What's your opinion on Universal Health Care/The NHS? (buses, public transportation)

[Morwyn_7]

Originally Posted by susan42

I may be in the minority on this forum.
Remember I am a nurse-it would be fairer to compare my opinions with those of other nurses and healthcare workers.
I have never said I hate the NHS-just think people need to be aware of it's failings and the fact that money is wasted and used ineffectively.
It's OK saying you can go privately, but just like in the US,private HC will not cover you for chronic illness and you still have to be your contributions to the NHS even if you pay privately.

Yes-I am moving- to the USA-but the NHS isn't the only reason.

Well, I agree with you Susan as you never wrote that you actually hated the NHS, but neither did you write anything positive about it either.

[susan42]

Originally Posted by Morwyn_7

Well, I agree with you Susan as you never wrote that you actually hated the NHS, but neither did you write anything positive about it either.

i think I did actually write that it provides healthcare for everyone.It is the standard that I have a problem with.What experience do you have of the NHS?

[DressageGirl]

Actually earlier in this thread there was a poster that said she was a nurse that had worked in both the UK and the US systems. Some of you should go take a look at it again. She had positive things to say about the NHS.

My grandfather had Alzheimers in the UK and everyone in my family has had nothing but positive things to say about his treatment. As a matter of fact, he had access to several of the latest and greatest meds for alzheimers.

Also, my aunt's sister's husband got cancer a few years ago. I was visiting this summer for several weeks and I asked alot of questions regarding the NHS because of the ongoing debate here in the US. He got seen and sent to a specialist right away and they didn't even think it was cancer in the beginning (although I forget what they thought it was). It wasn't until he actually had some lumps removed that they found out it was in fact cancer and unfortunately he did pass away from it.

[PA2UK]

I don't think anyone is saying the NHS is incapable of providing quality care - just that there are some serious flaws that need to be recognized and addressed. It is not the perfect system that many Americans seem to think it is.

[susan42]

Originally Posted by PA2UK

I don't think anyone is saying the NHS is incapable of providing quality care - just that there are some serious flaws that need to be recognized and addressed. It is not the perfect system that many Americans seem to think it is.

Sure isn't.
Work colleagues sister recently diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer.She is in her 50s but has learning difficulties.Admitted to local hospital and then transferred to regional centre for gynae cancer 20 miles away.
Told op would be done 1 week later and despite having had 8litres of fluid drained from her lung, sent home in the interim.
Back into hospital for op-cancelled 3 times as on the end of the theatre list and kept being cancelled because of time. Ended up waiting another week after re-admission for op.Gynae consultant told my colleague she cannot get enough operating time in theatres to meet the govt targets.
Bear in mind that this lady has a learning age of a 12 year old and neither her mother nor my colleague drive and father has dementia and she is 20 miles away in hospital.
Whilst in hospital prior to op was "put in the shower" by a nurse.We don't have private bathrooms so bathroom was at the end of the ward.Left to get on with it, no call button (she doesn't shower herself at home) with IV and chest drain.When she shouted for help was reprimanded by nurse.
Plan to discharge home 4 days after op -1 day out of HDU. Has limited mobility due to arthriritis anyway and now has abdo wound and extremely swollen legs and arms. No physio assessment-has upstairs bedroom and bathroom/toilet and mother (in 80s) is already main carer for father with dementia who wanders at night.
In the end my colleagu flatly refused to have her come home and she has now been transferred to local hospital and is getting physio and social services involved.
And that is the regional center for gynae cancers.

Don't rush off yet!

My ex husband (sons Father) age 49 was diagnosed with prostate cancer 2 months ago. Had op last Tuesday.
Went in to visit with son on Wednesday. Clearly in severe pain.Drain and catheter in situ. Hanging on to side of mattress,pale and clammy.His partner says that the nurse has gone for pain meds for him.
His morphine pump was taken down at 8am (14 hours after coming out of theatre) and it is now 14.30
20 minutes later still no pain meds, so his partner goes to ask.10 mins later nurse arrives.No sense of urgency, concern or acknowledgment.Plonks tablet on bed table for us to give to him, doesn't speak to her patient or make eye contact,signs chart and walks off.No pain assessment-NADA.
I (with his permission) look at med chart. He had been given paracetamol at 12midday, but regular voltarol (anti-inflammatory stronger then Brufen) that was prescribed at 8am and 1400 hadn't been given.No reason on chart documented.
Brought this up with a different nurse as still in pain after Tramadol and says Doctor is going to prescribe oral morphine. 30 mins later at 15.45 he gets it, by which time his pain score is 8 (1-10-worst is 10), it was 6 when i arrived.

