Addressing the elephant in the room; people abusing NHS, health and social care.

[Floogal]

I have seen a number of threads (here and on Facebook) bemoaning and worrying about the state of the NHS and social care in the UK. But what about how the general public treats it? Over the years, so many people used these services incorrectly, or even abused it in wanton fashion. There has been recent discussion about people who go to A&E mob handed. As well as a lady forcibly being evicted for overstaying at hospital

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5270258-woman-evicted-from-nhs-hospital-ward-after-being-stuck-for-18-months

I have been working at a council run rehabilitation unit. The majority of patients stay here after being discharged from hospital. They usually stay for around 3 weeks before they're well enough to go home (or sadly sometimes residential or nursing care). However, there is a noticeable minority of patients who seem to treat the place like a hotel. Eg,, staying in bed all morning, watching TV all day in their rooms, Refusing to join in group exercise classes, chatting on their mobiles. Socialising with their visitors for hours on end. I mean, they have plenty of free time in the afternoon and evening to chill out.
Indeed, some of the conversations I've heard make them seem entitled. For example , "I should like some tea and cakes brought to my room for when my guests arrive". Another lady kept ringing her bell as a carer made her tea in a mug, she wanted it put in a China cup. Another male patient turned away a physiotherapist who came in to see him. His reason for turning her away was "I haven't finished reading my morning paper". The best one was this woman complaining that she expects room service and that she's worked and paid her taxes. They're meant to be there for rehabilitation, not the Downton Abbey experience!
Also there are other patients who are ready to go home but are very reluctant to leave. Most likely as they get 3 free meals and company and attention. Which is understandable if they're lonely at home. But that's not what the service is for.
I believe this also contributes to the problem of bed blocking in hospital as patients can't leave hospital due to a lack of space at rehab.

I think this is interesting, which bits specifically?

That's complete tripe though. It's a very cheap medication... Even in high dose.

Odd that myself and my SILs have seen it with our own eyes.

But then we are all liars. I am used to being called a liar and being gaslighted when I catch people in officialdom doing things wrong there as other people I know well either get them backtracking or compromise agreements.

And what when appropriate places are sourced and the patient refuses because it's not their dream?

Not everyone on levothyroxine uses all those services. I’ve been on it for nearly 25 years, never had an endocrinology appointment (well, not for that) or had any dealings with radiology. I have an annual blood test, doctor texts me to say levels look ok, and that’s it. So medication, phlebotomy and blood-related service and about 2 minutes of GP time.

I would blame the lack of funding for social care rather than the NHS.

I know someone who was bed blocking until a consultant decided to make the NHS and social services do something so the person is no longer considered a bed blocker.

This person has was repeatedly discharged from hospital when still unwell.

Some of the people I've known have been much younger. This is why I asked my family and friends who work in the NHS in different clinical roles and also live in different communities where they engage with their neighbours for their experiences.

I don’t know whether this exists anywhere, but I think there need to be intermediate facilities possibly jointly run by the NHS and social care for people who need lighter-touch medical support (but still some) but the predominant need is for social care.

It's more complex than that. I've also witnessed people coming into an acute setting from their home and then needing nursing care. Rather than allow mummy/daddy/uncle/auntie some time in a nursing home they are whisked away by their nearest and dearest back to their own home so the family home/inheritance doesn't get sold to pay for care. These cases often end up in and out of hospitals frequently and sometimes the consultant geriatrician has to become the patient's guardian in order to get the care they need. I'm glad your colleagues talk to your patients rather than simply being task oriented professionals

Well I was in hospital a couple of times last autumn. I went home after being released but on both occasions I spent a week more or less in bed and watching telly thereafter (whilst recovering from surgery it was 3 weeks). I'm not really shocked that people fresh out of hospital need bed rest.

It is absolutely true, it has happened for years and patients sometimes die before the ambulance arrives to rush them back to hospital.

Then you get cases like the EUPD wheelchair user who was refused by so many care facilities, who then refused the only place that agreed to take her, then spent years in a hospital bed until she was finally evicted under a police escort

Tbh, that was only part of the story. The woman was offered several options re accommodation, but turned them down. She is definitely one of the self entitled people that the OP is referencing. A&E is also hugely mis-used, a combination of decreasing GP services where you can’t get same day appointments, and that’s if you can even mange to get through to them on the phone, together with lack of education around the use of A&E. I think some people are so stupid, they really think A&E is an extension of a GP surgery.

