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Original poster

Please be aware of 'nhs choices'

33 replies

PinkPoncho · 05/01/2012 16:59

My GP didn't make me aware that when I needed to go to hospital I could have chosen one including local private hospitals, based on waiting list etc. I just wanted to make people aware, as it could have resulted in me being seen sooner (I became seriously ill while waiting for an appointment to be seen and had to go to A and E, which otherwise may not have happened)

Maybe everyone is aware of this already, if not see

www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx?ServiceType=Hospital

for more information.

OP posts:
Original poster
PinkPoncho · 05/01/2012 17:00

Sorry know is not AIBU just thought more people might see this here

OP posts:
CoffeeDog · 05/01/2012 17:02

My mum managed to get a CT scan in January by chosing a different hospital 1/2 hour drive rarther than waiting till may for her local one 5 min drive away ;)

It always seems strange to me they dont tell you unless you asked..... I asked if there was anyway it could be done sooner?

Notthefullshilling · 05/01/2012 17:06

Ok I am starting to see a pattern, this is the third thread in as many days about private versus nhs. Do we have a sustained attack from Tory HQ going on?
The gp may have withheld information or may have made a clinical judgement, unless the gp comes and tells us which we will never know. But by saying on her that others should be aware of this option is just another attempt to project private good nhs bad.

Tory tolls pack it in.

AngryMotherF · 05/01/2012 17:12

Shilling, I find information like this quite useful actually.

It's not about NHS versus private when you actually need healthcare, or someone you love needs it. It's about getting treated as soon as possible and as comfortably as possible. That's all.

My dh has had treatment for something in one hospital, and it wasn't until we asked the consultant that we were told we could go to his clinic and have dh treated at another much nicer hospital. We have chosen for DH to continue using the second hospital since then, and things have been much less stressful. I do think the GP should have offered the choice to DH in the first place, it would have saved a lot of heartache.

kelly2000 · 05/01/2012 17:17

Shilling,
So you think that if people are pro-labour they support not giving people information about their rights? I really do not think informing people of their rights means someone is pro-tory

MixedBerries · 05/01/2012 17:20

No choices in Wales. Probably irrelevant anyway as there's only one hospital where I live. That's just where you go! But we do get free prescriptions which is great.
Sorry you were seriously ill OP. Hope all's well now.

Flisspaps · 05/01/2012 17:21

Where choice has been possible, I've always had a letter from the NHS to say that I can go to X Y or Z hospital and details of how to book at each one.

The GP told me bugger all.

eurochick · 05/01/2012 17:21

I don't think expressing a view in favour of private healthcare or giving information about part of the NHS system makes you a "Tory troll" Hmm. Are all the posters who mention that people whould check benefits entitlements or whatever Labour trolls? Just because someone might hold a different viewpoint to you does not make them a troll.

boredandrestless · 05/01/2012 17:21

Any time me or DS has been referred on by GP, the letter we receive in the post to book our appointment contains a number and password which we enter online and then can choose where and when we are seen from the available options.

Perhaps it depends on your local health trust how they inform (or don't inform) people of NHS Choices?

OP have you raised this with PALS? Always worth it if you haven't as they may change procedures/practice.

Notthefullshilling · 05/01/2012 17:26

Tell you what I find strange, why all the "information" seems to end up with the nhs being seen as faulty.

Kelly get a grip, and stop showing your true colours. I said nothing about any other party because no other party are involved in a huge privateisation of the nhs. My post was not about the information it was the way the information was presented, "nasty gp did not tell me"!

aldiwhore · 05/01/2012 17:32

I'm pretty much a lefty and massive supporter of the NHS (in theory, in cash not so much as someone who earns more) but I find this information exceptionally useful and wasn't aware of it.

The NHS isn't perfect, there must be many services I'm not aware of, doesn't make me a tory. At all.

The NHS IS faulty, it has faults, they need to be sorted. Not by getting rid of this truly wonderful service, but by fixing the faults. I understand where Notthefullshilling is coming from though as there is a theme today.

