I had been gearing myself up for my hospital appointment yesterday (Tuesday), so they could investigate to see if the cancer tumour was still clear. I always get a bit jittery about a week before the appointment. I had an automated phone call last Thursday which asks me to confirm if I would be attending on Tuesday. I had a text reminder on Friday. I had a text reminder on Monday morning. I received a phone call on Monday afternoon at around 3.30pm telling me the appointment had been cancelled. In fact, the whole list of people attending appointments that day had also been cancelled. Because they didn't have a Consultant available. I now have another three weeks to wait. Annoyed isn't the word for it.......
At least they told you it’d been cancelled. I had two appointments cancelled on me earlier this year, and both times I only found out when I turned up for the surgery. It was a case of 3rd time lucky. But it all went well. I don’t think you can overly criticise the service or care you get from the NHS, as by and large it’s done by the same people. You just don’t get the frills of a separate recovery room or free TV etc. Where the NHS does need to improve is its admin and communication. There’s seems to be far too much duplication in its administration and very poor communication between departments. Their computer systems are badly designed and badly implemented which exacerbates these issues.
Ten years of cuts will do that every time. I've experienced cancellation of appointments, but it will be for a good reason. NHS FTW!
That’s why I invested in private healthcare about 15 years ago for me n my family cos of the cluster fuck administration. I shouldn’t have to pay but if I have a one o’clock appointment it’s always at one o’clock, never late. My knee operation was done 2 days after my accident and now I’m getting back at it. It’s well worth the investment as the nhs is a tired exhausted drained old business model that still runs windows xp.
The care I have received is second to none Admin has a lot to be desired with the NHS they do not communicate with each department at all well let alone different hospitals I understand that my app can’t always be on time due to emergencies What gets on my nerves is waiting and no one can be bothered to tell you what’s going on.
Or could it possibly be too many people and not enough contributing...... This could also apply to schools and housing......just a thought.
I had private health care for me and my family, through my work, for 35 years. We used it once for SWMBO when she found a lump in her breast. She got a quick appointment and thankfully it was all clear. Fourteen years ago when I had a serious cancer operation I asked the consultant (who allegedly was the country’s top surgeon in his particular field - he used to be helicoptered around the country doing his stuff) if I should use my private health policy and what difference would it make..........he asked if I wanted a private TV because that was the only difference in service. I went NHS.
Just times and how quick things can happen that sways me and the family. Wife broke her back in 3 places last year and was touch and go wether she would walk again, the Nuffield health group looked after quick and prompt and all was taken care and rehab done one to one privately so for me it’s a no brainer as left to the nhs she’s have probably been left on a trolley for 12 hours and completely severed her spine by then but due to the prompt nature she still has use of her legs
Horses for courses, and it's very hard to make direct comparisons between the NHS & private healthcare providers. The demands on their services differ in volume, intensity & diversity. The NHS is the only U.K. healthcare organisation that provides major trauma units, backed up by facilities such as permanent ITU, HDU and CCU. A good number of the NHS surgeons & anaesthetists also serve in some capacity with the military, and they bring new trauma care developments & experience from the military to NHS hospitals in the U.K. Good luck to Arquebus, hope all is well.
You could well be right. Big corporations making their staff self employed and not paying employers contributions is bound to have a big effect over time. Robbing cvnts. Still the last ten years have seen record low budgets and investment in the NHS.
Can't fault the NHS, after my cancer diagnosed I was in hospital within a month for an operation, my son recently tore his achillies tendon and was told it would heal quicker if it was operated on, he was in hospital two days later having the operation, nothing but praise from my family. I feel for Al though as checkups after cancer are vital for peace of mind, once clear the fear never goes away. Steve
When I had to have a leg broken and reset, the NHS consultant who had operated on my legs previously, said there was a possible 3 to 6 month wait for him to do it on NHS. I told him I had Bupa through work. He advised me to ring his secretary and to make an appointment. Within 3 weeks, I had the operation by him in a private hospital.
The NHS are brilliant with traumatic injuries and giving emergency care. Nobody had to look for health insurance or money with me. I got brilliant care from the NHS with no charges to me. Now that I am home, the care tails off BUT the NHS do a brilliant job for emergency treatment and care. And you get to see your GP as often as you need for free too. How parties promise to safeguard the NHS will play a big part in my voting decision. So, we could start a good general election debate as I will definitely not be voting Tory (plus, I don't trust Boris!)!
Another plus for the NHS here. Daughter received fantastic treatment, and monitoring after finding a tumour in her face. The surgeon we visit every six months or so is quite often running 2 or 3 hours late, but is worth the wait.
I had spinal surgery, I asked the surgeon what's the difference between NHS and private operation, he said same team but private gets you equipment that tells them when they are too close to nerves, which if severed is total paralysis. Guess which operation I chose?
I have private insurance I wouldn’t have known of my issue unless I’d told my doc that I wanted to see a certain specialist - he only agreed as he knew I was insured as he wasn’t convinced (he misdiagnosed me) I had an mri within days and was referred to a second specialist within a couple of weeks they gave me a diagnosis which I hate to say I probably wouldn’t have known about otherwise For me the cost of insurance at about the same as the latest iPhone contract Is worth every penny The nhs emergency service is pretty awesome and I had good treatment but the Pain management was a bit hit and miss as the nurses were under far too much pressure
Imho surgeon was talking nonsense. It’s the same people with mostly the same kit. They don’t cut corners on stuff like that
