Well done NHS!

I had very quick treatment last year from the first referral to the successful operation was just 6 weeks

I had surgery six months ago. I was told they wanted to see me again in six months which surprised me as I only had day surgery.

I thought they had forgotten about me and I didn't think I'd bother reminding them but this afternoon I've had a message saying an appointment has been booked in for me.

Happily, I haven't needed to see a doctor for more than nine months but I have few complaints about my GP or my local hospital.

I saw my doctor about a strange lump on my hand. Within five days I had an appointment with a dermatology consultant and he burnt off what apparently was pre-cancerous sun damage.

I've had a number of medical issues over the last couple of years and the NHS has been amazing every time.

In June 2020 I had a ‘funny turn’ in the morning and had a same day face to face GP appointment. The following day I had a call from the hospital giving me an appointment with a specialist at 9am the following morning.
He arranged 2 MRI scans for 1830 the same day, as an outpatient.
An appointment a week later to discuss the outcome.
I have nothing but praise for the NHS.

This isn't the story of a "broken NHS", which is being justified as a reason for wholesale changes.

Not only am I being seen quickly for the mole, but today I also received an appointment for a DXA scan following my breast cancer treatment two years ago and another appointment to check on my breast, which hasn't healed that well from radiotherapy. I hate to think how much all this would cost, if we had a private model of healthcare.

At its best it is excellent and some of these examples are a reminder of what we used to take for granted.
I did an online application for an appointment a few Fridays ago, got a phone call that afternoon and the offer of a face 2 face at 12 o clock (end of surgery) the following Saturday morning.
The doctor could not have been nicer or more patient with me and I left feeling much better!

I was feeling positive-actually invited for a yearly review with a practice nurse on Tuesday.
During that I asked if she could give me some advice about a problem ongoing since early 2023.
No she couldn’t but shr asked me about the issue, typed in details on my record and promised to forward my request to the appropriate team.
I’m still feeling positive.
I received an invitation this am, to see a doctor today.
I’m still feeling positive.
Only 11 minutes late, the 11 minute gap between the previous patient and me being called.

Doctor: How can I help you?
I stated the problem, then I mentioned the fact that all the details were on the computer screen.

Dr. Oh yes, is it about your xxxxxxx?

Yes it is getting worse.

Dr. How long has it been a problem?

I mentioned since early 2023, that I had followed all the advice I was given and continued to take paracetamol and ibuprofen, even though the practice nurse I saw at the yearly review said that wasn’t a good idea in the long term.

Dr. What would you like me to do?

Why do they do that? Who is supposed to be the person with the medical knowledge?

How am I supposed to know?

Dr. Perhaps we ought to make an appointment with a consultant as it’s been going on for so long and is getting worse.

I’ll wait and see.

My GP practice has been excellent in recent months while I’ve had an issue. Unfortunately ive had a red-flag referral and the waiting time is 16 weeks. I’m lucky in that I can afford to go privately, at least for the initial consultation but I feel for those who have a worrying 16 week wait.

The point I was making really is that the NHS can still be excellent, so the system itself isn't at fault. Nevertheless, when things go wrong, questions must be asked and the system should be accountable. The occasional mistake is unavoidable, but why can't all services be as good as the best?

We have good GPs too, but I think it is luck of the draw. My daughter goes to a different practice in the same building and they are "failing".

I agree that it's the luck of the draw. My father has a re-occurrence of skin cancer. He went to his GP who urgently referred him to a consultant. This was last October. He hadn't heard anything by March, so returned to the GP who wrote another urgent referral. Almost a year later, he still hasn't heard anything.

He lives in Wales (nuff said).

Very well done to you and the NHS!

Best of luck with the mole!

DH had his pacemaker replaced last week. Appointment came 6 weeks after his 6 monthly pacemaker check up. He arrived at 1pm and by 4.30 he was ready to return home. It was quick, professional and he has recovered well - although he did have to ask for a local anaesthetic during the procedure 😊 it hurt a bit.

His new all whizzy monitor arrived within a couple of days, which now sits by his bedside quietly doing its monitoring.

I meant more anaesthetic😊😊. Not that they hadn’t given him any at all😮😮 as they cut his chest open!

