The NHS drive me insane

[Mr_T]

So today was the big day, orthapaedic appointment at 2 o'clock, I've had to wait 3 months for this so was quite relieved to be getting it out the way. So I get to Stoke Mandeville and when I find the right place (it aint half big!) im told that theyve managed to lose the x rays that I had to do 2 months ago so I now have to go for more! feeling rather irritated I headed over to the x ray part and that was all done in 10 minutes, I head back to the other place and finally get to see my elbow, apparently either 2 of the bones are fused together or a bit of cartillage is growing in the wrong direction, apparently though I have to have either a ct scan or and mri scan so they can work it out properly, and thats going to be in another month! then theyll decide the best thing to do from there (which is probably an operation )

Sorry for the rant, was hoping I'd be finding out if I need an operation today but I can see this dragging on for a while...

 

[connor]

i had all these problems when i had knee problems. just stick with it and keep going back and complaining thats what i did, eventually i had an MRI and they realised i did have a problem and had surgery. Not sure on elbow but the cartlidge in me knee was via Key Hole called an arthroscopy. I was back on my feet with in a few days.
my injury according to the hospital was 1st visit >torn catlidge > 2ndsprain > 3rd then sent to physiopossible ligament damage > physio said it is ligament damage i need an op >5th hospital visit nothing wrong with it > 6th visit 3days after 5th) sending you for an MRI scan > 7th scan and told something loose inside knee slight tear in ACL and cartlidge damage told i need an op looking aboout 5-6months 1 week later i get a call offering me an op in 2days time.
This all went on from october 8th to march 25. Stick with it keep moaning they get there eventualy

 

[Mr_T]

They said to me its more likely to be the cartillage problem, the problem is because its in a really awkward position there is a relatively high chance of it going wrong, I could end up with and even more limited range of movement or be in a lot of pain for a long time, the other thing thats frustrating is an operation would potentially mess up my gcse pe grade as i wouldnt be able to do the practical, so id have to put it off till the summer, at which point that would be ruined aswell! so its not looking good to be honest

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Mr_T, they've probably put all their time and effort into someone having a gastric band fitted or perhaps having a breast implant removed!

After all, they need the operation more than you!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm sorry you've had a bad experience but as one who works in a large NHS hospital sadly these things happen and records, X-rays etc do get mis-filed or delayed in transit from department to department. My advice is to keep in touch with the consultant and pushing them for an appointment asap, and maybe go back to the GP and see if he can get your referred again as a priority. There are targets (and penalties) they have to meet so its in their interest to get you treated as soon as possible.

 

[USER1999]

Is it not better that they eventually get this right?

You have the rest of what hopefully will be a long and fulfilling life ahead of you.

Us oldies, well, we're in a hurry. We don't have the time.

 

[chrisd]

How in heavens name do they misfile an Xray. I know I had my hip done privately but the xray was taken and on my consultants screen before I walked back to his office, surely the NHS do the same!


Chris

 

[Scouser]

How in heavens name do they misfile an Xray.


Chris

Under A,B,C...........................

 

[Mr_T]

What I don't get is I had to go to a different hospital much closer to me to have the first x rays, and then they had to be sent to stoke mandeville,i could have just gone to stoke mandeville 2 months ago and done what i did today, its frustrating but its just one of those things, the thing is the doctor said its technically not a priority for them as im not in danger or anything, the only thing that was positive was apparently its an interesting case to work on..

 

[bladeplayer]

A month for a ct or a mri is good , over here it could be a year , my ma is 80 had to wait 13 months for hers .. you should experience the mess up we have over here ,
HSE its called Hopeless Shower of Eegits...takes 6 hours at our local A&E , dont think they realise the E is for Emergency.. we brought in 114 doctors from india & asia , 62 failed their exams when they came & got sent back

 

[Andy]

If your not happy go private.

 

[Bikky73]

As an NHS employee, the main areas of problems I've seen in dealings with mine, and many other organisations I've dealt with are....

