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Original poster

Hospital

232 replies

Igottastartthinkingbee · 11/01/2017 21:34

Anyone watching? A stunning insight into the running of a busy London hospital. Cannot believe the amount of time highly skilled doctors are forced to waste waiting for beds to become available. And the poor man with oesophageal cancer who's operation was cancelled for the second time. Wow. NHS is at breaking point!

OP posts:
Foldedtshirt · 01/02/2017 22:21

Lou not a them and us situation when it comes to newborn babies.
Very sadly it does come down to a straight choice. There is a finite number of incubators.
Happily I do think that we're getting it right- maybe more should be done to ensure people arrive insured and more could be done to recover money from governments but as you also said this isn't what's cripling the NHS and its dodgy imo to concentrate on the 'foreigners'
At least one of the tabloids was leading on Priscilla today. Hmm

Chippednailvarnishing · 01/02/2017 22:21

Where possible I'd like to see the relevant country's UK aid budget reduced by the costs picked up by the NHS.

LouKout · 01/02/2017 22:22

IMHO there should probably be a contingency for this and its probably not even a bigger problem now than its ever been but its just being focused on in the media now for some reason. Probably an unusual view though.

Bostoncremecrazy · 01/02/2017 22:22

I agree we are too soft - but babies arrive when they arrive..... anyone remember the baby Dax i think who arrived when his parents were on a trip to NEW YORK? no insurance, and the bill was paid via crowdfund IIRC.....same thing, no forward planning, no insurance, and nowhere near 34 weeks so mum fit to fly.

I do agree that having proof of health insurance before being allowed into the UK would solve a lot of problems!

a relative of mine became very poorly abroad - EU so covered (but insured also) - within 24 hours had surgery - and was attended to brilliantly. Clean hospital, lovely food, good follow up care etc....it was in France. Apart from some minor language problems (we do not speak french!) the care was excellent - and far superior to the care she has received since for the ongoing health problem.

Ghfst · 01/02/2017 22:26

Yes Boston and I remember a lot of people taking a very dim view of Dax's parents too.

Wingedharpy · 01/02/2017 22:43

The thing about health is that it's a precarious thing.
Just because you have been fit and well all your life, doesn't mean that that situation will continue indefinitely.
Surely, the whole purpose of travel insurance is that you have it, just in case? - same as car insurance - you don't wait until you've had a car crash before you think about insuring your vehicle.
I agree with those who say, no travel insurance, no boarding of plane at the airport of departure and the airline should be fined if travellers they have carried arrive at passport control without it.

I do feel we in the UK are getting a reputation as a soft touch.

endofthelinefinally · 01/02/2017 22:47

Our MPs are paid to represent us.
I am about to email mine to ask why proof of travel insurance is not mandatory along with passport and ticket.

Foldedtshirt · 01/02/2017 22:50

Really end?
Your reaction to watching that is to think 'how can we get our money?'
She lost 2 babies ffs! Confused

Foldedtshirt · 01/02/2017 22:56

It's being discussed on Newsnight now.

endofthelinefinally · 01/02/2017 22:57

Not at all.
I worked in the NHS all my life.
I am now suffering from a life limiting illness. I have had a very difficult time accessing health care in the NHS due to cuts and lack of funding.
I would never deny life saving treatment to anyone. But neither would I get in my car and drive without insurance. If I did so and had an accident, injuring someone else, I would be roundly condemned on here.

endofthelinefinally · 01/02/2017 22:59

I have also recently lost a child for whom I desperately tried to get help for mental health issues. Without success.

engineersthumb · 01/02/2017 23:02

Now if health insurance became mandatory I wonder what would happen to the cost of insurance... double treble?

Foldedtshirt · 01/02/2017 23:03

Flowers end
As they're discussing now it's a small part of the whole budget and ensuring no one got treatment they weren't entitled to would entail ID and a massive cultural change for all of us.

Hedgehogparty · 01/02/2017 23:04

So sorry to hear that, Endoftheline.

LouKout · 01/02/2017 23:07

I rhink thats just it. Its a small part of the whole budget and isnt the cause of people not being able to get the treatment they require. But is being focussed on as such by the media. A bit like DLA fraud which is also a tiny percentage.

I hooe you get the treatment you need endof

Wingedharpy · 01/02/2017 23:08

For me, it isn't necessarily about the money.
It is the knock on effect on other patients.
For the last couple of weeks we've been watching this programme and been in years and yelling at the TV in frustration at the human cost and effects of cancelled surgery.
We cannot lay all the shortcomings of the NHS on the heads of overseas patients but surely it is about the cumulative effect these situations result in and it just so happens that the focus of tonight's programme was about treating people who are not entitled to free care.

Wingedharpy · 01/02/2017 23:10

Years not years!

Wingedharpy · 01/02/2017 23:10

Try again - tears not years.

LouKout · 01/02/2017 23:11

This is interesting

fullfact.org/health/health-tourists-how-much-do-they-cost-and-who-pays/

LlamaBananas · 02/02/2017 01:25

I wabt to know where else in the world can anyone travel and get free healthcare in an emergency. I might add it to my holiday destination list because since ive had cancer trsvel insursnce is through tge roof cost wise and dome insurers dont eant to insure me at all.

MsMims · 02/02/2017 02:27

Regarding last nights programme, I was a bit disappointed at the end when the summary said the bills remained unpaid of the lady who had heart surgery and the man from turkey. Not surprised as they were such big costs, but I can't imagine not making some token payment or donation to a hospital that had saved my life. I know it wouldn't plug the financial crisis in the NHS! But morally can't imagine receiving such treatment and leaving the bill totally unpaid.

lilydaisyrose · 02/02/2017 06:12

I have a question, apologies in advance if it's a stupid one!

As the 4 babies were born in U.K., are they not then entitled to free NHS care?

TroysMammy · 02/02/2017 06:27

Children born in the UK to non UK residents have the nationality of the mother not the country of birth. I think it's the same for all countries.

Pomegranatepompom · 02/02/2017 08:01

I agree MsMims - a gesture towards payment would seem 'right' no matter how small (with the 2 adult patients in mind who just seemed to take for granted their care).
I felt desperately sorry for Priscilla who was vv grateful and in an impossible situation. I hope she'd still getting some support.
I could only feel compassion for her.

Amazing moment when they managed to get the baby stable again for a short while :( Amazing team.

LouKout · 02/02/2017 08:08

Sometimes people don't have any money.

They didn't seem to me to be taking it for granted, they seemed to be suddenly very ill.

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