Is the NHS useless?

[Beauchiefs]

QUOTE FROM ONEWHEEL>

 

"The tragic thing is that it sounds like the majority of the stress, lack of treatment and damage to your business are completely unnecessary.

 

They're not the fault of the medical professionals, but a direct consequence of the over-systemization of the NHS, which guarantees that the admin aspect of the NHS, is not-fit-for-purpose.

 

I'm sure that the various professionals you list above would love to give you the treatment you need, but they are completely tied up by the over-rigid, inflexible requirements of the admin system."

 

Does not sound like over-systemization is to blame.

Most operations and appointments with specialists have a waiting list and are prioritized.

[steve68]

Hi Beauchiefs, I just think my is a catalogue of errors from the start that stops you getting on the specialist list.

 

My first scan was beginning of May the radiologist went to speak to his boss about the scan, he came back took me to a small room and told be it was very bad inflammation and told me his boss had recommended a repeat scan in 4 weeks, if I hadn't received an appointment in 2 weeks to call up for one.

 

2 weeks pass and I call, I'm told by appointments earliest appointment was 11 weeks time, I checked with my GP and was told the report said it was an 8 week repeat I called on the 7th week and was told November 19th was the earliest appointment, that would have been 6 months.

 

I therefore politely kicked up a stink and they said they call me back, when the did, they offered a scan in just 2 days.

 

 

With the next follow up repeat in 6 weeks report triggered a recommendation for fast track appointment, but even then I only found out when I had a my annual check at rheumatology.

 

The consultant took a look in my file and saw the report, she immediately told me to go to my GP and make sure they send off the recommended fast track which they did and not to leave the GP surgery until I was seen.

 

It seems at every stage a week two weeks a month has been lost in the process.

[onewheeldave]

I guess it's largely down due process, admin policy but it still too long a process in my case, it's the going no where fast that's been the major problem having to attend pointless appointments time after time, yesterday's stand off with a receptionist who can't make appointments and the need to phone in for one if I wanted to see a GP, through to the hospital appointments phone operator saying I can't see the endocrinologist until late December.

 

Below is the summary of how its panning out so far.

 

 

in my case I'm greatful having been seen by an oncologist on the 6th Oct despite indicating, he thought it not to be tumours, he diagnosed complete testes failure and was certain to remove one or both testicles depending of blood results and his report confirm both have failed, which came as quite a bombshell to me as for 7 months I'd been told all is ok.

 

so from that point to me the specialist clock On 6th October started ticking, he can't do what he wants until an endocrinologist clock starts and treatment plan put into action, so his clock has now been paused with no indication of when it will restart only that it won't be soon.

 

The endocrinologist clock doesn't start until 22nd of December, I have no idea of the process. So also have no idea when the 6th of October clock will resume.

 

I guess I need to hope that once the endocrinologist has done their bit that the oncologist will have time frame for surgery, I can see this being dragged well into the new year.

 

Having started my own clock 8 months ago it hasn't stopped, I've reached a real breaking point, as the level of testosterone I have is less than a quarter of an average 90 year old, unfortunately the reality is my clock now runs on cheap zinc batteries and health professionals are making me wait for the duracell bunny to hop by in 2016.

 

You might not be up for this, but, I've found that these NHS blockages can be eased by taking a militant approach. It takes work, and, is stressfull, but I've found that recording (openly) all consultations and phone calls and indicating that I was intending to make official complaints has eased, or, removed, several of those blocks.

[buck]

Only if you can afford insurance, or are lucky enough to have it through work. And then there are the deductibles, the charges, the out of pocket expenses.

 

You can keep it

I did admit it was expensive. But I was always able to afford it, with a good pension from my company. Iwas badly injured in a crash in 1979 which killed my wife, and crippled my son. Since then I have survived a cardiac arrest, cancer of the larynx, and a a blown gall bladder. I have had eye surgery to remove cataracts and now have 20/20 vision without glasses. In every case I have been under the care of real and dedicated doctors and nurses. That's not to sat I wouldn't have got them back home, but I got them here and that's what I care about.

[sgtkate]

I did admit it was expensive. But I was always able to afford it, with a good pension from my company. Iwas badly injured in a crash in 1979 which killed my wife, and crippled my son. Since then I have survived a cardiac arrest, cancer of the larynx, and a a blown gall bladder. I have had eye surgery to remove cataracts and now have 20/20 vision without glasses. In every case I have been under the care of real and dedicated doctors and nurses. That's not to sat I wouldn't have got them back home, but I got them here and that's what I care about.

 

But what about that waitress who served you the other night? She doesn't have health insurance through her employer. What happens to her when she is in a car crash? Or get cataracts?

