The NHS. We need to fight to keep it.

[Differentforgirls]

My Mil is 87. Last year (around September) she was bleeding from her vagina and went to her GP.

The GP referred her to hospital for tests, which she got quickly.

It was cancerous polyps in her womb so she got further tests to ensure they hadn’t spread and was referred for surgery.

Tonight she has been discharged from hospital after numerous tests over the intervening months and a surgery yesterday (keyhole).

She’ll get follow up treatment too.

All NHS, where she has been treated with dignity, respect and kindness.

It might not be what it was due to cuts but it’s still something we should be proud of.

She’ll celebrate her 88th birthday next month, as an OAP in social housing with nothing but her pension, because of the NHS.

AIBU for thinking the NHS is something to be proud of and fight to keep?

I live on my own and go to all my appointments/ a&e alone and it’s been like a battle every time.

Because I need to be alert to speak up for myself, I think it sometimes makes me present as less unwell than I am and unfortunately that can lead to them trying to dismiss my symptoms.

I just think it’s horrendous someone can receive better care because they or the person with them are able to advocate more effectively.

Under the French system, everyone pays into a mutuelle and contributions vary according to income/means. You have to pay at the point you use the service, but most or all of it is refunded by insurance. I am not aware of French grannies being left to die in the street, so I think we can safely assume there are safety nets.

I find it really ironic that those who want to preserve the NHS seem to think it's the only humane way to offer healthcare. It's the complete opposite: we pay (on pain of imprisonment), we have no idea what treatment is covered by our contribution, but it will vary by postcode, and we can only access it if we can convince a GP - who may or may not be any good - that we need it (And they're incentivised not to give it to us). We have no idea how long we will have to wait for anything we do need, but we'll be pathetically grateful if it's less than 6 months, and if the drugs that will help are actually funded. And if we need emergency care, we have to wait hours, if not days, for a bed.

It is - objectively - the worst system in the world. Many people think the US is the worst, but insured patients receive the best care available. Here, we all end up in the clutches of the NHS for everything except ingrown toenails and the like, for which private care is available. For me, that is utterly terrifying.

I have a different experience with my son - around the same time. Type 1diabetes plus he developed an eating disorder (common in T1 teenagers). He had two full teams looking after him - one diabetic and one eating disorder and we had a monthly meeting with both together and help whenever we needed it.

They saved his life!

Maybe it’s because we live in different countries?

Ive also paid privately for a year for free style libra which then became available from the NHS.

I’m pretty sure the outcomes and waiting lists in NHS Scotland are as bad if not worse than NHS England.

What will you do? Avoid tax?

This. I am glad your elderly parent has had a good experience @Differentforgirls because my old mum has nothing short of a shitshow on offer from her several times in hospital lately.

Serious mistakes - swiftly followed by arse covering, are common. It’s not a well run institution.

How sure? Do you live in both countries?

Yep - out worst experiences have been with a family member using NHS Scotland. NHS England whilst by no means great, hasn’t presented us with quite as much inefficiency - and complacency.

Also unlikely to be under the NHS in my area of Scotland which I actually work in as a nurse, it is crumbling before my eyes

Aside from your own personal experiences - which isn’t the same for everyone in Scotland - where’s your evidence that NHS Scotland is better ?

Yep. I’ve heard lots of horror stories about the NHS in Scotland including from friends who were nurses in Glasgow .

But also I’ve heard some research quoted on various political shows which more or less showed NHS Scotland was in a state too. It’s not just an English thing.

@Litning definitely. Yet the Scottish government seem to have successfully spun the public a line that everything NHS is great in Scotland “because free prescriptions”

it’s an absolute binfire , and at a stretch on a par with the rest of the country.

And, apologies if it’s been said before, but NHS in Scotland is devolved. The SNP could spend more on it than say, fighting to keep men in women’s prisons. Just saying…

I personally can’t find anything that says outright nhs Scotland is significantly better (or worse) than England and I suspect that’s partly because they are broadly speaking performing at similar levels.

However I have seen this in various publications which suggest that improvements have been slower in Scotland post-pandemic.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24755447.scotland-lagging-behind-england-nhs-recovery-says-ifs/

Surely SNP etc would be shouting from the rooftops if their NHS was doing significantly better.

Where did I say that?

It’s also dire in Wales, where Labour have been running the show for many years. DH covered for a vacant consultant post at a North Wales hospital and said the standards of care and cleanliness would be totally unacceptable in the (developing) country that he comes from originally.

So you’re not saying that NHS Scotland is better than England then?

That’s fine.

We are agreed then.

I disagree OP. We should fight to change it to make it better for our kids rather than pat ourselves on back with nostalgia for 'our NHS' and better old days.

Yes Scotland has free prescriptions but there is no Right to Choose, services are limited and waiting lists are not that different to England. And that's before we even start talking about service provision in rural areas North.

Please don’t ruin the thread with trans stuff. It’s like a disease on here.

I never did though so maybe read BEFORE reacting?

How can you prefer the NHS over something you know nothing about? That actually made me laugh out loud.

Do you have any idea at all how poor the NHS is compared to other health systems at all? I was recently in hospital after a serious accident.

Ambulance - less than 10 minutes (3 pompiers and a nurse). UK target is that 90% should arrive in 120 minutes.

A& E wait in ambulance - 0 minutes.

Wait until seen by doctor, pain relief and treatment - 5 minutes

Wait for x-ray - circa 15 minutes

Seen by specialist - circa 20 minutes. Plan made

Within just over 3 hours of the accident I was in a bed on a ward. Single room with en suite.

2 hours later surgery.

Post discharge - all necessary equipment delivered to the house within minutes of arriving home. Nurses daily to do anti coagulant injections/blood tests for 6 weeks. Regular OP appointments, well organised efficient clinics, always seen by the consultant himself. Physio 3x week. Taxi transport provided to physio if needed.

And you still prefer the NHS?

Which is what I have said!

I want to see the end of NHS dentistry. it benefits no one but practice owners. also patients don’t value something when it’s free 🤷🏽‍♀️

Now why would stating something true be ruining your thread Op?
Because it doesn’t fit your narrative that ‘NHS in Scotland is great’ except ‘Tories’ and ‘George Osborne’ ?

'Lots of midwives are completing the degree then quitting because of lack of support from experienced staff.'

Not to mention the risk levels at work due to chronic understaffing.