Consultants work private as well as NHS, I wouldn't be allowed to do this, particularly for a company that subcontracts or sells to us, for reasons of, conflict of interest, and as a result a good number of them (not all, I won't tar with that brush) are more interested in making NHS waiting lists, longer so people are shifted to see the consultant privately, which the NHS pay for. And a lot of the time, its done on NHS premises, with NHS equipment that the Consultant leases at a reduced rate. And as a result the Consultant gets rich and nursing staff get sacked as there's no money.

The other issue is the execs, dept heads etc, have no money to keep staff on to reduce waiting times, because they (again not all but a good number) need to have a nearly fully paid for lease car (lower staff who have more reason to travel can pay about 6x more for the same vechicle than an exec, and I can quote exact figures, to within £10 example) and a new much above std spec laptop, and top of the range phones, when the staff that require performance on their laptops get a basic one every 4 years, and a bog standard phone/blackberry that does all the same features but costs more like £50 rather than the top dogs £350 one.

I think that might answer your question.


Disclaimer.
The above opinions expressed are my opinions and not those of my organisation nor my colleagues. They are an expression possibly of my observations and not necessarily 100% accurate to the mission or aim of thus said organisations or staffs within those organisations. And at no point is anyone to take any of the above comments seriously nor use them in any capacity, either officially or as Idle chat, as this could be deemed as creating a vicious rumor about how NHS resources are wasted. That is for you to make up your own minds and opinions

 

[chrisd]

If your not happy go private.

So Andy, lets get this right. If the NHS is crap and give poor service and you are not happy then you should pay and go private? It's not right to expect the NHS to do the job that they are paid to do properly, efficiently and speedily?


Chris

 

[AmandaJR]

As an NHS employee, the main areas of problems I've seen in dealings with mine, and many other organisations I've dealt with are....

Consultants work private as well as NHS, I wouldn't be allowed to do this, particularly for a company that subcontracts or sells to us, for reasons of, conflict of interest, and as a result a good number of them (not all, I won't tar with that brush) are more interested in making NHS waiting lists, longer so people are shifted to see the consultant privately, which the NHS pay for. And a lot of the time, its done on NHS premises, with NHS equipment that the Consultant leases at a reduced rate. And as a result the Consultant gets rich and nursing staff get sacked as there's no money.

The other issue is the execs, dept heads etc, have no money to keep staff on to reduce waiting times, because they (again not all but a good number) need to have a nearly fully paid for lease car (lower staff who have more reason to travel can pay about 6x more for the same vechicle than an exec, and I can quote exact figures, to within £10 example) and a new much above std spec laptop, and top of the range phones, when the staff that require performance on their laptops get a basic one every 4 years, and a bog standard phone/blackberry that does all the same features but costs more like £50 rather than the top dogs £350 one.

I think that might answer your question.


Disclaimer.
The above opinions expressed are my opinions and not those of my organisation nor my colleagues. They are an expression possibly of my observations and not necessarily 100% accurate to the mission or aim of thus said organisations or staffs within those organisations. And at no point is anyone to take any of the above comments seriously nor use them in any capacity, either officially or as Idle chat, as this could be deemed as creating a vicious rumor about how NHS resources are wasted. That is for you to make up your own minds and opinions

As someone who doesn't work at the NHS that is EXACTLY what I thought went on so thanks for confirming my rants about it and the waste of money that occurs...

BUT - we remain incredibly lucky to have the NHS and hopefully (eventually) the OP will get a fixed elbow at basically no cost (not yet a tax payer)! My sister lives in the USA and they are insured but that never pays for the full medical bill. My b-in-law fell and smashed up his ankle and it cost them a small fortune in the end despite already paying out for insurance.

I have private medical cover through work which has proved a real bonus especially when I broke my leg and had problems healing. The amount of treatment I had, never mind the type (specifically sports medics involved) was excellent and I guess on the NHS I would have got there but slower and with more frustration heaped on pain and frustration...

 

[Andy]

So Andy, lets get this right. If the NHS is crap and give poor service and you are not happy then you should pay and go private? It's not right to expect the NHS to do the job that they are paid to do properly, efficiently and speedily?


Chris

He can do what he likes but to slag a free service where thousands do a sterling job is a bit much for me.

