The Reality of Britain's NHS - a personal account.

[oggbashan]

Ten days ago my daughter persuaded me to go to my local doctor for two minor irritations. I had a couple of changed spots on my back and a small growth at the entrance to a nostril.

I went to the doctor's surgery and arranged an appointment at a time to suit me. I was seen at that time. The doctor looked at both and decided she didn't have the expertise to decide whether they were indications of cancer, or not. She produced two urgent referral letters to consultants at the local hospital - dermatology for the back; Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) for the nostril.

Within 48 hours I had appointment letters for both consultants. Dermatology on Tuesday; ENT for Thursday (today).

I went to the hospital on Tuesday and was seen at the appointment time. After discussion of the significant risk factors for skin cancer in my past life the consultant looked at the spots on my back with a magnifying glass and declared them NOT cancerous and probably spots caused by a heat rash. The spots were nothing to worry out and would probably soon disappear. I left the hospital within half an hour of parking my car. Car park charge - the minimum two pounds.

I went to the hospital today for ENT. I was able to park in a free four hour slot in the road outside the hospital grounds. I was seen within five minutes of my appointment time. The consultant examined my nostril with a lighted magnifying glass and declared it NOT cancerous but a simple growth that could be removed under local anaesthetic. His nurse asked me to complete some paperwork and she sent me to the hospital's day surgery centre for assessment for the eventual surgery.

I walked through the hospital grounds to the day surgery unit carrying my paperwork. I waited ten minutes before I was seen by a junior doctor who took height and weight measurement before checking blood pressure, pulse and performing a cardiogram. She then took blood for three separate blood tests and discussed my medical history.

I left the hospital site one and a half hours after entering it.

Total cost to me of visits to my doctor, two consultants, a junior doctor and four nurses - the two pound car park charge.

Real cost - a working lifetime of paying National Insurance, and a continuing lifetime of paying income and other taxes.

Knowing within a short time that I don't have skin or nose cancer? Priceless!

 

[geronimo_appleby]

Ten days ago my daughter persuaded me to go to my local doctor for two minor irritations. I had a couple of changed spots on my back and a small growth at the entrance to a nostril.

I went to the doctor's surgery and arranged an appointment at a time to suit me. I was seen at that time. The doctor looked at both and decided she didn't have the expertise to decide whether they were indications of cancer, or not. She produced two urgent referral letters to consultants at the local hospital - dermatology for the back; Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) for the nostril.

Within 48 hours I had appointment letters for both consultants. Dermatology on Tuesday; ENT for Thursday (today).

I went to the hospital on Tuesday and was seen at the appointment time. After discussion of the significant risk factors for skin cancer in my past life the consultant looked at the spots on my back with a magnifying glass and declared them NOT cancerous and probably spots caused by a heat rash. The spots were nothing to worry out and would probably soon disappear. I left the hospital within half an hour of parking my car. Car park charge - the minimum two pounds.

I went to the hospital today for ENT. I was able to park in a free four hour slot in the road outside the hospital grounds. I was seen within five minutes of my appointment time. The consultant examined my nostril with a lighted magnifying glass and declared it NOT cancerous but a simple growth that could be removed under local anaesthetic. His nurse asked me to complete some paperwork and she sent me to the hospital's day surgery centre for assessment for the eventual surgery.

I walked through the hospital grounds to the day surgery unit carrying my paperwork. I waited ten minutes before I was seen by a jumior doctor who took height and weight measurement before checking blood pressure, pulse and performing a cardiogram. She then took blood for three separate blood tests and discussed my medical history.

I left the hospital site one and a half hours after entering it.

Total cost to me of visits to my doctor, two consultants, a junior doctor and four nurses - the two pound car park charge.

Real cost - a working lifetime of paying National Insurance, and a continuing lifetime of paying income and other taxes.

Knowing within a short time that I don't have skin or nose cancer? Priceless!

two quid! the thieving pikey bastids, etc.

but, seriously, glad to hear the outcome.

 

[Jessie_Pinkman]

Ten days ago my daughter persuaded me to go to my local doctor for two minor irritations. I had a couple of changed spots on my back and a small growth at the entrance to a nostril.

I went to the doctor's surgery and arranged an appointment at a time to suit me. I was seen at that time. The doctor looked at both and decided she didn't have the expertise to decide whether they were indications of cancer, or not. She produced two urgent referral letters to consultants at the local hospital - dermatology for the back; Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) for the nostril.

