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?

No, people don’t like hearing criticism about the NHS and refuse to accept that it is crumbling which is part of the problem. The level of service that people accept in this country is ridiculous, but it’s alright as it’s ‘free’, which it very much isn’t! Compared to many other counties in Europe we pay far more for our healthcare yet have consistently worse outcomes and waiting lists. It’s not good enough.

Diagnosed with BC during routine screening on 1st Sept21 (during covid)
Biopsied 5th Sept
Discussion with surgeon - 20th Sept
Surgery - 13th Oct.
Chemo started 21st Dec, finished 23rd Feb 22
Radiotherapy 28th Mar - 3rd April.

Covid wasn't allowed to get in the way. When the radiotherapy machine broke on the last day, they found me an appointment, same day, at a hospital 40 miles away. Gave me 2 hrs to get there which was fun. 😀

More recently - a separate issue,
saw the gynae on the 11th Dec,
ultrasound Jan 10th,
gynae call Jan 23rd,
anaesthesia planning 20th Feb (tomorrow),
keyhole surgery 21st March.

I can only assume we are very very lucky with our local trust. They are brilliant.

When I was last in hospital with DD there was an elderly and confused man calling out for help + pressing his buzzer the entire night. The nurses literally just ignored him for hours on end and pretended not to hear it, instead they just sat around the nursing station chatting. In the morning I heard them come in to his room and go ‘oh sorry, we didn’t realise you were in pain, we couldn’t hear you!’ Absolutely disgusting behaviour

Went through an ectopic pregnancy last year. The paramedics were two of the most amazing guys that we could have asked for at the time, kept us calm in a horrible situation and tried to keep the mood as light as possible (in grim circumstances) whilst I was transferred into A&E. Also the doctors and nurses were angels on earth and treated me with such dignity and kindness despite being run off their feet. Going through something as traumatic as pregnancy loss can be made so much worse with the wrong care, but the staff that treated me that day provided the highest level of empathy and care, making sure i didn't suffer further unnecessary trauma. I will be forever grateful.

Noted that this thread was started this morning when Breathtaking starts on ITV1 tonight

Only this morning my granddaughter hurt her ankle tripping over the pavement.
Dd took her at 9.30am xrayed, cast put on she was on her way home at 2pm.

I have had a lot of skin cancer, my medical insurance went up to 13k per year, I didn’t renew it with the skin cancer covered and now I’m seen by the same doctor as I used to see privately on the NHS every three months.

I had a gynaecology issue and was seen and operated on within 12 days of calling 111.

Last week I had a dental emergency and was seen at my local hospital and prescribed antibiotics within 90 minutes of calling them.

My DM was sectioned and received amazing help and care in an outstanding psychiatric unit.

All the above have happened over the last 18 months.

I had post menopausal bleeding and was quickly referred to the hospital who did an ultrasound and wanted to do a hysteroscopy. I refused to have it without a general anaesthetic because I'd had one before and it was unbearably painful. They agreed to the general and I was put on the list first. When I woke up I was given toast and tea then the kitchen sent ice cream up for everyone because it was such a hot day. The staff were all lovely and the doctors were pleasant and not at all patronising. I have my ovaries scanned every six or so months as well as I have a cyst.

Dh was equally well cared for when he went in for a scope.

NHS saved DHs life when he had a heart attack in 2006 The paramedics , those in A&E intensive care and the cardiac ward were brilliant

Ive been struggling to get a GP appointment since last May. Tried online ringing them (on PAYG while waiting and waiting Free at the point of use?? ) Even resorted to Twitter.

Did anyone see Kelly Hoppen on Loose Women today. She was talking about when she had her mammogram when they found something but to get it biopsied she had to go BACK to her GP to be referred. Ridiculous. This would be even worse now with the struggle to even get a GP appointment. Stupid daft protocols like this are part of the problem.