Next day surgeon comes on round and says he can go home on weekend leave the following day with catheter and drain in.Isn't even walking around, let alone capable of getting upstairs to bed. Return on Monday for removal of drain.
Now he is coming home later today, they are taking drain out this morning and he won't have to go back for 2 weeks until they take catheter out.
Consultant casually mentions that the prostate came out easily but he had to do some bladder reconstruction ????
Partner says he was only planned to have catheter for 1 week post op, but consultant is going on holiday for 2 weeks now. So because cons is going on holiday he has to have catheter for 2 weeks, during which time he will be at increased risk of catheter acquired infection and loss of bladder tone as bladder never gets full when catheter is in, thus increased risk of urinary incontinence when it comes out. bear in mind that this op can lead to impotence anyway and he is only 49.

Welcome to the NHS!

[susan42]

Sorry, meant to add that when his partner looked at his wound on Thursday he had blisters around the dressing-had had an allergic reaction to it.Heaven knows how this was missed if anyone had been checking his wound.

[robma44541]

How can you put all the blame on the NHS? What happened to families helping and taking care of each other? As for the poor woman with learning disabilities why would the family leave her alone at the hospital to take care of herself? Don't they have public transportation there?
What happened to taking responsibility for yourself and stop blaming everything of the government?
I am sorry to hear about these two cases and I hope that they are both recovering from their surgeries, but family support would have helped a lot and would have helped avoid a lot of the suffering for this woman, and as for the possibility of impotence after removal of the cancerous prostrate, what has that got to do with care from the NHS, unfortunately that is a known side affect of this surgery and no-ones fault.
Maybe this is all a result of years and years of socialized medicine and a lot of the people in the country expecting the government to do everything for them.
If you are a nurse why do you knock your profession so much?

[Mag3.14]

Originally Posted by robma44541

How can you put all the blame on the NHS? What happened to families helping and taking care of each other? As for the poor woman with learning disabilities why would the family leave her alone at the hospital to take care of herself? Don't they have public transportation there?
What happened to taking responsibility for yourself and stop blaming everything of the government?
I am sorry to hear about these two cases and I hope that they are both recovering from their surgeries, but family support would have helped a lot and would have helped avoid a lot of the suffering for this woman, and as for the possibility of impotence after removal of the cancerous prostrate, what has that got to do with care from the NHS, unfortunately that is a known side affect of this surgery and no-ones fault.
Maybe this is all a result of years and years of socialized medicine and a lot of the people in the country expecting the government to do everything for them.
If you are a nurse why do you knock your profession so much?

I think you missed the point entirely

[AnthonyB]

Originally Posted by PA2UK

I don't think anyone is saying the NHS is incapable of providing quality care - just that there are some serious flaws that need to be recognized and addressed. It is not the perfect system that many Americans seem to think it is.

I think it is less that many Americans think it is wonderful and more a reaction to the demonization of the NHS that is currently being promulgated. Most of the NHS defenders here are actually British ex-pats with considerable experience of multiple health systems.

If you turn on some channels now you will hear the British health system described in third world terms. People are being led to believe that gurneys full of cancer patients are lined up in crumbling hospital corridors; that the elderly are being refused care, sent home to die alone and in agony; that there isn't a single MRI in the UK and that you will have to visit a government beaurocrat to beg to visit a pre-assigned GP.

It's basic damage control.

[PA2UK]

Originally Posted by AnthonyB

I think it is less that many Americans think it is wonderful and more a reaction to the demonization of the NHS that is currently being promulgated. Most of the NHS defenders here are actually British ex-pats with considerable experience of multiple health systems.

When I said "many Americans" I wasn't necessarily refering to anyone on this forum. I was speaking more from what I've seen in "real life".

If you turn on some channels now you will hear the British health system described in third world terms. People are being led to believe that gurneys full of cancer patients are lined up in crumbling hospital corridors; that the elderly are being refused care, sent home to die alone and in agony; that there isn't a single MRI in the UK and that you will have to visit a government beaurocrat to beg to visit a pre-assigned GP.

It's basic damage control.

Well, I haven't seen anything like that in the media over here - in fact, just the other day, I saw an article with personal stories about how "the NHS saved my life".