Within 48 hours I had appointment letters for both consultants. Dermatology on Tuesday; ENT for Thursday (today).

I went to the hospital on Tuesday and was seen at the appointment time. After discussion of the significant risk factors for skin cancer in my past life the consultant looked at the spots on my back with a magnifying glass and declared them NOT cancerous and probably spots caused by a heat rash. The spots were nothing to worry out and would probably soon disappear. I left the hospital within half an hour of parking my car. Car park charge - the minimum two pounds.

I went to the hospital today for ENT. I was able to park in a free four hour slot in the road outside the hospital grounds. I was seen within five minutes of my appointment time. The consultant examined my nostril with a lighted magnifying glass and declared it NOT cancerous but a simple growth that could be removed under local anaesthetic. His nurse asked me to complete some paperwork and she sent me to the hospital's day surgery centre for assessment for the eventual surgery.

I walked through the hospital grounds to the day surgery unit carrying my paperwork. I waited ten minutes before I was seen by a junior doctor who took height and weight measurement before checking blood pressure, pulse and performing a cardiogram. She then took blood for three separate blood tests and discussed my medical history.

I left the hospital site one and a half hours after entering it.

Total cost to me of visits to my doctor, two consultants, a junior doctor and four nurses - the two pound car park charge.

Real cost - a working lifetime of paying National Insurance, and a continuing lifetime of paying income and other taxes.

Knowing within a short time that I don't have skin or nose cancer? Priceless!

Thank you for your story, and showing how Health Care should be.

Congrats also on the outcome.

 

[Rachel_X]

Every encounter I have with the NHS is horrible.
They even dared to say I might be crazy. Me!
It's like they don't recognise my obvious genetic and intellectual superiority.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Quadruple bypass surgery 10 years ago. Aside from the years of taxes, cost: free.

Loss of hearing on right side. MRI scheduled for 4 months later. Put myself on cancellation list, was in by the next week. MRI plus ENT specialist. Again after years of taxes, cost: free.

Pinched nerve in neck, free.

Deviated septum when young, free.

Crashed a bicycle and managed to jam a testicle back up inside abdomen, free (although being permanently sewn to inside of ball sack makes it very sensitive, no ball touching thanks ladies)

Another bicycle crash, leg in cast, free.

Motorcycle crash, no serious injuries just x-rays in emerg, free.

Stitches from hockey game, free (unfortunately scar is covered by eyebrow, pain is temporary, chicks dig scars, glory is forever)

Second heart attack, $40 for ambulance ride.

Hurray for UHC!

 

[Jessie_Pinkman]

Quadruple bypass surgery 10 years ago. Aside from the years of taxes, cost: free.

Loss of hearing on right side. MRI scheduled for 4 months later. Put myself on cancellation list, was in by the next week. MRI plus ENT specialist. Again after years of taxes, cost: free.

Pinched nerve in neck, free.

Deviated septum when young, free.

Crashed a bicycle and managed to jam a testicle back up inside abdomen, free (although being permanently sewn to inside of ball sack makes it very sensitive, no ball touching thanks ladies)

Another bicycle crash, leg in cast, free.

Motorcycle crash, no serious injuries just x-rays in emerg, free.

Stitches from hockey game, free (unfortunately scar is covered by eyebrow, pain is temporary, chicks dig scars, glory is forever)

Second heart attack, $40 for ambulance ride.

Hurray for UHC!

Not to mention medication is a fraction of the US price.

Gleevec (a cancer treatment): $6,214 (per month/per customer) in the United States, compared to $1,141 in Canada and $2,697 in England.

-- Humira (for rheumatoid arthritis): $2,246 in the United States, compared to $881 in Switzerland and $1,102 in England.

-- Cymbalta (for depression): $194 in the United States, compared to $46 in England and $52 in the Netherlands.

 

[patient1]

I'm glad to hear that everything worked the way it was supposed to,and more importantly, that you're okay.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Society should be looking out for the health and well-being of it's citizens. Not trying to profit by their miseries.

