AIBU to be frustrated by NHS delays and inefficiency?

[LovingLilacDuck]

I think the NHS is so incredibly inefficient sometimes, I mean the system not the care. From getting an appointment in a GP to referrals to actual appointments literally take months sometimes. WHY?

Why do we have to keep up with this? Surely a proper healthcare system that works as it should must be a priority? It’s 2026, goodness sake!

Some can afford private healthcare and some can’t. Yes, NHS is free for all but is it ACCESSIBLE, I’m not sure. Therefore I think this rubbish situation where you have to be on a waiting list ??? for months must, must be sorted.

AIBU to be so frustrated?

I cannot understand why the logistics are so archaic. We each have an NHS number yet i have moved area within England and have been told that my hospital records are not available. It ridiculous.

@PassaggressfedupIm not sure what your last sentence says. I would agree it’s not as good as it was but they also have the ageing population issue. I still prefer it to our system.

Wrong. Spanish health care is excellent, for example.

Don't believe the domestic propaganda the UK feeds you.
The NHS is NOT the envy of the world.

I would agree with this. Before my DPs finally moved into a care home, there seemed a positive battery of tests on a regular basis that seemed faintly ludicrous due to their ages. Except of course when DF was finally referred for the memory test , that apparently had a waiting list of months.
The system works in a fractured way so each area focuses on delivering its outcomes, never questioning the benefit of all these tests on a 92 year old with failing overall health- not unexpectedly at the age of 92.

Spanish health care is excellent, for example
You're wrong, the Spanish system also experiences long waits like the NHS.

25% of residents in Spain pay extra towards private insurance!

Everyone's experience is individual and unique to them. As a child in the 1960s and 70s, I was forced to undergo multiple surgeries for no reason other than, and I don't say this lightly, experimentation so they could improve what is now one or two amazing surgeries. Absolutely no way, today would any of these be done as a) the surgeries are redundant and b) just being called to hospital where there is a bed several days before to wait in, surgeons immediately available and a couple of weeks in hospital afterwards, just doesn't happen

This year, I've had to have inpatient non surgical time and surgeries related to what happened when I was little and the wait was, while not unacceptable, quite hard to deal with and left me in pain and frustrated for a couple of months. When it all happened though, it was done by the top consultant in the country in that field plus three other top surgeons from other teams and I was treated amazingly well.

It wasn't their fault I had to wait and they did everything to get it done

We can't just generalise. The nhs is in a mess for many reasons but when you ask people their experiences there will be some unhappy (£480 a year and moaning thinking that pays for more than a couple of outpatients 10 minute appointments ) and some really relieved it's there at all and appreciative of what was done

The NHS is shit for so many reasons. Loads of additional appointments rather than just treating someone on first contact. The UK limiting medical degrees and placements. Drs who have graduated not able to train. Many people working in the NHS doing the bare minimum. Toxic environments that are accepted. Terrible treatment of their customers/patients. Staff not listening and minimising until patient becomes so ill even more expensive treatment is needed. No accountability and just pass people around.

When in A&E signs everywhere saying if in pain ask and they will do something. Not true. People suffer for hours. A simple fix would be a nurse going round checking on the poor people waiting.

many other countries have much better systems. Someone said earlier how much they had paid in and has been rudely told they don’t pay enough. Billions more can go into the NHS and it will still be shit. I paid £108K in tax last year so I’m sure anything I would need I have well over paid. However I feel I would be safer if A&E were needed it would be quicker and safer to jump on the Eurostar or get a flight to Spain as the treatment would be better and quicker.

The issue is that when the waiting list for anything to be done about your illness is 6-12months if it’s bad enough you end up paying for the NHS AND thousands of pounds in private treatment to make life bearable. While sometimes unable to work due to the illness. That’s when it stings.