Positive experiences of the NHS

Copes283 I have always found the NHS superb in emergencies like yours and other.

M0nica

^Reading all these positive experiences, I am overwhelmed with the thought... we cannot afford to lose it!^

The problem Dickens is that for every experience like this two more people can tell horror stories of neglect and indifference.

There are and have been major inquiries into maternity services, in more trusts than I can list, then there are reports into failings in Mid(?) Staffs. East Kent and several other trusts, while mental services are failing people as inquest after inquest tells us. Is this really what you want to preserve?

The NHS, when it is good, is very very good, and I have experienced it at its best several times, but when it is bad, it is very bad, and that is what I have mostly experienced.

Yes, I do want to preserve it and work at improving what's not working rather than throwing everything out with the bathwater and waiting for exactly the same problems to emerge.

At 67 I contracted pneumonia with septic markers persent in my blood. This was in June this year. I had telephoned 111 on the quiet as I wasn't sure if I was fussing! Evidently
I wasn't as the ambulance arrived before I had a chance to tell DH what was happening! One chest drain, antibiotics, numerous scans and Xrays later I finally left hospital 19 days later. It's only in the last two or three weeks I've felt more my old self! I am still being monitored as Atrial Fibulation has been discovered, but thank you, thank you to the NHS.
(Btw DH has been marvellous too!!) I had very good treatment.

Reading all these positive experiences, I am overwhelmed with the thought... we cannot afford to lose it!

The problem Dickens is that for every experience like this two more people can tell horror stories of neglect and indifference.

There are and have been major inquiries into maternity services, in more trusts than I can list, then there are reports into failings in Mid(?) Staffs. East Kent and several other trusts, while mental services are failing people as inquest after inquest tells us. Is this really what you want to preserve?

The NHS, when it is good, is very very good, and I have experienced it at its best several times, but when it is bad, it is very bad, and that is what I have mostly experienced.

My Gp,s reacted quickly both times when found my lumps .Was seen in breast clinic within the 2weeks diagnosed same days and op,s booked the second while masks still being worn. I worked in n.h.s for 42years it changed a lot more paper work etc,but I worked with a lot of dedicated staff.

HettyBetty, I had a similar experience with a care home GP. A childless aunt, of 86 or so, with fairly advanced dementia had started refusing food and drink after the umpteenth UTI - she’d always been very prone to them.

As the only relative contactable at the time, I was asked by CH staff whether I wanted her taken to hospital for IV fluids, or left where she was, where she was almost certainly going to die.

I could only ask the lovely GP what he’d do, if it were his much-loved aunt. He said that since it was only going to happen again, probably quite soon, he’d leave her where she was, where she’d be kept comfortable.

Which is what we did, and she drifted away quite peacefully after about a week. Despite agonising about it at the time, I had no regrets afterwards - I’m quite sure it’s what my aunt’s former self would have wanted.

Aveline

We all know that Grantanow. That's why the OP thought it would be interesting and worthwhile to share positive experiences of which there are many.

I too thought that was the purpose of the thread. I think it was intended to show that the NHS has not totally failed.
I have had some pretty bad experiences (mainly being forgotten), but I am grateful for the positive ones I have experienced.
Last year both my my orthopaedic and RA consultants were so annoyed at my delay in hearing from the gastro dept. that they contacted the gastro consultant themselves, something they didn't need to do.

We all know that Grantanow. That's why the OP thought it would be interesting and worthwhile to share positive experiences of which there are many.

Of course there are good experiences of the NHS but they don't offset the appalling experiences of others or the very long waiting lists.

Husband had to go to hospital today for blood tests. Got in 10 minutes early. Seen by a nurse chatty nurse and we were out before he should have gone in.

A doctor on the ward said, 'We're sorry we're keeping you in for so long, but we're afraid that if we send you home you'll die.' I think it was meant to reassure me!

I woke up breathless in February, no other symptoms. Referred by my GP to the cardiac team even though my blood pressure, ECG etc were normal. Admitted to hospital and was wonderfully well fed and cared for until a gap came up two weeks later for a stent procedure. The artery blocked was a potential killer. I could write a list of other positive NHS experiences but this one saved my life so I rate it above all the others!

I have read articles that make a link between uncorrected hearing loss and dementia.
My Mum died with Alzheimer's and my Dad has vascular dementia, so I booked an appointment for a hearing check at our local branch of Scrivens.
This showed a loss of hearing in the upper register, which I was totally unaware of, with the problem being in the inner ear.

I was booked in the following week for a full hearing test with the audiologist who prescribed hearing aids. I said I would like to try the NHS ones first, so he had to write to my GP for authorisation.
I had a phone call a couple of weeks later and was invited in that day to have my aids fitted.
They are linked to my phone via an app, which was set up for me and explained to me.
I was given spare batteries and will be asked back for a check up in a few months time.
I have rung the helpline for some more batteries which were posted to me.