I'm amazed by how many people are happy with telephone appointments and e-consult. I've been put on tablets for hypertension without one qualified person actually taking my blood pressure - they are just going by my own readings. We are being short-changed.

Pure fiction, then.

Went to the doctors with fatigue last year and was just fobbed off and told I was just fat. They thought it might be diabetes but a blood test gave me the all clear and that was the end of their investigations.

Fatigue is still present and I now have constant mucus and shortness of breath. Phoned Drs at 10am a week ago, got an appointment for 11:40am the same day. The Doctor was so nice and understanding, I have my blood tests tomorrow, lung function test next Wednesday and my chest X Ray next Thursday. Hoping we get to the bottom of it soon, but so impressed with how much he cared and how quick I've got all the appointments.

I had endometrial cancer in 2020. Got diagnosed at the height of the first lockdown and was operated on within two weeks. I was very lucky.

Exactly.

BP taken at home is probably more reliable.

Two years ago they diagnosed and treated a rare condition that would probably have killed me if left much longer. There were very few warning signs until things were at the emergency stage. This has had lasting physical effects and in the ongoing follow-up and monitoring, I find understanding people throughout the NHS (even if they don't have direct experience of my condition they take time they don't really have to listen).

I never forget that the amount I pay in tax and prescription charges for my treatment is miniscule in comparison to friends in some other countries.

I have a condition that is reasonably rare so am in a pretty international Facebook group. Undoubtedly people in UK are getting better care for this condition than people in most parts of the world (especially US). I don't see why we can't talk about positive experiences

IVF gave me the daughter I never would have had otherwise.

My last positive experience with the NHS was over 20 years ago.

Its been all downhill since then, and dealing with them on behalf of MIL's treatment (heart procedure on elderly woman with Alzheimer's) was traumatic.

Our GP does look after my 90 year old DF quite well, although he hasn't seen a doctor for some time but is always seen by a nurse or paramedic.

I've had loads of positive experiences. Blood in poo led to tests, results & follow up docs appointment in less than 2 weeks. Just last week pain in shoulder f2f appoinment that day & referral to physio. econsult for daighter's unexplained jaundice urgent same day appointment, followed by a&e where she was seen within 2 hours, followed by tests over weekend, & then non-urgent but quick follow up appointments & tests. Slight dimpling of one breast, same day docs appoinment, referral to breast clinic for full scans, examination, all clear in less than 2 weeks. Abdominal bloating & backache, quick referral for scans for ovarian cancer, results very quickly - gp called me on xmas eve so I wouldn't worry over xmas. The admin is diabolical but the clinical care is amazing & in my experience referrals for tests for major issues are quick. Once you haven't got cancer though, it is hard to find anyone to talk to you and prevention and pain/symptom management are rarely discussed adequately.

Unless people are lying about the readings they give to the surgery, then talking it at home in a relaxed environment makes much more sense. BP machines are very easy to use. Why do you need a qualified person to put in on your arms then read the numbers?

The NHS managed to reduce DH's stage 4 cancer to no cancer at all so I'm putting that doen as an overall positive.

What I will say is that all the excellent and compassionate medical and nursing care he has received took place against a backdrop of appallingly time consuming bureaucracy and equipment that broke down on such a regular basis that you would automatically allow for any radiotherapy appointment to run 2 hours over as standard. The frontline staff in our experience are doing their best but are being hampered by some really terrible organisational leadership.

My DM and DH both get white coat syndrome so are better off doing blood pressure readings at home as they get themselves in such a tiz at a doctor’s surgery or the hospital.

I gave birth a few weeks ago and had amazing support from the midwives during and on the ward after.

I've had a positive experience every time I've stayed in Burton on Trent hospital, despite lots of moaning about the place.
Had to see gp a couple of weeks ago. Rang on a Monday morning not expecting to get an appointment that day. Selected the option to book an appointment & got one the very same morning. No interaction with the receptionist was needed as you check yourself in by touchscreen on arrival.