NHS - Envy of the world?

Retro Cat":22pzbeee said:
Is this just confined to Mid Staffs?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/ ... ng-changes

I've been really happy with the care my family and I have ever received - have folks had any negative experiences?

I had a pretty bad crash on the bike a few years ago whilst living on the outskirts of Leeds - both Airedale and Wharfedale General hospitals gave me first-rate treatment (WGH isn't even a full-blown hospital, having no A&E unit - still did a great job though). The only downside was waiting an hour for the ambulance to come from Bradford, as all the ones at the local ambulance station (Menston) were already out on call.

Mum & Dad have been semi-regular clients of New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton of late thanks to various health issues, Dad in particular has been dealt with - by various cardiac specialists - brilliantly in my opinion (and is currently feeling better than he has done for years). Stafford's reputation was fairly well-known in their neck of the woods through the Midlands media before the whole debacle went national.

David
 
The only reason we are shocked is because its so rare. They maybe overworked but in my experience the vast majority of NHS staff are caring and professional.
 
David B":20kij2h9 said:
Retro Cat":20kij2h9 said:
Is this just confined to Mid Staffs?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/ ... ng-changes

I've been really happy with the care my family and I have ever received - have folks had any negative experiences?



Mum & Dad have been semi-regular clients of New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton of late thanks to various health issues, Dad in particular has been dealt with - by various cardiac specialists - brilliantly in my opinion (and is currently feeling better than he has done for years). Stafford's reputation was fairly well-known in their neck of the woods through the Midlands media before the whole debacle went national.

David

My mother has been treated for cancer 3 times now at New Cross and they have treated her superbly. I keep meaning to drop in with some flowers/chocolate/wine for the staff there.
Just waiting for the all clear again.

Matt
 
I've been treated in hospital many times and have always found them caring and professional. Except one midwife who complained about my groaning in labour, I'm afraid I swore at her :)

Alison
 
They missed my broken shoulder and sent me home with it in a sling and recommended I do physio on it, which I did for two weeks until the consultant rang and told me to come back in immediately. That wasn't very nice.

When I had a colonoscopy the nurses let me have one of their chocolates afterwards. That was nice.

I know I'm making light of it, but heads need to roll with regards to Stafford et al, 400+ deaths!!!!!! There should be corporate manslaughter charges made, although I fear there will just be one enquiry after another, followed by an apology in about 10 years time
 
NHS has saved my life more than once. Nuff said.

The problem I see is that everyone* resents the money spent on the NHS, but still demands the best at all times. They're between a rock and a hard place.


Oh, and the NHS is the WORLDS 5th largest employer at 1.7 million staff.




*Daily mail readers. Probably.
 
My_Teenage_Self":2hgahgch said:
Oh, and the NHS is the WORLDS 5th largest employer at 1.7 million staff.

Also the largest bureaucracy in Europe.


Having worked for the NHS 'behind the scenes' for a few years, I have the widest imaginable range of feelings towards the people who comprise it. There are loads of people who care passionately about helping their patients, there are also plenty of people who couldn't care less, and nearly everyone has their hands tied thanks to decisions made by underinformed, overqualified office nobs. Ultimately, nearly all the problems it experiences come down to the fact that there is far too much Management - as of 2 years ago, the NHS was spending more on admin salaries than medical staff. I could fill pages writing about the monumental cockups and frustrations that I experienced (but then I'd probably be prosecuted :| )

Personally, I'd like to send all the vociferous anti-NHS types to live in the US or the far east for a few months - no disrespect to any other countries, but I think they might have a little more appreciation for it when they returned.
 
Koupe":6wx6yftc said:
My_Teenage_Self":6wx6yftc said:
Oh, and the NHS is the WORLDS 5th largest employer at 1.7 million staff.

Also the largest bureaucracy in Europe.


Having worked for the NHS 'behind the scenes' for a few years, I have the widest imaginable range of feelings towards the people who comprise it. There are loads of people who care passionately about helping their patients, there are also plenty of people who couldn't care less, and nearly everyone has their hands tied thanks to decisions made by underinformed, overqualified office nobs. Ultimately, nearly all the problems it experiences come down to the fact that there is far too much Management - as of 2 years ago, the NHS was spending more on admin salaries than medical staff. I could fill pages writing about the monumental cockups and frustrations that I experienced (but then I'd probably be prosecuted :| )

Personally, I'd like to send all the vociferous anti-NHS types to live in the US or the far east for a few months - no disrespect to any other countries, but I think they might have a little more appreciation for it when they returned.

I reckon that the public sector (I am a teacher) suffers from an overabundance of middle management and a very poor standard of management that refuses to accept change in its own structure and (self) promotion.
 
Retro Cat":1hprc2fl said:
I reckon that the public sector (I am a teacher) suffers from an overabundance of middle management and a very poor standard of management that refuses to accept change in its own structure and (self) promotion.

Hmm. Actually that nicely sums up the whole of the education sector to a T - I work in a private sector school and there are similar abundances of hurdles to progress/change, stuffed shirts and luddites. :(

David
 
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