I haven't had to pay a penny for any of this, and if it does help with the risk of dementia I am very grateful. 🙂

Three weeks ago I phoned my GP for an appointment. There were no appointments left but the receptionist asked why I was phoning. I told her I'd found a lump. An hour later I was in the GP's surgery being examined and reassured that it was most likely a cyst. That was on Monday. On Wednesday I got a phone call from the Breast Clinic at the hospital with an appointment for the next day. I saw the consultant who examined me, sent me for an ultrasound and then confirmed that it was indeed a cyst. He discharged me but said that if it grew, became a nuisance or changed in anyway I should go back to my GP for a re-referral when he would arrange to have it cut out. I couldn't ask for better or speedier treatment.

I wish it wasn't such a political football.

Reading all these positive experiences, I am overwhelmed with the thought... we cannot afford to lose it!

Whether you are a Labour, Conservative or LD voter - we must fight for it and not let vested interests - or some political maverick with gung-ho ideas on 'transforming' it - destroy it.

Following from my referral to A&E last night I was seen at the eye hospital today by, first, a nurse practitioner then a consultant. My appointment was for 10.45 and I was seen and discharged by 11.45. the Dr took time to explain everything to me and to answer questions and went and found a helpful booklet. The place was cold and spartan but the medical care was everything I could hope for and more.

I might add that my sister has recently had an operation - day surgery again using private medicine. Her experience has been absolutely no better than mine except she got free parking and coffee.

I have personally had excellent NHS physio treatment after various bone breakages, and cannot praise them enough. In the first case, particularly, I had a nasty wrist fracture and the physio who was on duty when the external fixator was removed thought I might be left with little mobility in that wrist, but after lengthy treatment - with the same physio - my wrist is as good as new.

Over the years we have had a number of encounters with the NHS, and have had nothing but positive experiences.

The latest was me presenting at A&E in the summer with severe pain. Sent for a scan the next day after the pain was dealt with, and told I needed a gall bladder removal. The surgeon prescribed a course of antibiotics to sweep up any possible infection.

A month ago I pottered into the day surgery unit at 2pm, was first seen by the nurses, then the assistant surgeon who chatted and said did I have any questions etc, then aneasthatist came and chatted examined my teeth etc. then the surgeon came and introduced himself asked if I was ok etc and said he’d see me within the hour. Nurse walked me up to the theatre and before I knew it (actually 11/2 hr later) I was back on the ward with a cup of tea and biscuit. Home by 8pm tucked up in bed and an excellent nights sleep. My recovery has been smooth and successful and I am feeling 100% better.

The whole experience was one of calm kindness and absolute professionalism.

I was rushed into hospital with pneumonia in June, not really expected to survive as only a third of one lung was still working. Was on 80% oxygen for the first few days, and given antibiotics. After 8 days they let me come home provided I did a week of bed rest followed by a week of sofa rest, then I could potter. The specialist said in my hearing “ she will do better at home” ! They were kindness itself, nothing too much trouble. Had to go for a scan five weeks later and on the way back to the car fell down some steps and fractured my eye socket. Medical people appeared from everywhere. Was taken into A&E by wheelchair from the car park , had triage, X-ray, scans, stitched up ( eight stitches in my face) given painkillers, fed as I am type 2 diabetic, given painkillers and got home at midnight. Everyone so kind. The follow up has been wonderful, you just could not have had better treatment. They are overstretched and understaffed but the attention I got was five star plus. I am 86, and have to say the NHS has always been there in an emergency. My DIL is a staff nurse, and some of the abuse they get from patients is unbelievable, and included one man flashing his private bits at her. As if she hadn’t seen it all before!
Margaret.

Numerous examples, these are a few.

DH was ill, referred to specialist hospital dept by our GP. Three consecutive days of tests, scans etc the same week. Then follow up visits and phone calls until they were sure all was well.

I have a long term illness, not life-threatening but it has an impact on my life. I have a phone appointment every 8 weeks to monitor it, plus I can phone the department whenever I need to get advice. There is never a problem getting hold of someone who can help.

DD once had help and support from the kindest GP when she was a teenager. So much so that I wrote to the practice manager to thank them.

DS has a manageable issue, it is manageable because his GP is so knowledgeable, available and helpful.

When my aunt had advanced dementia in a lovely care home the visiting doctor was unfailingly kind, gentle and respectful, not only to her but about our views on end of life.

I wish I could think of anything good to say about the NHS, family experience over the last few years has been unremittingly awful. DH was given a cardiac appointment last week. It was cancelled this week. The original appoinment was for late February. Now?

I have absolutely no complaints, after being hit like an express train with pneumonia back in March - followed almost immediately by pleurisy, that needed a drain for several days. I could not fault the care I received, from the ambulance arriving to finally being discharged 3 weeks later, though I was on ABs for another 2 weeks - they didn’t want me back again!

We are very lucky in that our local hospital is rated outstanding though.

I went to Specsavers in January of this year and was given hearing aids. The audiologist thought I had a problem in my R) ear so referred me locally.

I think the ENT department was trying to clear the backlog and I was seen swiftly and am on the w/list for a CT and MRI scan. The Registrar I saw actually cared.