to be really pissed off with the NHS.

[RnR]

Feeling quite upset at the moment. Due for investigative op for fibroids on 1st June, rung up to find out more. Very cold, rude, unhelpful person on other side informs me of NOTHING, makes me feel like I am weird for asking questions like, what time will my op be, how long, will I be able to talk to someone afterwards etc... The only thing I find out is that the person who I thought was doing the procedure is not. I feel really really PISSED off that I was not informed of this. I asked for the number of the registrar's secretary and tried but got through to an answer machine.

Who can I complain to? Is this what it is really like? I feel so upset. Am I expecting too much from the NHS?

Message withdrawn

YANBU. Currently on a 30 week waiting list for radiotherapy.

Thanks dilemma456, I have been given the advice to ring the secretary of the consultant and ask for a 10minute phone app. If no such luck then to contact PALS.

No need for advice on fibroids thanks, just annoyed at the rude person on the other side of the phone and needed to VENT!!!!

RnR, I've been amazed by both how crap and how brilliant the NHS can be, so don't be put off by one person being rude. Some people just are. Ring the secretary and you may get a better experience. If not back her for more rage..! Fingers crossed for you x

YANBU. I found PALS to be pretty hopeless as well.

sorry, YABU.
Yes, be upset at the cold rude person on the other end, but NOT the NHS.
For goodness sake, it's FREE!!!!!!

I come from the states and believe me, I thank my lucky stars everyday for the NHS.
When you are paying out thousands of £££ for a procedure and could possibly go bankrupt if you get sick, you may start to think differently.

But I do hope your op goes smoothly and you are ok.

I agree re the secretary. When I had to deal with a consultant a few years back, his secretary was fantastic.

needanap - how come 30 weeks ? Unless it is for a very specific treatment (and even then I thought that everyone in the UK had their waiting times down below that now), that is well past the waiting time limit.

if it is "our" local hospital, they do have someone you can complain to(sorry forgot what thay are called) but I spoke to them when I have problems with ds's care.

thae NHS isn't "free" we pay for it with our taxes

It isn't free; it is paid for by people in the UK paying higher taxes than people in the US pay.

It also does not always provide treatment, or does not provide treatment in time so people die, or live but in terrible pain.

oliverboliverbutt - the NHS is not free. We pay for it through taxes.

30 week waiting lists are not unusual for radiotherapy. Sadly.

"It isn't free; it is paid for by people in the UK paying higher taxes than people in the US pay."

Actually, American's pay four times as much as we do for healthcare. I believe it's something like $4,000 per person per year in taxes for the US non-universal non-comprehensive "medicaid" for the qualifying poor and elderly, here in the UK we pay about $1,200 per person per year for the universal free at point of use NHS.

Thanks for that info. I have always believed that more of our taxes should go towards healthcare than currently do.

Americans get ripped off by the pharmaceutical companies because they don't have the collective baragaining power of the NHS.

Every time I visit the US I alway make sure I bring any OTC medicines I might need because they cost so damned much in the US. I swear, a tube of own brand clotrimazole (thrush cream) was $14.00. I can get it free on the minor ailments scheme. Even if I were paying full price for a prescription I wouldn't be paying 14 bucks for it!

Seriously, anyone who complains about the NHS - which I agree is far from perfect - should try living in the US. You'd soon see we've got something rather astounding here.

Well I have never lived in the US, but I have a lot of friends from the US, and they have been utterly horrified by the treatment my family have received from the NHS and say it would never happen in the States.

The whole US thing is irrelevant really. We don't live there. I want better health care in this country so that people live longer, happier and healthier lives.

Yes healthcare in the US is crazy! When me and DH were there on our honeymoon, DH got an ear infection, we went to doctors ($350) and the prescription for antibiotics and ear drops was over $100!!!!!!!!!!!! Luckily we had insurance and got reimbursed.If we hadn't that would have beensome of our spending money gone.

I think you should be aware that your surgeon may have more important or urgent cases than you and so they cannot ever give you a deffinite time of any op be it for yourself or a child it just depends on their other cases that day and if their is an emergency. This also applies to who will be doing your op, they may have to attend a course or have to fit holiday in and can only do it at a certain time.

Secondly most NHS secretaries do not work full time - it is a great job for mums as the NHS are great to work for as a medical secretary and so YABU about getting an answer phone - I have always been rung back very quickly by secretaries when dealing with the NHS.

And of course you will be able to speak to someone after the op as your surgeon will do a ward round and see you then.

I think you should stop panicking basically and be a bit more grateful that we do have a free healthcare system and to think of making a complaint about this is a bit rideculous.

Thanks all, just really needed to vent. Just spoke to someone at PALS who is forwarding my 'complaint' to ACT - linked to the hospital. I am complaining about the fact that I was made to feel 'weird' for wanting to find out more about my treatment and also that everytime I am told I am seeing a particular person that person changes.
Just receieved a call from ACT, very helpfull person, waiting on him to ring me back. He is going to set someone up to ring me and answer my questions. Feel better already.
Bye for now.

MadameCastaiore, it is obvious that you know more about the procedure of setting up a time for ops etc...but don't assume that we all do. If that person on the phone had explained that to me in a civil manner then I would have come away feeling more reassured. How do you know all this info?

YABabitU - One of difficulties of dealing with people over the phone is that there is no way of confirming that you are who you say you are. Unfortunately for you it means that it's difficult for you to get info that you need. Maybe ring the secretary and ask if there is a pre- op clinic that you need to attend, and bring your list of questions to that. Re the scheduling of the operation, usually it will be the surgeon who will decide that, closer to the time of surgery.
It's also worth letting your team know if you are going to have to arrange childcare etc, so that it reduces the risk of your op time being switched or cancelled.

thae NHS isn't "free" we pay for it with our taxes

just to clarify - I know this, yes.
But trust me, the taxes we pay for the NHS is NOTHING compared to what you would pay out in america. And I think the NHS gives a damn good service.
I have had this argument many times before, and I don't want to really go there again, but I guess, if you ever did live in the states under their health 'care' system, you would appreciate the NHS much more.

And again, HOW am I to know that 'of course' I will be able to speak to someone after the op? Am I a mind reader? Am I being unreasonable wanting to know basic information?