[steve68]

You might not be up for this, but, I've found that these NHS blockages can be eased by taking a militant approach. It takes work, and, is stressfull, but I've found that recording (openly) all consultations and phone calls and indicating that I was intending to make official complaints has eased, or, removed, several of those blocks.

 

Not something I would be comfortable doing.

 

I'll be seeing my GP next week and I'll be explaining that I may as well disengage from NHS services, I'll try a couple of those little white pills that the homeopathies dish out for £50 they might jump start my testosterone levels and maybe I'll avoid the bilateral orchidectomy and prosthetic implants altogether and TRT.

 

It's on a par with the zero NHS treatment so far, so I can't see my GP objecting too it, and I do know a couple of pharmacists that order in from abroad so I could also buy the TRT over the Internet without getting ripped off, as I say I'll just talk it over with my GP next week see what they think.

[unbeliever]

Not something I would be comfortable doing.

 

I'll be seeing my GP next week and I'll be explaining that I may as well disengage from NHS services, I'll try a couple of those little white pills that the homeopathies dish out for £50 they might jump start my testosterone levels and maybe I'll avoid the bilateral orchidectomy and prosthetic implants altogether and TRT.

 

It's on a par with the zero NHS treatment so far, so I can't see my GP objecting too it, and I do know a couple of pharmacists that order in from abroad so I could also buy the TRT over the Internet without getting ripped off, as I say I'll just talk it over with my GP next week see what the think.

 

Please don't.

Homeopathy will do nothing but steal your money.

 

I suggest writing to people. Maybe your MP?

I know it's unpleasant and un-British, but you have to make a fuss (or have somebody do it on your behalf) otherwise they'll keep walking all over you.

Bureaucrats don't like it when there's a paper trail showing their failures.

[Obelix]

Not something I would be comfortable doing.

I'll try a couple of those little white pills that the homeopathies dish out for £50

 

As I suspect you know that's the best way of wasting £50 going. They will do stuff all for you, whereas the NHS should eventually sort it's stuff out and get something proper done...

 

Homeopaths gah.. make my skin crawl. About the same level of contempt needed as the reiki woo peddlers...

[steve68]

As I suspect you know that's the best way of wasting £50 going. They will do stuff all for you, whereas the NHS should eventually sort it's stuff out and get something proper done...

 

Homeopaths gah.. make my skin crawl. About the same level of contempt needed as the reiki woo peddlers...

 

Of course I do, but would it be more wasteful than 20+ appointments I've had adding up travel and lost working days being self employed? After all so far i am lossing whichever way I look at it.

Edited November 6, 2015 by steve68

[onewheeldave]

Not something I would be comfortable doing.

 

I'll be seeing my GP next week and I'll be explaining that I may as well disengage from NHS services, I'll try a couple of those little white pills that the homeopathies dish out for £50 they might jump start my testosterone levels and maybe I'll avoid the bilateral orchidectomy and prosthetic implants altogether and TRT.

 

It's on a par with the zero NHS treatment so far, so I can't see my GP objecting too it, and I do know a couple of pharmacists that order in from abroad so I could also buy the TRT over the Internet without getting ripped off, as I say I'll just talk it over with my GP next week see what they think.

 

The good thing about homeopathy, is that it's guaranteed to have no negative side-effects, or, do you any physical harm

 

If you can actual testosterone over the internet, then talking that over with your gp sounds like a good plan.

 

Best of luck :thumbs:

 

---------- Post added 06-11-2015 at 20:45 ----------

 

Please don't.

Homeopathy will do nothing but steal your money.

They'll give him a prompt appointment, see him on time, give him a good long consultation and allow him plenty of time for questions, and, basically, treat him like a human being.

 

The NHS have, and will continue, to treat him like an animal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I suggest writing to people. Maybe your MP?

I know it's unpleasant and un-British, but you have to make a fuss (or have somebody do it on your behalf) otherwise they'll keep walking all over you.

Bureaucrats don't like it when there's a paper trail showing their failures.

If he wants to kick-start the NHS, I can tell him what to do. But, he's said he doesn't want to. If he changes his mind, the offers still there.

 

You're spot on about the paper trail and bureaucrats. And I cannot over emphasise the value of carrying a voice recorder when facing staff who've previously fobbed you off- it's amazing how things can start moving once they realise any you're getting objective proof of what's been going on.

 

---------- Post added 06-11-2015 at 20:47 ----------

 

As I suspect you know that's the best way of wasting £50 going. They will do stuff all for you, whereas the NHS should eventually sort it's stuff out and get something proper done...

He's on a very limited time schedule here- no reason whatsoever to think that the NHS will "eventually sort it's stuff out and get something proper done...".

 

They often do not.