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!

Indeed.

But many many many positive stories from numerous threads on just this one site alone is not “a few”

have to agree.

after extra monitoring for a "large baby" waters went at 35 weeks. 24 hours in hospital cos of infection risk when contractions started. Turned into EMCS and delivery of a blue baby. Fill intubation and XRay for baby and up to NICU urgently. Revived once more. Tons of meds, IV fluids etc. 5 days of care then transferred by ambulance to another hospital, 5 more days of similar care, then to main Paeds hospital for life saving surgery at 13 days old. finally off ventilator and weaned down. treatment for suspected sepsis. transferred back to 2nd hospital then eventually birth hospital where we were discharged at 13 weeks on peg feeds and O2. Community nursing was amazing. portage. physio. SLT. Specialist health visitors. Readmitted at 10 months, 4 month stay with 2 bowel surgeries, countless X Rays, various other treatments and tests. 2 more abdo surgeries. numerous consultant appointments when not on hospital. and that was just the first 18 months.

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Completely agree @BarbaraVineFan. Our recent experience has been with life threatening stuff and the NHS has been and continues to be absolutely amazing. I can’t speak of the staff and the treatment too highly, it’s fantastic.

I can assure you I did. There was one other man in front of me and he was called straight away, then he came back after 5 mins and it was my turn. It was 10 minutes at a push.

I was referred for an x-ray by my GP on Tuesday. Walked over to the department, the referral was on screen and I’d barely sat down before I was called in.

tell my son that, who is alive because three hospitals plus KIDS were bloody brilliant. and me, who is only as sane as I am because of the bloody brilliant community nurses and services.

perfect? no

bloody brilliant? absobloodylutely!

I remember being really ill over Christmas, couldn't keep anything down for a week, advise to call 111, 111 sent me to A&E was there a total of 3 hours, blood tests and three different diagnosis later I was put on antibiotics. Was diagnosed with sickness bug, sinusitis and a chest infection. We are lucky to have the NHS. Many countries dont have a free health care system. Well free as in not having to pay for things like that, we pay through national insurance and tax

I believe you because same
experience here

Mixed bag here too. When the NHS gets it right it's amazing. But when it gets it wrong the effects can last years.

My GP surgery is brilliant, and they really do try and help you as much as they can.

I have had some great experiences with some of my pregnancies and the care for my babies. I had one tough pregnancy due to a lack of midwives, sick leave and poor advice. I've had great antenatal care but awful postnatal care. That last part was part of the reason I became a midwife, so I could help women and not let them be left feeling like I was left.

My parents had mostly great care when they had cancer but my grandfather had such terrible care I had to step in and get things sorted. I was only taken seriously when I had concerns about his health when I used medical terminology and they asked me if I was a health professional. Amazingly then got a GP out who sent him straight into hospital (my grandfather died a few days later with little dignity and scared).

I've had mainly terrible experiences with mental health services but have met some great mental health nurses. I've ended up having to go private because you are left with nowhere to go.

I work for the NHS and I'm so proud of the team I work with who regularly go above and beyond for those in our care. But I also recognise this isn't everyone's experience.

Actually I think the Swiss system might be the best. But I do know that there are now problems with the French and German systems. They were good several years ago

Personally I've found the NHS amazing in a life threatening emergency. We've had a few of those and they have been brilliant. And staff have always done their best in really difficult situations. But the waiting times are unacceptable. One of my sons has been waiting nearly a year to have his toenail removed and another one has been waiting over 3 years for an autism/adhd assessment.

I became ill in my early 20s with a disease that has so far cost the NHS £3/4 million...in total i've spent over a year in hospital, had around 20 surgeries and weeks in icu. When you are extremely ill the NHS pulls out all the stops.

I've also been sitting on 1 waiting list for over 2 years, and gone private for things I needed quickly to get me out of pain.....eye stuff, foot stuff, physio etc.

I've had to go private to avoid a 4 year waiting list for Autusm (child).

If a poster is going to ask AIBU? it should be because there is always some doubt in their mind. AIBU was never meant to be a board for discussing unarguable bloody obvious conversations.

But it is. 🤷‍♀️ It’s no less valid because it isn’t in Chat.

Had to get a blood test done at local hospital, ordered by another. Booked appointment online, so easy, could pick date and time. Showed up and absolute idiot me forgot to bring the form. I was expected to be told off (rightly so) and that I had to rescheduled.

Instead, I was told kindly that if I could rush home to get it and come back, it would be seen then. I rushed home and back, gave the form, was told to wait in waiting room. I prepared myself for quite a wait as I had lost my slot. I had not even sat down that my game was called. Blood taken, out in less than 5mns. Couldn't believe it!

I work for the NHS and I’ve been looked after by them. It ain’t perfect but it’s a real blessing.

Not always better - nicer crockery perhaps better food and you don't get drunks, homeless and dementia patients screaming in the middle of the night. Oh yes and any complex patient or things that go wrong get shipped across for NHS treatment (didn't the prince Philip get moved from private to NHS for treatment)

Me too about a year ago.

You had modern healthcare and medicine. Nothing unique about the NHS.

There is. It runs on goodwill and the human element is second to none. Far better than we received in the Italian healthcare system.

NHS basically saved my wife last year, ICU, 6 months in amazing brain rehab centre all for free so im definitely not knocking it , plus now 6 months of physio and threapy at home.

👮

The NHS produces consistently crap healthcare.

Have you endured this?

because many have not

You were all "saved" because you had access to a modern healthcare system with universality.... This is not unique to the UK, most of the developed world (barring the USA) does this.