Notthefullshilling · 05/01/2012 17:33

Eurochick it certainly feels like it. 3 threads in so many days? IDo you think that Trolls do not exist? By asking or posing the possibility why does that make me the baddie and not those involved in a sustained attack undertaken by any politicle party be the real offender

BandOMothers · 05/01/2012 17:35

Shilling thanks but I am also pleased to have learned something.

THank you OP.

KatieScarlett2833 · 05/01/2012 17:37

I did it 16 years ago when I had DD, then same for DS.

Dillydaydreaming · 05/01/2012 17:37

I am awaiting a hospital appointment at the moment and had a letter with the appointment informing me of Choose and Book and NHS Choices. Am surprised this does not happen in all areas.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 05/01/2012 17:37

I wondered the same, Notthefullshilling.

Anyway, this is good to know OP. Touch wood I won't need this information any time soon but I'll bear it in mind.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 05/01/2012 17:43

Although thinking on it I was given a choice of hospital to give birth in, coming up for 12 years ago. Same as KatieScarlett I assume. So I'd probably ask.

If the OP is a troll I reckon he/she's an intern at some private health care lobby group or summat, rather than the Tory party. iirc (feel free to correct me though if I'm wrong) NHS Choices was an initiative of the previous government.

AlpinePony · 05/01/2012 17:47

shilling good lord, what the crapping fuck do you call PFI if not the "privatisation of the NHS'?

Notthefullshilling · 05/01/2012 17:51

Alpine what is your feckin point? How does it relate to this thread, and would you like to be civil with others or should we all just shout FUCK at each other.

FYI I call PFI privatisation of the nhs, your point is?

Dillydaydreaming · 05/01/2012 17:58

Nice and easy AP!

Take it you are an offended Tory?

PFI was a disaster but was never intended to privatise the NHS.

Personally having seen the wonderful care given to my auntie when she was dying I will never moan about the NHS ever again.

My cousins who live and work in another very wealthy country and who all have private health care were utterly gobsmacked by the level of care my aunt had AND all given at home.

All said that in their country and despite very expensive private health care, they would not find the same level of care.

We are SO fortunate here.

AlpinePony · 05/01/2012 18:03

It relates to your point shilling which you made further up the thread. If you can't remember what you said I can c&p for you. It's quite a short thread but maybe you didn't realise the level of ignorance and contradiction you'd attained.

Yes, I work at Tory HQ. In fact I attended Eton disguised as a man and I use SamCam bags.

Notthefullshilling · 05/01/2012 19:02

Alpine I think do hope you can get your money back from Eton, their shockingly bad level of education is shown by your pretty bad literacy skills, and cognitive reasonig. I said " are involved in a huge privateisation of the nhs", I suggest you brush up on your tenses as this clearly implies present tense not past. So your point about who did what when is invalid as I never referenced any one other than the Tory's NOW. Perhaps in the light of that you might want to also brush up on your cognitive skills so you can point out my "ignorance and contradiction".

I normally refrain from personal back and forth but since you clearly identified yourself as a cross dressing Tory party worker I just could not resist.

ninkynonker · 05/01/2012 19:22

Shilling, the OP has been around a fair while and has had a shitty experience with the NHS recently, back off. The thread raises an interesting point, as did the private healthcare one...which was that the NHS is great for many things, as is private.

Calling political troll because you disagree is pretty crap.

HarrietJones · 05/01/2012 19:25

I've never seen a letter re choice. Dh & I between us have had 4 referrals in the last year and all were sent automatically from the nearest hospital.

Waltons · 05/01/2012 19:43

I wasn't aware of this until recently either. I needed a very small op, a repeat of one several years ago which was done privately because we had insurance then. I didn't realise that "Choices" actually meant that I could have used the private hospital free on the second occasion - the letter didn't explain that - it just listed two private hospitals and two NHS.

Private: 10 minute drive away. One ten minute appointment, one ten minute operation, no waiting around. Job done. A total of one hour.

NHS: 40 minute drive away. One ten minute appointment after an hour's wait, return trip for a two hour pre-operative assessment (I kid you not) after an hour's wait, third trip for 10 minute op after an hour's wait. More than 9 hours lost.

As I'm self-employed, I was a bit fed up.