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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To thnk the NHS is a waste of time, space, money and effort?

136 replies

NigellaTheOriginal · 14/07/2008 17:47

I should know I work for it but that's a whole new thread.

this morning get a letter from Hospital A -

;'You didn't bring DD2 to appointment with paediatrician so you'll have to wait until December for another appointment' HUH - what appointment - I knew nothing about it.

Second letter from Hospital B -

'DD2s appointment with gastro specialist booked for next week has been cancelled and her next appointment will be in October'

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Bastard, stupid, feckers.
am fecking, bloody furious. Stupid administration shite - couldn't organise a cup of fecking tea withou screwing it up.
Will be making a number of irate phone calls.

OP posts:
Bramshott · 15/07/2008 10:26

I read somewhere the other day that the NHS is the third largest employer IN THE WORLD - after the Chinese Army and Indian Railways! Makes you realise how special it is!

OrmIrian · 15/07/2008 10:28

It may be inefficient and expensive and infuriating at times but no way is a waste of time, money and space. YABU but I guess there are mitigating circumsntace. If it wasn't for the NHS I'd probably wouldn't have made it past 8yrs old due to severe sudden onset athsma and multiple very serious chest problems.

SixSpotBurnet · 15/07/2008 10:34

Have only read OP but yes, YABU. My DS2 received fantastic treatment for his clubfeet, speedy, efficient, caring and lovely. And all free. Quite amazing.

eidsvold · 15/07/2008 10:34

things like this happen - no system is infallible but I have nothing but praise for the NHS - my daughter had fabulous care whilst undergoing two open heart surgeries at 8 weeks old. Those who cared for her and operated were mostly brilliant. I also had fabulous care for my emergency c-section, antenatal and post natal care with dd1. No complaints from me.

foxythesnowfox · 15/07/2008 10:37

YABU.

Have a rant by all means, then get yourself off to Bupa. Its an admin cock-up, they happen. Call them, sort it out and move on.

We're incredibly lucky to have the NHS at all.

twelveyeargap · 15/07/2008 10:44

We may pay tax for the NHS, but my friend in Ireland recently had to pay EUR150 to have the whole family seen by a GP and then EUR120 for the medications they needed, plus they pay tax for the "free" healthcare in Ireland. (You don't pay for operations, but do pay for your hospital bed.) Frankly, I can deal with a few admin problems to avoid those kind of costs.

Also, given that I am lucky enough to have private health insurance provided by DH's company, I can confirm that similar admin problems occur in the private sector (although the waiting times aren't so long).

YABU in the thread title. Not unreasonable to be narked about the cock-up.

ranting · 15/07/2008 10:46

As someone who (like Flowery) was left bleeding for 5 hours post labour (obviously I wasn't doing it properly ) I do think YABU.

My uncle, my nan and a very dear friend (now all lost to cancer) received superb care whilst going through their illnesses, absolutely second to none.

Incidentally, you think the NHS is bad, I work for a formerly nationalised, now privatised industry and I could wax lyrical about the levels of incompetance and crap administration (and probably tell you a few stories about what the money you pay for the service gets spent on that would make your hair stand on end.)

nooname · 15/07/2008 10:50

Just read this thread and wanted to say the problems with the NHS aren't all the fault of the NHS managers either.

DH is an NHS performance manager and he is only following the ridiculous rules and processes given them by the D of H.

And if it helps, they're understaffed and have crap bosses too....

On the NHS in general, I think we'd be surprised how little things would improve if we had a system of private health insurance like the American system. You get all the same resource problems and it isn't free at point of delivery so poor folk don't have a chance.

Up the NHS!!

ScottishMummy · 15/07/2008 10:51

quite heartening to see such support for NHS, despite its failings it is overall good.

SummatAnNowt · 15/07/2008 10:57

Obviously you are being unreasonable by generalising that a huge countrywide system is absolute shite just because of your personal admin issue.

thumbwitch · 15/07/2008 11:40

i agree that there are good and bad hospital managers and also that they are all under incredible pressure from the DoH to make unfeasible cuts (I hav a friend who is an NHS manager but she used to work within it as well) -BUT sometimes the decisions they make are so gob-smackingly STUPID that you have to wonder. For e.g. one of my clients is a medical secretary in the mental health dept of our local hospital and they outsourced the typing up of all their dictated reports to India! Oddly enough, it didn't work out too well and I believe it has been brought back in house.