An X Ray was lost, nobody goes out to deliberately loose them. Accidents happen every day.

Build a bridge and get over it.

 

[chrisd]

He can do what he likes but to slag a free service where thousands do a sterling job is a bit much for me.

An X Ray was lost, nobody goes out to deliberately loose them. Accidents happen every day.

Build a bridge and get over it.

A "free service" mmmmmmm don't we all pay for this "free service" in our PAYE and NI contribution every single working week of our lives.

I've never had an Xray lost when I go to a hospital privately!

If they don't lose the xrays deliberately they must be even more inefficient than I thought.


Chris

 

[Andy]

A "free service" mmmmmmm don't we all pay for this "free service" in our PAYE and NI contribution every single working week of our lives.

I've never had an Xray lost when I go to a hospital privately!

If they don't lose the xrays deliberately they must be even more inefficient than I thought.


Chris

Its as free as it will be compared to paying private. The OP doesnt work so its effectively free to him.

Maybe he should go for his xray with you then?

I have no idea on NHS efficiency and dont really care but I know for 34 years of Treatment and care for Type 1 Diabetes they havd been great.

Anything else you want to cause agro over?

 

[bladeplayer]

Anything else you want to cause agro over?

Its a discussion not agro .. everyone else is discussing their opinion, your the one telling people what to do (go private , go for xrays with him , build bridges etc) jeez will you chillax man ..

If your having a bad day go kick the neighbours cat or something..

Disclaimer , blade or anyone else on the GM forum do not condone cruelty to animals .. except some monkeys on here who shall not be named :rofl:

 

[Bikky73]

No I do agree, 10's of 1000's in the NHS do fantastic jobs, its a small few who have no idea.

I personally think that ALL MP's and Royalty should be seen NHS as per Joe Bloggs on the street, and Andy, and everyone else who can walk in for free Waitment... errm Treatment.

Rather than private or priority treatment.

I once went to A&E with a head injury, 1 hour max wait time for urgents, which I was marked down as, when I went in. 4 hours later just as I was about to leave I was called in.

And that's the priority treatment I was given, when it was a hospital I worked in AND even knew the staff....

But if a high flyer MP was wheeled in, all hands on deck to ensure the best, fastest, possible treatment.

Sorry but I still believe the individual case warrants the priority not the personage whom the case is on.

Vote me for PM i'll sort in in 30mins, just a few new rules.

 

[Ethan]

Consultants work private as well as NHS, I wouldn't be allowed to do this, particularly for a company that subcontracts or sells to us, for reasons of, conflict of interest, and as a result a good number of them (not all, I won't tar with that brush) are more interested in making NHS waiting lists, longer so people are shifted to see the consultant privately, which the NHS pay for. And a lot of the time, its done on NHS premises, with NHS equipment that the Consultant leases at a reduced rate. And as a result the Consultant gets rich and nursing staff get sacked as there's no money.

The other issue is the execs, dept heads etc, have no money to keep staff on to reduce waiting times, because they (again not all but a good number) need to have a nearly fully paid for lease car (lower staff who have more reason to travel can pay about 6x more for the same vechicle than an exec, and I can quote exact figures, to within £10 example) and a new much above std spec laptop, and top of the range phones, when the staff that require performance on their laptops get a basic one every 4 years, and a bog standard phone/blackberry that does all the same features but costs more like £50 rather than the top dogs £350 one.

I think that might answer your question.

NHS Consultants doing private work is irrelevant to the issues affecting the NHS these days.

The big issue is that the market system the Govt is bring in is having a serious adverse effect on the quality of care. That is what this NHS Bill is all about - the NHS is being softened up for this, and many of the initiatives being introduced are simply systems to allow outsourcing of work to private organisations. The NHS pensions issue is likewise a preparatory step for widescale handing over of NHS staff to the private sector who won't accept large pension liabilities.

The other big problem is PFI contracts which were drawn up by incompetent officials and have saddled the NHS Trusts with huge bills for years to come. The PFI companies have often immediately sold on these contracts at huge profit because they are so laden with profit.