 

[DeYaKen]

Okay here is a tale Second child of four born to a farm labourer and a cleaner, contracts polio due to rapid diagnosis and treatment he survives and can still walk. The child constantly suffers ear infections but his parents never have to worry about reaching insurance limits he is treated regardless.
When he grows up he buys a motorbike and breaks the same leg twice. The ambulance crew don't ask about insurance they pick him up and take him to hospital.
The second is so serious that he doesn't regain consciousness for two weeks and has broken femur, pelvis , tib and fib, and ankle. Again with no worries about the cost they put him back together and teach him to walk again. Within two years he develops arthritis in his hip and is referred to a consultant who is the orthopedic consultant to the International Olympic Committee. This is the man who went on to be the sports stars consultant. The man who fixed Paul Gascoigne's knee. He put a steel cup in the lad's hip which is still working 48 years later.
When the lad got married the couple had three children all delivered without any worry of where the money would come from. All the children suffered the same ear problems as the father but it was no worry.
In later life the man suffered a pulonary embolism and came close to death again. He was treated and survived. Now his wife has a lump in her mouth and has received much the same service as Ogg. Scans and biopsies have shown that it isn't malignant ant they are deciding what to do about it.
It has cost this man a lifetime of paying National Insurance but what price do you put on a system that allows you access to the very best people the country has without worrying about the cost.

Yes that man is me, and yes when rich people who think they can afford to do away with the system try to demean it, I put them in their place. The NHS allowed us to rebuild an economy that had been smashed by two world wars. If the country could afford it then, it sure as hell can afford it now.

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[FknNemesis]

Being the victim of a serial 'jumper' outside a pub after midnight and being hit KO, ambulance picks me up and transports me to nearest ER with a gaping head wound. Receive stitches, referral for follow-on, as well as appointment for both X-Ray and MRI next day.

Once asked for my name, not in the least for the police file as it was a plague in that month and eventually the idiot was caught.

Cost for everything is the U.K.? £0, only cab fare back to the pub.



Fast forward some years. Suffer a so-called mini-stroke while living in South East Asia, as a working and tax paying employer. Total cost for check ups, including several blood tests, MRIs, and what nots: around USD 2k. All own money, since employer had to take care of insurance myself.
Still don't know what it was, money wasn't too brilliant then so wasn't able to go full whack check ups and hopefully find out whether I had issues or not (lol).


Ex suffers pancreatitis and needs be hospitalized, same country. Stays at hospital for 11 days, in a slightly more modern and expensive hospital although not a 'private clinic'. Estimated cost for ER, 11 days of hospitalization, and 6 months of follow-on treatments (medication): : USD 8-9k.


In my home country, Belgium, and several other Western European countries I have lived, health care has a dual-system. Up to earnings X national health care covers most (although not as many procedures/treatments as the NHS covers, there is also a certain own share for most but the most deprived ones).
Beyond earnings X a private insurance is required (usually via employer, employers have certain obligations) and the own share for procedures is higher.


The NHS, closely followed by the Beeb, is the best thing since Marmite really.

 

[flanneland]

That's an amazing story.

 

[oggbashan]

This is great Ogg. Sadly, it's not always the case. ....

I like the nhs, I am proud to live in a country where health is free at point of use. But my experience of it is not universally glowing, compared to healthcare received in other countries I have lived in. My own healthcare, as someone with chronic and complex health condition, is a mixture of nhs and private care. My preference would be.....well, not to need it!

Elle, I'm sorry for gian and you. The conditions that require ongoing care are a real problem for the sufferer and for any health care system. In some countries insurance will pay so much and then decline further cover.

In 1960 in Australia my mother needed emergency care for a long-term kidney condition that had been successfully managed for years. The flare-up was life-threatening, so much so that she had a five-hour long emergency operation on Christmas Day. The cost was covered by my father's employer's insurance but at the time he wasn't sure how much they would pay.

The figures are now meaningless because of inflation but the cost would have bought three houses where we had lived in London. Health costs haven't risen as much as housing costs but a modern equivalent might be half a million pounds. The whole family's assets at the time were nowhere near that.

The eventual bill for my father was his hotel bill to stay near the hospital for a week and car parking at the hospital. The insurance company paid everything else.

My mother lived a reasonable life for the next seventeen years. The operation had been successful, had saved her life, and had improved her health dramatically. Apart from the cost, fifteen Australian doctors and nurses had given up their Christmas Day to save my mother. That debt of gratitude could never be paid in cash.

 

[Aphro]

Quadruple bypass surgery 10 years ago. Aside from the years of taxes, cost: free.

Loss of hearing on right side. MRI scheduled for 4 months later. Put myself on cancellation list, was in by the next week. MRI plus ENT specialist. Again after years of taxes, cost: free.