Another problem is the shortage of permanent staff and bank staff having to do a lot of the work - there is a lack of continuity and so confusion arises. i have heard of many instances where someone leaves a permanent job and they are not replaced (useful way to reduce costs) so bank staff or agency staff have to be employed instead.

soopermum1 · 15/07/2008 11:42

totally understand your frustration and have heard many stories such as this, frustrating, annoying, devastating, disapointing. all sorts of things that the NHS and people in the NHS do wrong.

however, for every story there is often a positive story of a person's experience of the NHS, i've heard some fantastic stories of care and expertise that make me proud and thankful for the service.

i myself have had a mixed experience of the NHS, mostly good, touch wood.

zookeeper · 15/07/2008 11:45

I've had three bbies who would have dies but for sections all free on the NHS.

no complaints here

zookeeper · 15/07/2008 11:45

oops sorry for typos

ScottishMummy · 15/07/2008 11:46

trusts use lots of bank/agency.they are more dispensible have less rights than Contracted employees (unless they have worked "on a line" for @1 yr).

many posts get frozen or now downgraded when postholder leaves

money, money,targets

titchy · 15/07/2008 13:34

Ds has his appointment tomorrow

fledtoscotland · 15/07/2008 20:54

I understand that you are frustrated by the letters but i hope for your sake you never have a real "life or death" need that will leave you in a position to rely on the NHS.

if you truly believe that it is a waste of time, space and money, why are you relying on appointments instead of going private (and seeing an NHS trained consultant)???

YABU

Original poster
NigellaTheOriginal · 16/07/2008 18:44

Ah bollox - yes perhaps the original title was a tad unreasonable but I'm still cross and it's still a load of shite. yes in an emergency we can all thank our lucky bla bla bla.
and to those who sugest that if i'm that pissed off with it all i should pay and go private - If I was being paid a respectable amount by said organisation, maybe I would.

OP posts:
nooka · 16/07/2008 19:14

Well I have just moved to the US after 14 years of working for the NHS (guess what I was a manager and STILL felt a vocation!) and the system here is truly crazy. And expensive. And bureaucratic. And doesn't even cover everyone.

We have had to wait months to get insurance cards from dh's work, then we have to find a peadiatrician that takes that insurance, or and then dh's work change schemes so we have to start again. Then we have to confirm with the doctor that they really do take that scheme. If they need specialist care we have to find, again by checking with the insurers, the right specialist. Oh and we have to pay a co payment each time we go, as well as the $300 or so every month.

For us we don't have the generalist option, so dh has to find a ENT person to look at his ear (something the GP does in the UK) and I have to find a gynae to do a repeat smear (again would be done at the GPs).

When I broke my jaw and arm on holiday a few years back in the US they wouldn't let me leave the hospital without providing a credit card and signing for a downpayment, and six months later I was still getting chased by the offices of the hospital, the initial clinic where I was seen, and the two consultants I saw. And I was insured (the initial cost was $20k)

So not unreasonable to be mightily pissed off, but very unreasonable to think the whole of the NHS should be got rid of on the basis of your frustrations.

scottishmum007 · 16/07/2008 19:31

nooka, so glad i don't like in the US, makes the NHS look like a fab service that is fair on practically anyone and everyone.
US healthcare is so complicated, and bloody expensive!!

scottishmum007 · 16/07/2008 19:32

oops, that was meant to be 'live in the US' not 'like'. Spelling all to pot today.

sarah293 · 16/07/2008 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

flowerybeanbag · 16/07/2008 19:37

Nigella I think the fact that you can't afford to go private (like most people) is exactly the reason the NHS is so marvellous. Frustrating though it is!

Original poster
NigellaTheOriginal · 16/07/2008 19:43

o.k i accept in the grand scheme of things i do rather appreciate the nhs - but begrudgingly. . it is bloody frustrating having to wait 8 months for a follow up then having it put back another 3 months.
riven - am feeling a little guilty for my rant about a letter compared to your mate

OP posts:
Onestonetogo · 16/07/2008 19:43

Message withdrawn