FML, it's no wonder the NHS has no money.

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I have an issue that is causing me a lot of pain. I know what it is and I know what the treatment is. I've tried all the self management techniques, but I'm still in significant pain and it's been affecting sleep for 3 months now.

I know it's not serious or urgent but it is having significant impact on my quality of life.

I hardly ever use the NHS (touch wood) and being a responsible citizen, checked my GP's website and used their e-consult form to send all the details of what's happened to date, and ask for help.

They text back with an appointment at their "sister surgery" in the evening a few days later. I didn't ask for or want an urgent or out of hours appointment, that's what I was given. TBH I assumed it was extended hours rather than OOH iyswim.

I've been tonight to be told that the doctor (?) doesn't think it can be treated on the NHS but that I should see my GP to check.

So a complete waste of everyone's time and money, when they had all the information he's asked for tonight already. And now I have to start again and try and get a GP appointment, which is what I thought I'd already done.

I know it will be process etc, but what a wasteful process. The cynic in me thinks it might be a way of manipulating figures to show people get appointments within so many days, even if theyre no appropriate appointments.

What does an unnecessary and pointless OOH appointment cost the NHS?

They aren't so keen on treating size effects from cancer treatment though. It's often " oh we got rid of the cancer so success" no matter what condition the treatment leaves you in

You did not specify to whom this post is addressed.
I don't know where you live, but you are very lucky to be able to get through to a GP & actually make an appointment, & most unusual in being able to see a specific GP,

lol, I’m currently in a 25 person queue to try and speak to my GP

@DinoLil I think your expectations were unreasonable.You were offered an appointment for blood tests, it is your responsibility to get to the appointment, whilst the NHS offer assistance everyone needs to take some responsibility. Taxis exists, ask a family member to take you, don't expect the service to anticipate all your needs.

Used properly and not abused the NHS can offer a great service. I've had multiple occasions where it has been fantastic.

Op, a ganglion is a strange one to treat, often not urgent and most likely seen by an orthopedic surgeon if it's causing significant issues. G

The NHS may be OK for some things, but definitely not fantastic.

I just had to go private to treat an emergency condition that the NHS completely missed through being thoroughly incompetent. Thankfully I have decent private healthcare through work or I would have been left unable to walk.

My GP told me that when they submit an applicartion through for a referral, its out of his hands, and the hospital triage send you, for example, to the physiotherapist or for an Xray, or to the podiatry clinic first as thats the cheapest option - even if the DR has, for example, referred you to the Rheumatologist or suggested you need an MRI scan.
You then get looped back round to the Dr if you are not satisfied that those first line cheap solutions didnt work and he can only refer on again after that

I agree about NHS waste. When my son was very poorly with low weight/nausea/pain the paediatrician refused to refer him for tests because "we can't go referring everybody" and teenage boys don't want cameras up their bum apparently. My son definitely did want that if it got him a diagnosis snd treatment plan. Refusing to refer him resulted in my needing to take him to A&E twice overnight in the following months who did then refer him to the children's gastro ward/tests and diagnosed with Crohn's.

Now a couple of years on he receives regular treatment at our city hospital and is very well. Now we are invited to our local hospital for 6 monthly reviews where we sit around and say he is fine (as under treatment with the city hospital). Complete waste of money.

I heard something similar from my previous GP.

He went further & said that he sometimes felt like a schoolboy who knew the answer, but the teacher ignored his upraised hand.

All of which would be treated by the NHS! Chemotherapy side effects would definitely be treated as part of the treatment plan! Brain tumours are also treated on the nhs! You’ve just made yourself look silly!

What is fml? Can't find it on google

Fuck My Life

yes its infantising doctors who are working in general practice and dont send people to specialists for shits and giggles.
And its a huge waste of time and money

Radiation side effects often aren't I know any people suffer neuropathy from it and no help

My daughter in law had a brain tumor.

her nhs gp told her it was anxiety even while she was sitting there clutching the scan showing a sodding large brain tumor.

she now is losing her vision, is in a wheelchair because she cannot walk and her parents take her to the loo because she’s lost control of her bowels and bladder.

it’s been a year so far and no fucking treatment.
tell her the nhs treats brain tumours. She needs a good laugh

The NHS would treat those conditions though

Well you’ll be ok when the fagash fuhrer gets in won’t you!

Yep. So much of the problem in the NHS is not too many managers, but not enough competent management meaning that clinicians have to work around really inefficient processes and systems.

I get regular infusions - every year I see a consultant who agrees I still need them. The hospital then has to agree to fund them based on the consultant recommendations. The request for funding is literally a tick box exercise, but it sits on someones desk for weeks, usually meaning that when my appointment is next due the infusion team ask pharmacy for the drugs and are told they can't have them because it's not funded. Which means the infusion nurse has to spend hours chasing the funding team to find my funding request and move to the top of the pile. The poor infusion nurses say they have this issue at least once a week, and it wastes so much unnecessary time.

I’d prefer it if the NHS was actually fit for purpose.

A ganglion cyst causing so much pain someone can’t sleep is not a cosmetic issue ffs. Sorry op, get back to an actual gp when you can get an appointment and start again. The nhs is a brilliant and wonderful thing with lots of fab people working in & for it but unfortunately in many areas its services are currently woeful. And yes, the wastage is terrifying.

Do I want the NHS privatised? Absolutely not.

Do I think the NHS is almost unique when it comes to financial waste? Hell yeah!

I wish we could have a more European model rather than the Soviet one - insurance, PPPs, cost efficiency, professionalism etc but at the same ensuring everyone gets treatment if they need it regardless of whether they are rich. The Scandinavian, German, Japanese and French models seem to be the best IMO

I’m so sorry to read this.
Her GP didn’t believe the scan so she isn’t being referred for treatment, or it keeps getting cancelled or…..?

Have they contacted their MP?

@saraclara I was very not rude. I wouldn't want someone being aggressive or rude or nasty to me when I was doing a job. And I wasn't to them. I was just factual. Calm. Laughed.

Please don't make assumptions. That's rude.

@Pleasealexa I can't bend my leg so can't get in a car. So a taxi won't work any more than me driving my own car. Also, with current road diversions, it's a 40 mile round trip.

I have no family here. No one who can assist. But I'd still have the same problem in any car atm.

It's not important. That's what I'm saying. It's box ticking. So no need to be snippy and think you know everything and the answer to everything. Unless you are happy to come and pick me up?? Do you have a van I can lie in? I have a blue badge so no parking charges! 😆

Gp didn’t beleive her at first.

five months in she and my daughter came to visit and I could see it wasn’t right and there was no way it was anxiety.

I sat down with her and did a list of her symptoms and told her the right medical words to use and he did finally do a referral then.

the wait to be seen even for urgent cases which they have categorised her as is eight months.

she cannot afford nor can parents afford private treatment.

You are completely missing the point. It's not up to the receptionist to read your notes and decide for his or herself that there is no point inviting you for an appointment because of course you wouldn't be able to get in a taxi or whatever. It's their job to offer you the appointment and then up to you to decline. The only person in the wrong is you for being obviously snippy about it.