What’s the point in the NHS?

[younknow]

I fell over at work today. My ankle was immediately black and blue and swollen, so I hobbled off to urgent care in a taxi.

I waited for four hours, I was x-rayed and told there were no breaks and a severe sprain. The doctor told me I’ve likely torn ligaments in my ankle and will be sore for three months.

I asked what sort of follow up would be given and she all but laughed at me, saying that I could get myself a support on Amazon if I wanted. I said I couldn’t even weight bear and she said I could also pick up crutches if needed. She then said I could refer to physio but “ChatGPT would give me a plan”. I asked if I’d be scanned to find out how badly damaged it is and she said there was no chance.

What is the point? Genuinely, what are we paying for when even things like this are being directed to Amazon and A.I?! I can’t believe it.

I remember 15 years ago my mum tore ligaments in her ankle and she was scanned the same day it happened, put in a boot and on crutches for six weeks, had a course of physio and consultations with an orthopaedic surgeon to discuss a plan if it didn’t improve.

What’s going on?!

What exactly are "proper investigations"? Are you a medical professional?

I disagree with your opinion.

There are people who go without medication because they can't afford it. There are adverts for medication everywhere. It's a profit-driven system. There is vast health inequality.

The US spends significantly more per capita on healthcare than any other developed nation, yet consistently records lower life expectancies and higher rates of preventable deaths, chronic disease, and infant mortality.

Medical bills are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy there.

It's a special type of arrogance when someone is in a room full of people who disagree with them, yet they think the room full of people are in the wrong...

DD1 fell down the stairs. After extensive x rays, they diagnosed a sprained wrist. Two days later, they rang us up to say she had a broken collarbone and elbow.

She fell another time, and they missed a broken fibula. The orthopaedic department told us a week later - it was patently obvious on the x ray!

DGD fell off a swing a few weeks ago. It was obvious she had a broken wrist. DS brought up the pain in her shoulder, but the doctor said it was fine and refused to order an x ray, along with the wrist! A week later, DS asked the doctor in the orthopaedic department, why she had a lump on her shoulder - he said it was because she had a broken collarbone! X ray showed it the next day.

I remember years ago spraining my ankle. It ballooned, very painful. A doctor poked it and when I winced told me I was a baby.

I tore ligaments in my ankle nearly 20 years ago. I had an x-ray, pain killers, crutches and then was sent home. The pain was significantly better within a few days and I was up and walking within a week. They should’ve given you crutches, I couldn’t put any weight on my foot initially, but to ask what the point in the NHS is when you have a sprained ankle is very dramatic and I can’t help but feel you’re part of the problem if you’re demanding more for a sprained ankle. Rest up and if the pain continues long term see your GP… it’s that easy!

OP, I sprained my ankle hideously. A&E weren't exactly compassionate but, in the grand scheme of things, it was minor compared to what they could be dealing with.

I was told no support needed and to be as mobile as possible. I couldn't, so they gave me crutches. I then had follow up Physio for a year, still not recovered so they did an MRI, after which I got a steroid injection and have further follow up appointment planned.

I agree the attitude of the individual was terrible. But the NHS is fantastic.

Thank you so much for everything you and your colleagues do.

You obviously have access to the internet (you’ve posted here). Go and check the costs of the private alternative. A GP would be £150 for 30 mins, an x-ray is about the same, you then pay for any meds or appliances. When you start adding up the costs, especially for more serious issues you need a lot of money, healthcare care insurance or the NHS.
I don’t think anyone will dispute the fact the NHS is struggling to provide the level of service we all hope it would, but it is still an awesome organisation that if it went away tomorrow would destroy the welfare of all but the very rich.

It's just a sprained ankle ffs, get over it.

I suspect the OP has some form of hidden agenda here. They have ignored lots of good advice.

Yes. I had a quite badly sprained ankle a few years ago. never went anywhere with it, treated myself conservatively at home (I'm retired and on my own so need to go anywhere). I managed to get around downstairs, hobbling, holding on to things and using a stick, there was a downstairs loo. Groceries delivered. It gradually got better, by three weeks it was a thing of the past. I can't now remember which ankle it was!

Yep. OP is part of the problem. Refusing to take responsibility for the self help measures everyone with a sprained ankle is told to do. OP instead wants an expensive magic pill, instead of acting like a grown up.

CBA to even read your nonsensical post beyond the title…
When you’ve had a child desperately sick and the NHS literally save their life on 2 separate occasions you will appreciate the NHS.

That is ridiculous IMO, I don't want to pay more tax so someone can see a GP for a same day appointmemt to be given hip exercises ! As others have said what is wrong with taking a bit of responsibilty ? the internet is full of advice and exercises for hip pain- ok if you have done daily exercises for 6 weeks and it's getting worse, but it is not a same day problem.

You are looking at this from the wrong angle.

The NHS is pyramid, if we don’t have a strong foundation, meaning GP care and what you see as minor complaints, then we cannot have a strong and resilient fabric throughout.

There are so many things I don’t want to pay tax toward, but I, and you, don’t get to choose.

All gp surgeries have a physio. Just book an appointment directly.

My GP surgery does not have a physio.

@BeachLifeoOhLaLa Germany spends about 50% more per person on health than the UK does. Are you prepared to pay that much extra tax?

Are you in northern Ireland or Scotland? Or a tiny gp practice? I know they are very common in England and Wales, so unless you live very rurally, maybe you need to move practice?

No they don’t, we’re at a massive surgery in England that doesn’t however you can easily get a referral to the local small hospital that has a very good physio department.

Physios in GP surgeries are usually called first contact practitioners and a lot of people don’t realise they exist, but you can request an appointment directly with them instead of the gp for any msk problems.

I've seen various physios and none of them have helped.

The consultant agrees there's a problem with the cuboid joint as there's a 'flare' on the PET CT scan but doesn't seem to know what's causing it. I've got another appointment next month so we'll see if I get any answers then. I think he's leaning towards surgery but until I know what's wrong I'm not keen.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat I am sorry to hear it's more complex.
Our bodies aren't machines and diagnosis isn't always easy.

@Neurodiversitydoctor
The pain in my hip had been ongoing for 2 months and not getting better with exercising Or with rest as I tried both. Bold of you to assume I ran to the doctor at the first sign of pain - I did so when I exhausted other options, my point being that the service was there, helpful and efficient when I needed it. First plan is physio, then we will see if I need more investigation to find out if something is wrong inside the hip socket. My appointment at the doctor took about 30 minutes and GPs in Germany have the capacity to see you for any issue same day. When I had to try and do the same in the uk for plantar fasciitis (and before you jump the gun - this was also on going for a few months as I don’t tend to go to the doctor unless I have to) but in the end went to a private podiatrist and then a private physio as NHS shrugged their shoulders and said to rest my feet…

@Constantrunner
I now live in Germany and I am paying the extra taxes here that come from health insurance - and I am very happy to do so when I can also reap the benefits of services that work.