How the NHS wastes money.

I'm surprised somebody hasn't set up some group to collate all these examples of waste rather than just moaning about them.

People's stories could be collated and categorised, then sent off to the DHSC, NHS England, NHS Scotland, NHS Wales and HSC as a proper report.

I currently have in my possession one walking (zimmer) frame, and a walking stick, both were offered back to the hospital and refused. I also came home in one of their robes, the kind that open down the back, I said I`d wash it and return it, was told not to bother, it would only get thrown away.

I suppose it comes down to what the population think is important. Is it more important to provide translators for none English speakers (either citizens or visitors) or is it more important to buy more MRI scanners so cancer and other problems can be diagnosed quicker?

I don’t think it a huge problem if families provide their own translators. Why? Become that’s what happened when I was teaching. If the bilingual teaching assistant was in school (half a day a week) she/he would translate for us, but if they weren’t, during parent’s evenings for example, the parent would bring an older child or relative with them who would translate.

It worked!

And most people would choose to have more vital MRI scanners (as an example) than more translators!

I am on HRT and every so often get called in for a check of Blood Pressure, height and weight. You also get a chance to discuss any problems or concerns. If all OK you are then prescribed next lot of HRT.

This month I got a text to say I was to use the testing equipment in reception. Along I went, two attempts to get a BP reading, weighed and measured but would not record. The receptionist says she knows nothing about it. I told her to add a message for my Dr saying that it only recorded BP, which she did.

Then I get a text from GP to say it’s not complete and would I do these at home and forward them to her. What a waste of money, time, petrol and energy.

Imagine getting really bad news via a phone translation. You're dying or you're paralysed and will never walk again. That's if the translation is accurate, there's an old saying "lost in translation."

We went to ibiza and DGD came out in a rash. Went to local hospital and Dr typed Spanish into his computer pressed a button and it spoke to us in English giving diagnosis and treatment. No need for interpreters

Freya5

Kayteetay1

I completely agree with you. Same applies if someone from the UK falls ill abroad- wouldnt be surprised if the complainant expected the medical staff abroad to speak English.

Rather presumptive of you. What is it with British bashing.
People are usually ill, they may speak, oh dear, in their own language, as do foreigners when they are in hospital here, from experience.

😁
Just shout louder and expect Jonny Foreigner to understand English, even in their own country.
Simple!

When I was in hospital, December 2017 for a gall bladder operation, the ward was really hot so they had 4 Dyson fans blowing cool air. Have you seen the price of Dyson fans. Also I had to take my medication into hospital with me, which I readily did.
When my husband died, all the aids he was loaned were collected for reuse. This I was told by the people who collected them.

Kayteetay1

I completely agree with you. Same applies if someone from the UK falls ill abroad- wouldnt be surprised if the complainant expected the medical staff abroad to speak English.

Rather presumptive of you. What is it with British bashing.
People are usually ill, they may speak, oh dear, in their own language, as do foreigners when they are in hospital here, from experience.

HowVeryDareYou2

MaizieD

HowVeryDareYou2

SueDuko That has already been mentioned. When you go abroad, don't you have holiday insurance? It surely would cover such needs as a translator. Then why can't visitors here do the same? (although, actually, the point was missed)

That’s as may be, but if a foreign visitor needs immediate treatment they don’t have their insurance and credit card status verified before treatment starts. Are you expecting that treatment should be delayed until the patient can arrange for a private translator?

Actually, MaizieD, I think most people these days have mobile 'phones that have a language translation facility in them.

I do love a post which starts with superior ‘ Actually’…

I humbly stand corrected..

It is a pity Wes Streeting or a member of his department are not on GN as I think he would find it most informative.

Who are ‘there’

Harv1

Don’t worry Primrose 53 there all the same they don’t give a stuff about anything now .
As long as the pay keeps going up we’l leave well alone …

Who doesn't give a stuff?

Don’t worry Primrose 53 there all the same they don’t give a stuff about anything now .
As long as the pay keeps going up we’l leave well alone …

MaizieD

HowVeryDareYou2

SueDuko That has already been mentioned. When you go abroad, don't you have holiday insurance? It surely would cover such needs as a translator. Then why can't visitors here do the same? (although, actually, the point was missed)

That’s as may be, but if a foreign visitor needs immediate treatment they don’t have their insurance and credit card status verified before treatment starts. Are you expecting that treatment should be delayed until the patient can arrange for a private translator?

Actually, MaizieD, I think most people these days have mobile 'phones that have a language translation facility in them.

Are you saying that non English speaking Brits or those settled in Britain, shouldn’t use NHS facilities? If so, Why not?

I expect some of the communication problems are down to cost saving by getting rid of admin staff. Or pen pushers as Mr Cameron called them

I got told off when I turned up for DDs orthodontic appointment, the orthodontist was quite scary. She said I'd missed my appointment that morning and I was 4 hrs late. I showed her my appointment card, I'd turned up at the time I'd booked, they changed the appointment but I didn't get the letter. No idea if that was hospitals fault or Royal Mail. It annoys me that it will be down as us failing to attend.

Yorkshirepudding4ever

I have just read that our local hospital group had 70,000 missed outpatient appointments and 2500+ missed surgery appointments in the last 9 months - what a shocking statistic!! Patients behaviour needs to be addressed too if we are considering reducing waste in the NHS!

A considerable number of those will be patients trying to cancel but unable to get anybody to answer the phone at the hospital.

My husband has literally spent hours on the phone to hospitals or having left a message, waiting days for them to return the call.

The patients needing translators are very rarely visitors so ni, travel insurance does not cover it

Our local hospital in Portsmouth absolutely do not provide sign language translators for English deaf people

When my profoundly deaf and disabled brother needed an operation, the hospital said they couldn't provide an interpreter but I could perhaps find one, I contacted the local service and was quoted £150 but I couldn't afford that, I went on the local Facebook page to try and find someone local who did sign language, no one came forward. On the day a nurse from another ward who had a deaf relative so knew sign language, came over to reassure my brother and was there when he came out of the anesthetic too. Such a kind man. I was told the hospital would only provide translators for foreign patients!

HowVeryDareYou2

SueDuko That has already been mentioned. When you go abroad, don't you have holiday insurance? It surely would cover such needs as a translator. Then why can't visitors here do the same? (although, actually, the point was missed)

That’s as may be, but if a foreign visitor needs immediate treatment they don’t have their insurance and credit card status verified before treatment starts. Are you expecting that treatment should be delayed until the patient can arrange for a private translator?

Visitors to the UK will get charged for NHS services including translators.

SueDuko That has already been mentioned. When you go abroad, don't you have holiday insurance? It surely would cover such needs as a translator. Then why can't visitors here do the same? (although, actually, the point was missed)