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.

We are all aware of the issues in the NHS.

I would prefer someone to look after me who does not hold me in contempt during a time I require care and are vulnerable. Are you suggesting patients have to accept that contempt or get no care?

The OP is directing their contempt and their issues with working in the NHS on vulnerable patients. That is wrong.

The system isn't 'abusing' anyone. You seriously need to get a grip.

Many people pay 'taxes' and yet take more from the system than they ever contribute. The majority of the population in fact are not net contributors. Yet, they expect that they should be entitled to fantastic healthcare that meets all their expensive wants and needs. It is isn't realistic!

I think your post just drips with entitlement. The idea of free universal healthcare is relatively recent and was developed in a very different era when we had far fewer sick and old people and there were fewer expensive procedures and treatments to fund. We need to get real now and accept that the system simply can't cope with the level of expectation that people place upon it. Healthcare is a privilege and not an unalienable human rights. If you don't believe me then go to lots of other countries around the world and see what happens there. Healthcare is extortionately expensive and we are nowhere near rich enough as a country to be providing a gold standard of health care to 70 million people in the way you seem to assume we can.

She actually had some kind of traumatic experience in the town where she was offered care and was desperate not to go back there as she felt it would be bad for her mental health - I don’t think that’s being entitled tbh, we’d all want to avoid places that have bad memories. She maybe didn’t have the capacity to fully engage with/understand the reasons why ultimately she had to go there, but it’s not fair to call her entitled.

Maybe OP feels entitled like these nurses:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2kg2djkk2o

I read that as factual information, not contempt.

I'm not for a second saying you should expect to be treated with contempt. I'm saying we need to be sure that the workforce is treated well. Or would you prefer to be treated by someone who is treated terribly themselves. Do you think that would enhance your treatment?

She might have had any number of genuine and understandable reasons for not wanting to go back, but thinking that entitles her to take up a hospital bed at a time when there is a desperate shortage absolutely is entitled.

It is not melodramatic or an exaggeration to say that people are literally dying because they are not getting the timely treatment they need, not to mention much larger numbers who are living with pain and disability while awaiting treatment.

A full ward means a delay in ambulance crews handing over which can mean no ambulances available for people who need them urgently.

We all have to recognise that we are sharing an overloaded system with others who are sometimes in greater need than us.

Yes OP, this is part of the problem. But I wouldn't out it in the top 10

I’m signed off work at the moment and spend most of my time watching tv and chatting to who ever comes to see me

my washing machine delivery man got his ear chewed off about a few topics as I’d not seen anyone in days

I do rehab exercises for a few minutes each day and thank god I am not being looked after by you

If you’re only doing rehab exercises for a few minutes a day you’re unlikely to get much beyond where you are. 🙄

The some other countries around the world do not have a system when you pay for health care via your taxes, then get nothing.

Most people are not net contributors when it comes to tax. The vast majority of the population pays nowhere near enough tax to cover the health care they could need over their lifetime. This is where the entitlement starts, an erroneous belief that paying some tax means that you must have contributed enough to entitle you to super expensive healthcare. Most people absolutely haven't done this or even come close to doing this.

This. It makes me laugh when people say this. How many people on this thread would pay less tax and happily handover £500, £700 a month (and more) to an insurer for healthcare they also may well not be using right now?

You have people on this forum horrified that people spend £10k on a holiday, or £2000 a month on their mortgage repayment, £500 a month on a car loan. How will those people not only afford but bring themselves to pay for health insurance? It’s JOKES

They are two separate issues.

Yes NHS staff should be treated fairly.

No NHS staff should not redirect their employment issues/frustrations onto vulnerable patients. If they cannot see the difference and stop themselves from doing that they are in the wrong job.

Regarding your comment on healthcare as part of human rights, as of today UK is part of WHO, and the attached is WHO's view on it. So, it is part of human rights. You can also find it in the UN declaration and in UK's own law.
The system we are all part of includes a National Health System where you get healthcare if you live in UK. Most people do work and contribute with their taxes to the system, including the specific NIC. It is the past and current agreement. It is what is stated in UK law. Not that you need to pay for 100% of your care, here and now. Not even the US system requires this.
Are there entitled people wasting time? Yes, as per in everything in life, sadly. Picky food eaters, missing appointments are clear examples.

Are the majority of UK citizens taking the mick out of the tax and health system? Nope, not at all. They are actually getting a really bad (as in slow) service. Sometimes, sadly, it has costed people their life: see articles about too late diagnosis, deaths waiting in A&E... you have plenty of moving examples on this threat alone, of people who have and are struggling with the system, mostly due to delays or mission impossible appointments.
This is all an organisational issue, not the fault of the employees at the NHS, at all. Neither the patient's fault. Neither the tax payer. It is a government management and structure issue (including getting letters for an appointment on the same day or already past- that has happened to some)
Whenever I have to use the NHS, the nurses and doctors are great, the care I get is good and they do get how difficult is to get to the point of seeing them.

But, it is not fair to say that we are simultaneously obliged to pay taxes and then not entitled to the healthcare that is meant to come with it.

The aging population, yes, it is a major issue, the source of much of the impass and governments keep brushing it under the carpet. But this suggestion that people are no longer entitled to healthcare does not sit within my, or as far as I know, the UK's values. The solution is other, one that needs to align with our moral values. And, by the way, care of the elderly does create jobs too. It is not just a black hole.

This, I 100% agree with this.

It’s good to know they’ve eradicated systemic abuse and institutional abuse. You must let the safeguarding adults teams know, they’ll be delighted at their workload being reduced by so much. A very big saving for the NHS and the tax payer.

Do you?

This is ridiculous! I was obviously responding to someone that claimed that poor service from the NHS was the same as people being abused by the system which is plainly nonsense. I

“Poor service” can be abuse, HTH. I don’t mean someone complaining their sandwich was shit or the lights were left on too late. I am talking about when continent people are being left to soil themselves and develop pressure sores. I consider that abuse as does the law, as do various LA and NHS safeguarding adults policies. It is often not the fault of the overworked staff but the system that allowed this. The fact this happens in 2025 is what is ridiculous.

Well, you are accurately repeating the stigma and discrimination that patients with EUPD, also known as Borderline Personality Disorder, face from healthcare providers. It’s quite sad really.

How do they get to the chair and why must they do it in a group setting? If it’s seated exercises why can’t they do them while sitting in bed watching TV?

Personally, I think the entitlement started with the billionaire employers helping themselves to more and more profits while dodging taxes and artificially suppressing wage growth to the point that the government has to top up the wages of the working poor just so they can live hand to mouth.

If these billionaires had not felt so entitled to pay super low wages to increase their wealth to the point that any one of them could end child poverty and still be a billionaire, then most people would actually earn enough to then pay enough taxes to keep public services going.

They get wheeled or otherwise physically assisted to a central area. Many of the patients also choose to do their physio exercises as well. Usually while listening to music or watching TV. But the seated group exercises are an integral part of the rehabilitation.

I think we shouldn't have low expectations for how we are cared for in hospital when we're at our most vulnerable and most in need. Some of this sounds entitled, but some of it doesn't sound unreasonable, rather we shouldn't have such low standards that asking for peas instead of sweet corn is an issue for recovering patients.