Pinched nerve in neck, free.

Deviated septum when young, free.

Crashed a bicycle and managed to jam a testicle back up inside abdomen, free (although being permanently sewn to inside of ball sack makes it very sensitive, no ball touching thanks ladies)

Another bicycle crash, leg in cast, free.

Motorcycle crash, no serious injuries just x-rays in emerg, free.

Stitches from hockey game, free (unfortunately scar is covered by eyebrow, pain is temporary, chicks dig scars, glory is forever)

Second heart attack, $40 for ambulance ride.

Hurray for UHC!

I'm going to need some UHC to recover from reading this!!!!

 

[flyingtinopener]

The N.H.S.

Over the last 16 months I had cause to use the local NHS three times,
1 To have recurrent skin cancer removed, good experience, didn,t have to wait to long for an appointment,in and out in an hour, very good.
2 Arthritic joint in foot, NHS sent me to a local private hospital,dam painful,still going back for x rays,but progressing OK.
3 Last April, suffered two ITA,s better know as mini strokes, this is where Kettering General hospital lost the plot,it took them 11 weeks to get me to surgery, they finally got me an appointment to see a consultant surgeon, and his first words were:you should have been here weeks ago:. He then gave me the NHS leaflet on I.T.A,s and I quote : you should have all your test in 3 days and be offered surgery within 2 weeks:.
To give the surgeon his due, he operated within two weeks,and all went well,but knowing how long waiting lists are for surgery, I can only believe that he viewed this as very urgent and moved me up his list.
Also during that 11 weeks, no info from KGH, finally received a letter from the surgeon, so very poor performance from KGH on the most important one.
On such an important event very poor.

 

[jaF0]

The plan I'm on here in the States is probably similar to some extent. Everything I've had to have done recently has been free to me. Problem is, not every practitioner accepts it, so you may have to search a bit and drive somewhat farther.

And they make you jump through some hoops. Had some knee trouble but the insurance won't pay for an MRI without several other steps like X-Rays, therapy, some medication, etc. Not that they won't do it, they just want to be convinced it's necessary.

 

[flyingtinopener]

The N.H.S.

Over the last 16 months I had cause to use the local NHS three times,
1 To have recurrent skin cancer removed, good experience, didn,t have to wait to long for an appointment,in and out in an hour, very good.
2 Arthritic joint in foot, NHS sent me to a local private hospital,dam painful,still going back for x rays,but progressing OK.
3 Last April, suffered two ITA,s better know as mini strokes, this is where Kettering General hospital lost the plot,it took them 11 weeks to get me to surgery, they finally got me an appointment to see a consultant surgeon, and his first words were:you should have been here weeks ago:. He then gave me the NHS leaflet on I.T.A,s and I quote : you should have all your test in 3 days and be offered surgery within 2 weeks:.
To give the surgeon his due, he operated within two weeks,and all went well,but knowing how long waiting lists are for surgery, I can only believe that he viewed this as very urgent and moved me up his list.
Also during that 11 weeks, no info from KGH, finally received a letter from the surgeon, so very poor performance from KGH on the most important one.
On such an important event very poor.

 

[Blue]

Really, the difference between a good NHS visit or a bad one depends on the severity of your condition, because treating severe things quickly saves the NHS money in the long run. If your nodules could have been cancer then it could possibly also be extremely aggressive cancer that could kill you in a few measly years, and the treatment plan for that would be far more expensive than the surgery or chemo to get it while it's still in the very early stages.

So when there's a potentially life-threatening ambiguity, you theoretically get the best and quickest treatment available. Unfortunately the quality of service you receive has an inverse correlation with that ambiguity. E.g I know some poor kid who at only 19 or 20 had a terrible kidney stone stuck somewhere in his system, which was declared to be a urinary tract infection by some incompetent doctor, twice. (and obviously had no effect).

Long story short; kid started on pretty much whatever painkilling drug he could find on the street, was removed from his college diploma courses for all the missed days, lived with the constant pain of a kidney stone for the better part of two years until he finally passed it. And this was happening as he was on months-long waiting lists in London just to *see* a specialist for all those organs and whatnot.

(He's in his mid 20's now and fortunately somehow apparently didn't get addicted to anything)

 

[underguy1]

The biggest problems in the NHS are largely caused by political sabotage. The Tories and the right wing of Labour both want to carve it up for their rich friends so they have to make the existing structure look like a failure.