So heartening to hear of something so positive. Only yesterday had yet another text from GP practice informing me of change to booking system. Usual 8 am phoning if you are near collapse and need to see someone then 1.30 pm on a Thursday to make an appointment for eg follow up from hospital appointment. You will be allocated an appointment 4 weeks from the date of phoning for an appointment. Too bad if you feel ill on a Friday you'll have a five week wait for an appointment.

My son has been aware over the last year or so of feeling breathless , not particularly on exertion, walking uphill etc. saw his GP, had various tests. He is 52, never smoked, goes to the gym, a normal young man. Doesn’t drink on “school nights”, enjoys a drink at times. Not overweight and very happily married with a son at uni. On Thursday he had 2 Cardiac stents fitted at the Cardiac Centre as a day case. We are so very, very grateful to the NHS.

It's good to hear of efficient responses by the NHS but one swallow doesn't make a summer. I had a poor experience which drove me to pay for a consultation and I think Labour must improve the NHS.

We must be really lucky here, I have never had to wait more than 2 hours to speak to a GP. The practice must be busy if the phone isn't answered in 4 rings. I joke with the receptionist that he sleeps under the counter!

Grantanow

It's good to hear of efficient responses by the NHS but one swallow doesn't make a summer. I had a poor experience which drove me to pay for a consultation and I think Labour must improve the NHS.

But it's more than just one swallow!

If the system is working for many people (as it it seems to be for the people who have posted) why can't the it work all the time? Why aren't the places where it's not working look at "best practice" and improve their own performance?

The fact that it does work just shows that it can. If admin systems need improving, that's what should happen. If it's a question of staffing or resources, then a very strong case should be made.

It's all very well saying Labour should improve the NHS - of course it should - but there need to be detailed plans. I refute absolutely that wholescale reform is needed. Just look at the best and see how they do it.

4allweknow

So heartening to hear of something so positive. Only yesterday had yet another text from GP practice informing me of change to booking system. Usual 8 am phoning if you are near collapse and need to see someone then 1.30 pm on a Thursday to make an appointment for eg follow up from hospital appointment. You will be allocated an appointment 4 weeks from the date of phoning for an appointment. Too bad if you feel ill on a Friday you'll have a five week wait for an appointment.

I agree with you about GP booking systems. That's why I was so amazed to be able to get through and had an appointment. My practice has changed its system several times over the last couple of years - and each new one seemed worse than the last. We all know that GPs are under great pressure, but I just don't understand why it's so difficult to work out what the "best" system is and for practices to use it.

Glad to hear it. Having had three I did wonder!

I think a lot depends on what the issue is. I recently had a broken foot and was seen on the same day by a GP who sent me straight to hospital for an x-ray. In less than one hour from leaving the GP surgery I was on my way home having had the x-ray and a virtual consultation with the fracture clinic. The story is very different for my hypothyroidism. I made numerous visits over the years with classics symptoms and was repeatedly fobbed off. It wasn’t until I saw an endocrinologist privately that the diagnosis was made and I had all the relevant tests, including ultrasound scan and biopsy of suspicious nodules. My GP had not even examined my neck!

I am pleased you were seen by the NHS so quickly. Our doctors no longer uses ecousult booking as it couldn't cope with the number of patients using the service. On line appointment booking is also not available to do.
I went in to the doctors to ask for an appointment to see a doctor about my hip and to ask to be referred to a consultant to go on the waiting list for a hip replacements. A x-ray last year showed I have chronic osteoarthritis. First I was told there was nothing on my notes about needing to see a doctor and if it was for a review I needed to fill in a form. I was told there were no appointments available and to ring up on Monday at 8.30am. I was not impressed.

The other good story ( we aren’t always using the nhs I promise😊)

On Monday, DH showed me his leg that he had grazed on a pot in the garden 10 days previously, which was obviously badly infected. As he’d just had a pacemaker change - a couple of days ago and had been given antibiotics intravenously at the time, I rang and asked for advice.

“Come along to the small injuries clinic” they said.

So we did, an hour later we were on our way home armed with yet more antibiotics and a cleaned and dressed wound.

Where in our experience the NHS falls down as at the primary care level. We haven’t actually seen a GP for what seems years. We’ve had a couple of phone consultations and that is all. Imo the leg problem should have been dealt with by the local surgery nurse, but getting an appointment is ridiculous, so we are choosing the small injuries walk-in clinic instead. This is not possible for the frail and very elderly or indeed those without transport, or who can’t drive so I think more resourcing at the primary care level is essential.