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Original poster

Wow - this is hard. Needing medical treatment not available under NHS.

43 replies

itsgettingwierd · 15/02/2021 12:45

I'll be first to admit I'm not really sure what side of the fence I sit on this.

It's a real head and heart story.

My heart wishes we could just provide this care despite knowing outcomes for this type of leukaemia aren't great.

My head realises we cannot afford to fund treatment for everyone and anyone who is in the country and the NHS is already struggling and it's a lot of money for treatment that may not work.

Anyone else feeling so sad yet torn by this?

OP posts:
EggscellentEggplant · 15/02/2021 22:18

By what?

Original poster
itsgettingwierd · 16/02/2021 08:55

@EggscellentEggplant

By what?
By what I said.

Heart feeling that denying treatment is wrong because we are use to nhs treating but head realising we can't offer free treatment to all and sundry because it's already underfunded for those who are entitled to use it for free.

And right now it's facing its biggest pressures.

OP posts:
badpuma · 16/02/2021 08:56

Do you have a link to a particular case?

GingerAndTheBiscuits · 16/02/2021 08:56

Is there supposed to be a link to a news story?

GwendolineWindowlene · 16/02/2021 08:56

Are you talking about a specific case, OP?

FabbyMagic · 16/02/2021 08:57

I don’t know what you’re talking about...

DishedUp · 16/02/2021 08:58

We need the story OP...

Original poster
itsgettingwierd · 16/02/2021 08:59

Ok sorry I didn't think to put link 🤦🏼‍♀️

I'll google the story and post here.

OP posts:
OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 16/02/2021 09:03

Is this the young boy who has travelled to UK for prosthetic eye to be fitted, but now will need future treatments? Heard something on radio this morning, if it is Ill see if can find online.

combatbarbie · 16/02/2021 09:35

Ah but you are missing the key bit of information that he is not British OP so not entitled to NHS care. Whilst it is a dreadfully sad story, we struggle to help our own population.

Original poster
itsgettingwierd · 16/02/2021 09:38

I agree combat that's my point.

My head is obviously understanding that he isn't entitled to the free treatment under nhs and family haven't contributed through NI and taxes etc.

Also that we can't afford to provide free care for those who aren't entitled.

Doesn't stop your heart wishing it wasn't that way though when a young boys life is at stake.

OP posts:
EvilPea · 16/02/2021 09:41

Don’t forget the NHS is not free healthcare. It is a free at point of use healthcare. It’s like walking into bupa demanding it.

Which makes it easier to see why (Sadly) we can’t fund it

Floralnomad · 16/02/2021 09:44

Think about it logically OP there are sadly children all over the world in this type of predicament and we can’t afford to ship them all in and treat them for free .

Original poster
itsgettingwierd · 16/02/2021 10:03

Agree. I know the reasons behind it are right and I agree it's the correct decision.

Also it's true worldwide this happens frequently.

It's just i think reading it and seeing it in action does tug at heartstrings. Which is obviously what they were going for in the story.

It didn't actually make many news outlets from a quick google.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 23/02/2021 10:37

We had a similar situation where I work. Parents visiting family here. Gives both. Baby has loads of issues. Will need long term ventilation, and they can't go home as they can't get that treatment where they live. The nhs now has a huge bill that the parents will never be able to pay.
Why should the NHS fund treatment for people who aren't entitled to it.

Stratfordplace · 23/02/2021 10:41

Poor little chap. Surely we can fund his treatment after wasting billions recently on Nightingale hospitals that were left empty and dismantled etc.

Mumski45 · 23/02/2021 10:48

But where does it end. If we agree to treat everyone who needs it how do you stop health tourism being attracted to this country. We have to draw a line somewhere.
Yes we feel sad about a particular case that we hear about but what about the millions of children who need help all over the world. We can't help everyone unfortunately.

DianaT1969 · 23/02/2021 11:29

I hope that someone rich, like Elon Musk or the Jeff Bezos, sees the story and pays for threatment.
But I am under no illusion that if it was your son OP, and you were on holiday in the USA or any other country in the world, they would not give the treatment free under their national health service. This really isn't about the UK or the NHS.

Toddlerteaplease · 23/02/2021 14:56

Yes it's sad. But no we should not fund it. He doesn't live here and is not entitled to it.

SinkGirl · 23/02/2021 15:03

@Toddlerteaplease

We had a similar situation where I work. Parents visiting family here. Gives both. Baby has loads of issues. Will need long term ventilation, and they can't go home as they can't get that treatment where they live. The nhs now has a huge bill that the parents will never be able to pay. Why should the NHS fund treatment for people who aren't entitled to it.
So the alternative is to allow a baby born here prematurely to die? Do you think that would be better than the NHS funding care in cases like this?

I work for the NHS. I know how much public money is is spent on digital systems that are crap and later require replacement because they aren’t compatible with other digital systems... rinse and repeat, per CCG, and often per department within a trust every few years.

I have no problem whatsoever with NHS money funding care for that baby or for this child.

DogsSausages · 23/02/2021 15:25

He was here having a private eye operation when they discovered that he needs more treatment which the parents cannot afford, he wasnt here on holiday. There is a GoFundMe page and the NHS may end up waiving the fees or their Embassy might offer to pay but its sad to see a sick child. We cannot help every person who needs it.

LifeExperience · 23/02/2021 15:50

They should take him to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, US. They will treat him for free. St. Jude's is supported by donations and pays for the family's travel, lodging, food and the very best cancer care. Citizenship doesn't matter. No family ever gets a bill and I looked it up and they do treat the type of cancer that he has.

Toddlerteaplease · 24/02/2021 08:17

@SinkGirl the baby had a problem that was diagnosed antenatally, which turned-out to be more serious. We strongly suspected that they came over to get free treatment. And yes I totally agree about money wasted on IT systems.

LongTimeMammaBear · 24/02/2021 08:33

Ok. I got as far as the boy’s home country is Nigeria. He was in a medical trip to the UK

Absolutely his parents should fund raisers for this treatment. No way should there be medical tourism for people who do not pay into the system.

So then what happens when it’s a Uk child who needs this treatment but the funds are not there for this child whose parents and family have paid into the system

Yes, it’s terrible when things happen to children. Yes it’s terrible when people cannot get treatment for this gs that gave real positive outcomes as well as no treatment when is the slightest chance of recovery

BUT

BIG BIG BUT

The NHS does not have unlimited funds it cannot provide all the treatments needed for British residents. If the nhs were to simply start treating every medical tourist (here for medical treatment from abroad and no means to pay for it), there would no longer be an nhs.

So I don’t agree this child’s £825,000 treatment should be funded by the nhs

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