instead of staying another night.

My current GP is really efficient, he referred me to get a scan when there was an issue, referred me to a different clinic for something else that’s ongoing. I’m very worried about moving in the future in case the other authority isn’t as efficient!