Then they scare the public with fake financial tales to make them believe that 'reforms' are necessary.

Any underfunding is a political choice.

 

[BotanyBoy]

I got that pimp ass government shit you gotta be a GS/Military retiree or a congress critter to get.

Uber Tricare.....cost nothin' and is pretty much the ultimate HC insurance. Plus the VA on top of it and outside of cosmetic surgery (they cover some of that with special approval) I've got as close to UHC in the USA as it gets.

 

[NeverEndingMe]

Glad that you had a good experience and hoping the irritations are nothing more than that

It's hard to relate your experience to America. We have too many generations living on "government" payroll and they still use the ER as primary care. Until this year think our illegal population was larger than most other countries but since obama has created a power vacuum in the world, well the world has had to deal with a flood of refugees.

America had the best healthcare system in the world and hopefully (but not looking so good) that we will get some intelligence with the new political leadership.

socialized healthcare is NOT the solution and we must undo this obamacare and reintroduce competition. Sadly, there is no real competition in health care or our education system.

Ten days ago my daughter persuaded me to go to my local doctor for two minor irritations. I had a couple of changed spots on my back and a small growth at the entrance to a nostril.

I went to the doctor's surgery and arranged an appointment at a time to suit me. I was seen at that time. The doctor looked at both and decided she didn't have the expertise to decide whether they were indications of cancer, or not. She produced two urgent referral letters to consultants at the local hospital - dermatology for the back; Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) for the nostril.

Within 48 hours I had appointment letters for both consultants. Dermatology on Tuesday; ENT for Thursday (today).

I went to the hospital on Tuesday and was seen at the appointment time. After discussion of the significant risk factors for skin cancer in my past life the consultant looked at the spots on my back with a magnifying glass and declared them NOT cancerous and probably spots caused by a heat rash. The spots were nothing to worry out and would probably soon disappear. I left the hospital within half an hour of parking my car. Car park charge - the minimum two pounds.

I went to the hospital today for ENT. I was able to park in a free four hour slot in the road outside the hospital grounds. I was seen within five minutes of my appointment time. The consultant examined my nostril with a lighted magnifying glass and declared it NOT cancerous but a simple growth that could be removed under local anaesthetic. His nurse asked me to complete some paperwork and she sent me to the hospital's day surgery centre for assessment for the eventual surgery.

I walked through the hospital grounds to the day surgery unit carrying my paperwork. I waited ten minutes before I was seen by a junior doctor who took height and weight measurement before checking blood pressure, pulse and performing a cardiogram. She then took blood for three separate blood tests and discussed my medical history.

I left the hospital site one and a half hours after entering it.

Total cost to me of visits to my doctor, two consultants, a junior doctor and four nurses - the two pound car park charge.

Real cost - a working lifetime of paying National Insurance, and a continuing lifetime of paying income and other taxes.

Knowing within a short time that I don't have skin or nose cancer? Priceless!

 

[Blue]

America had the best healthcare system in the world and hopefully (but not looking so good) that we will get some intelligence with the new political leadership.

socialized healthcare is NOT the solution and we must undo this obamacare and reintroduce competition. Sadly, there is no real competition in health care or our education system.

Ummmmmmm...
Troll?

 

[oggbashan]

...

America had the best healthcare system in the world and hopefully (but not looking so good) that we will get some intelligence with the new political leadership.

socialized healthcare is NOT the solution and we must undo this obamacare and reintroduce competition. Sadly, there is no real competition in health care or our education system.

The best healthcare in the US is the best in the world.

Socialised healthcare? Whatever system is used, and there are many systems in the developed world, affordable access to healthcare for ALL can be achieved without being 'socialist'.

Britain's NHS isn't the best but compared with the US's system it seems wonderful if you cannot afford massive bills for continuing health problems.

The US pays far more to the heathcare industry than almost any other country yet doesn't cover everybody. That is a shame.

In the UK you can use the NHS, have health insurance, pay for private health care with or without insurance - you choose if you have the money. If you haven't got money, the NHS will still be there for you.

 

[Blue]

I don't think that a service that is the primary cause of bankruptcy and leads to the deaths of >40,000 people a year due to their inability to benefit from that service can be called the "best".

 

[NeverEndingMe]

Ummmmmmm...
Troll?

stop looking at yourself in the mirror. That will make the troll go away.

With that stated, please help me understand what kind of special idiot you are. This could take some time so maybe you need to start up a new thread.