After having twins by CS, massive bleed, second op to stop the bleeding, a 9pt blood transfusion, 24 hours in high dependency unit, then put on a 24 hour fast, at the end of the fast I asked for food and was told the kitchen was closed and the best they could offer was a packet of crisps from the vending machine - what a joke! Then they expected me to get up the next day with 40 stitches across my belly and no food in me for 48 hours to stand in a queue for my dinner. Care, they don’t know the meaning of the word and then they wondered why I couldn’t breast feed. Getting out of that shit hole they called a hospital was my biggest priority. There is no care.

People with personality disorders are often very difficult to find placements for due to the disruption they can cause. Some of their behaviour can be extreme and they'd benefit from being in a psychiatric unit with suitably qualified staff, but these don't exist anymore.

@Doggiedays you have my greatest sympathy. I’m so sorry you went through that.
After giving birth to my first son, I couldn’t move. I was thirsty, hungry; haemorrhaged after giving birth. Sick.
Food was left in the middle of the ward. Couldn’t physically get up to get anything. Care indeed. Hospitals are utter shit in the U.K.
OP…….I have healthcare qualifications. I understand a few of your gripes….eg tea in a china cup etc but blow me, there’s a distinct lack of bloody therapeutic care.

People should have to pay an excess for using NHS services.

The NHS is definitely run extremely inefficiently. The amount of paper forms, letters etc that they use is unbelievable in 2025. They really need to move into the modern day.

Bloody hell, full of compassion you aren't you. Taken into hospital with heart failure, let me just get a card for the excess then we'll wheel you on through. I do agree though on the inefficiency though.

I'm not exaggerating when I say my inlaws have visited A&E on a monthly basis for the 20 years I've been with my DH. Every minor slip, trip, twisted ankle, cut, bruise and cough gets seen to. Then it's back for check ups just in case. I think it's an enjoyment in being told by 'the system' that everything is OK. Then throw on top their various hip and knee operations (caused by obesity) - and they've bled the system dry.
Thankfully DH hasn't inherited their stupidity and has been twice in all the time I've known him.

Interesting, OP. My DM couldn’t wait to get out of her NHS physio care facility because the staff were uncaring and rude and the food was so bad the patients couldn’t eat it. She was left without basic toiletries and no working TV, so she sat there bored. When I went to visit, I couldn’t get her transferred out quick enough and also found the staff incredibly defensive when politely challenged about not providing enough care or food.
It was hellish.

There is a group of people who are trapped at the point of needing more support but being afraid of losing independence. While also refusing the necessary lifestyle changes for improvement.

So they want the whole ‘I always use a tea cup’, while being unable to get their own tea.

They are used to organising things to suit themselves, and struggle with having tea at the time it’s made.

I had an unexpected spell in hospital and found the scheduled meals and drinks very pleasing, but DM would have only wanted one when they weren’t being offered 🤣

I currently have two elderly relatives refusing care or physio, one staying in bed watching tv all the time. My third elderly is looking on with horror and finally accepting she needs to allow some input from other people, rather than ending up like them.

I also had twins by CS and similar happened to me, but my partner was there to bring me food - did you not have anyone with you? I'm not saying this is right but there are a lot of people whose families don't step up.

Our parents are the same. They go the doctor weekly and insist on loads of tests. They refuse to buy any over the counter meds and ask the GP for it. All of our parents are in their 80’s and have never once had a major illness, or needed an operation. They have aches and pains, eat crap and do little exercise. They go to the doctor for any small niggle and demand tests and medicine.

If they call up and are told there are no appointments they’ll turn up to the surgery, write letters and start threatening to report people.

They just won’t accept that they are 80 - 90 and have had the luxury of a long, healthy life.

We no longer use our GP as we just can’t get appointments. We now pay for an online GP. No fuss, just get it done over the phone. I think it’s the way forward if you can afford it.

The NHS needs massive reorganisation but no government will have the guts to do it. I had high hopes Wes Streeting might grasp the nettle but he's obviously hampered by Starmer. All that's been announced is minor tweaks and focus groups, kicking can down road. Labour has a huge majority, a real chance to do something, but I guarantee they'll do nothing. As Mrs T would say, they're too "frit".

I know a lady who has made it her life’s work to mug off the NHS. It’s disgusting and they should start blacklisting people like that.

I have said for a long time that we should all be allowed up to ten free GP appointments per year, then after that pay £30 or so. It would put off a lot of the malingerers.

Nurse here OP. I know exactly what you mean but plenty of people who haven't worked in healthcare will be along very soon to tell you how wrong/lacking in compassion etc you ...