AIBU to think the NHS is bloody brilliant sometimes?

[BarbaraVineFan]

I crushed my finger on Tuesday in a silly accident. Popped a plaster on and hoped for the best, but by yesterday evening it bore a strong resemblance to ET’s finger so I thought I’d better get it checked out. Quick trip to the pharmacy, they advised 111. Called 111 this morning, got through almost straight away, was sent to urgent care.

Went to urgent care this morning and waited about an hour. While I was waiting a chap came round with a trolley giving out free tea, coffee and biscuits. Brilliant! Then i was seen by a lovely specialist nurse who checked for tendon and nerve damage and said i needed an X ray to check for fractures. Waited about 5 mins for the X ray, the radiographer sent the images back to the nurse and I was seen again within 5-10 mins to be told I had a fractured bone in my finger. She put a splint and dressing on and sent me on my way with another splint, some gauze and tape for when I need to change the dressing. At all times, everyone was kind, patient and explained everything to me, I didn’t feel rushed in any way and came out about 2 hours after I went in.

And ALL FOR FREE (I know, I know, it’s not really free, but still!). It just made me think how lucky I am not to live in eg the USA, where a minor injury like this would probably cost me thousands of dollars. Thank you, NHS!

Well, yes. This too. My friend told me that she waited in her stairs for 5 hours for an ambulance when she fell and broke her leg with a knee injury a few years ago. She had excellent care in hospital after, but whether she thought this at the time when waiting in agony is not likely!

Mine did. An antipsychotic drug that is mainly for the most serious of schizophrenia patients shouldn't really be given for severe anxiety, distress and insomnia (as in my case). So, I think if we are being pedantic, perhaps it was off label 🤔😞

What do you define “off label” as?

Not really for anything other than its intended purposes ie psychotic behaviour.

Absolutely, yes, it is still used for these, but used for insomnia isn't a first line treatment.

Unfortunately, all other options had been exhausted in my case (sleeping pills, antidepressants, diazapam etc), and she had no choice apart from probably sectioning me (or the crisis team). I was really very mentally unwell, and I had to have something different to help quite a desperate situation.

So by off label you mean incorrectly prescribed?

It took ten years from me seeing my GP for gynaecological issues (and two emergency admissions) before I had my hysterectomy. And only because I ended up paying for it privately since I was so ill at that point that I was facing having to give up my career.

A couple of years ago, my mother spent seven hours in an ambulance waiting to go into A&E, followed by 56 hours in A&E (in a bay with two aggressive male patients who had to be restained by security) before she was moved to a ward. Once on the ward, it took them six days to organise the tests she needed; she was basically blocking a bed for all that time.

I don’t see how any system that produces these inefficiencies and suffering is brilliant.

I'm forever grateful we have the NHS. Yes, there are issues with short staffing and lack of funds, but it's a fantastic institution and I wouldn't want to be without it.

I've had my life saved on several occasions. Private health insurance is too expensive for most families/elderly people and we are very fortunate not to have to take this out.

Only if you are lucky enough to be able to afford it. And if the insurance company agrees to pay it. And if your deductible isn’t too high. And…

I and family members have received excellent care in our local area for a number of different conditions. GP surgeries have an efficient triaged online booking system and you get a same day phone or face to face consultation. I honestly can’t fault it.

Exactly
often it’s done on the basis of co payment

insurer pays up to 75% only

It was all brilliant when I was in hospital a few years ago - pneumonia and pleurisy - from ringing 111 to the ambulance arriving quickly, bluelighted to hospital. In for 3 weeks, 5 weeks of ABs, follow up appts.

Re the US, my sister cut a finger very badly, needed an ambulance. I said, Well, at least you’ve got insurance.
She said you’re joking - there was a $2000 excess.
And she was paying a bomb for insurance every month, for herself and her dd.

I’ve had mixed experiences - I think if you are on the brink of death the NHS are fabulous and in a real emergency situation they’ve saved my family members lives. However, I’ve also known two women close to my age (mid thirties) who have died of very treatable cancers because they weren’t listened to early enough. And getting a GP appointment remains an ordeal.

That IS bloody brilliant and it's great you received such efficient treatment.

However it is not the norm in my experience.

I’ve been unfortunate in the past two decades to need quite a lot from the NHS. My daughter was born prematurely and has cerebral palsy as a result. Her care has been nothing short of amazing. I dread to think what it would cost us.

One relative had a cancer that was found by absolute chance and was entirely removed within a couple of months. He had a secondary cancer found during a follow up scan after 5 years and again, that was dealt with swiftly, no further treatment needed.

Another had a heart attack, was treated at a hospital that was going through a very difficult time due to some equipment failure, surgeries being cancelled all over the place. He still had his surgery at the right time and is here years later to tell the tale. The follow up care provided by community nurses was excellent.

For the vast majority of people, when they really need the NHS it is there for them. It isn’t perfect and has its problems, but by and large it does the job pretty well.

Only if you are lucky enough to be able to afford it. And if the insurance company agrees to pay it. And if your deductible isn’t too high. And…

That's the US healthcare system. European models are different. Better.

It's all very well saying you've had excellent treatment on the NHS. That should be everyone's experience. It's not and that's not acceptable. It's free at the point of use but is funded by taxation. We pay for it.

There is NOTHING on planet earth where “everyone” has had excellent treatment and there never will be.

And yet, when my mum was dying in a Welsh hospital two Christmases ago, the hospital didn't have enough blankets and I had to take some in because she was so cold.

Possibly, but it was probably a good choice by my GP I guess at the time.

Absolutely im alive because of the nhs. However they have also nearly killed me a few times so im a bit torn.

In some respects, yes. But I’ve sadly found that if you need something non urgent but important to you, you need to pay to go private and then go back into the NHS system.

Two tier healthcare is here. It probably helps in the long run as you free up initial appointments but it’s useless if you can’t afford to pay.

It’s bloody brilliant most of the time. Happy people rarely post online to say how good it is. Of course some things aren’t good but I think overall it’s really great and we are so lucky to have it.

Not so good for me:

The other day I had an insect bite on my finger, took antihistamines, looked after it over night, next morning whole hand and wrist swollen red and hot, as suggested went to pharmacist who said it needs antibiotics and probably steroids and he can't prescribe says you need to go to gp. Walked back to gp, and receptionist says that looks nasty but I can't see a gp no appointments fully booked, I did argue a bit but no deal although there was only one patient in the waiting room and apparently 3 gps on duty. Tells me to call 111 and they will send me to drop in centre in various towns around not mine. Gave up and went home a couple of hours trying to do what the NHS tells you to do a huge waste of time. Do they not know that a huge reaction to a bite and spreading infection can be a medical emergency? Fortunately getting better but next time straight to A&E.

I had an amazing experience when I broke my
toe .

And it cleared up fine?

Do you not realize that health insurance is a part of your whole pay/benefits package for many many workers in the US. Skewed better towards middle class professions, to be sure, but I wish people wouldn't go on as if every single inhabitant of the US had no health insurance.