| Our NHS 21:16 - Dec 16 with 2942 views | TresBonne |
Isn't it just bloody brilliant, despite what they want you to believe. You never truly appreciate it until you need it.
Rung hoping for a GP appt at 11:00am today. By 12, they phoned back and I had one at 4:10pm the very same day. Went in and saw one of the most friendly, welcoming doctors I've ever had. Booked in for bloods at 11:50 tomorrow, results back by Friday.
All of that on top of the superflu + Christmas period. For free. We are so lucky to have them. |  | | |  |
| The staff…. on 09:18 - Dec 17 with 868 views | Bloots |
….particularly the “frontline” workers are on the whole decent, but in reality they should be, it is their job after all and despite the misty eyed admiration they are getting paid for it. I’ve come into contact with some exceptional staff over the years.
This said my old man has regular, quite serious, treatment which started in an an NHS facility a number of years ago and has since been outsourced to a local private clinic. The improvement in service, attitude and dare I say it outcome is immeasurable.
And to add, the ongoing “joke” about miserable and unhelpful doctor surgery receptionists is totally justified round our way. They are awful in my surgery.
In general NHS “systems”, “processes” and “management” are letting down what is in principle a national treasure.
(and the Doctors going on strike at the current time is a disgrace) |  |
| "mostly smug self indulgent sixth formers” - TWTD User (Nov 2025) |
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| Our NHS on 09:28 - Dec 17 with 823 views | DJR |
| Our NHS on 08:32 - Dec 17 by BanksterDebtSlave |
According to Junior, nurses earn more per hour working for an agency, and obviously the agency take their cut too, rather than being directly employed by the NHS. For the first time in forever the NHS authority where she studies are not guaranteeing employment for graduate mental health nurses either despite surging demand.
Edit....this notion that the way to fix the NHS is to allow private companies to syphon off even more of the money would suggest we have learnt nothing from the fate of our crumbling utilities. [Post edited 17 Dec 8:36]
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That's a real shame for your daughter and her fellow students but I suppose only to be expected of an area which is greatly underfunded.
I say this at a time when the daughter of a friend of mine who has been sectioned is currently in the local hospital under guard awaiting a bed becoming available in a unit where she should be treated.
EDIT: I forgot to say that she has been sectioned four times in the last year but these days sectioning only involves a few weeks on a specialised mental health ward before discharge because of lack of capacity. [Post edited 17 Dec 16:36]
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| Our NHS on 11:15 - Dec 17 with 770 views | positivity |
| Our NHS on 08:49 - Dec 17 by homer_123 |
It's already privatised GB, for all intense and purposes. |
which is a massive part of the problem, different departments and providers not working seamlessly.
it needs properly nationalising, but no government would have the guts unfortunately |  |
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| Our NHS on 11:28 - Dec 17 with 744 views | ghostofescobar |
Minor point, but GP’s aren’t actually the NHS. They are independent contractors, but they are funded by the NHS. And, agree, for the major stuff, the NHS are amazing. My son nearly died due to an accident in the summer, suffered a severe brain injury, but the care he received was exceptional. |  |
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| Our NHS on 12:30 - Dec 17 with 707 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Our NHS on 11:28 - Dec 17 by ghostofescobar |
Minor point, but GP’s aren’t actually the NHS. They are independent contractors, but they are funded by the NHS. And, agree, for the major stuff, the NHS are amazing. My son nearly died due to an accident in the summer, suffered a severe brain injury, but the care he received was exceptional. |
I asked Google AI to explain the funding of GP Practices.
This is just the last part of the response.
How it Works
NHS England: sets the national contract and funding levels.
Integrated Care Boards (ICBs): commission services from local practices.
Practices: receive monthly payments based on their weighted patient list and performance.
GP Partners: then manage this income to cover all practice expenses, with profits distributed to partners.
Those last five words being important.
They have other sources of income Recently had to pay over £50 for a signature on an insurance claim form for cancelled holiday. To answer just a handful of questions. |  |
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| Our NHS on 12:33 - Dec 17 with 700 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| Our NHS on 12:30 - Dec 17 by Pinewoodblue |
I asked Google AI to explain the funding of GP Practices.
This is just the last part of the response.
How it Works
NHS England: sets the national contract and funding levels.
Integrated Care Boards (ICBs): commission services from local practices.
Practices: receive monthly payments based on their weighted patient list and performance.
GP Partners: then manage this income to cover all practice expenses, with profits distributed to partners.
Those last five words being important.
They have other sources of income Recently had to pay over £50 for a signature on an insurance claim form for cancelled holiday. To answer just a handful of questions. |
So with this setup I wonder if GP’s are even paying PAYE rates of tax..? | | | |
| Our NHS on 13:03 - Dec 17 with 651 views | lowhouseblue |
my elderly mum went into an essex hospital during winter 3 years ago - there was a flu crisis at the time. she had an undiagnosed infection and delirium. she spent 36 hours on a trolley in a corridor and then another 36 hours in an a&e overspill area and was then moved to a temporary 'ward'. witnessing all of that the levels of incompetence and waste were astonishing - i say that as a life long supporter of the nhs and acknowledging the flu crisis it was facing. 2 examples - one the a&e nurses wouldn't care for people in corridors - so the ambulance crew that delivered a patient had to stay with them until they were moved into a&e. this meant that successive crews arrived and took over as the previous ones went off shift - their ambulances parked up outside a&e. at one point i counted 8 ambulance crews in the corridor. second, while we were there a very elderly patient was brought in by care home staff and went through the corridor and finally into a&e - the reason for his visit was the need for a repeat prescription and since they couldn't get a gp to issue one that was the only route open to them. over all the experience was described by my sister, someone who has been extremely senior in health, as akin to a war zone.
i find it astonishing that we are all happy to talk endlessly about failures in the private sector but as a matter of principle refuse to acknowledge that failures in public organisations are just as serious. there is nothing in making something public that automatically makes failures disappear.
having experienced a hospital in collapse during that previous flu crisis, i am genuinely shocked that junior doctors are prepared to strike during this flu crisis. [Post edited 17 Dec 13:11]
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| And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show |
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| Our NHS on 13:06 - Dec 17 with 653 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Our NHS on 12:33 - Dec 17 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
So with this setup I wonder if GP’s are even paying PAYE rates of tax..? |
Not every GP will be a partner, but a good question to which I don’t know the answer. | |
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| Our NHS on 14:46 - Dec 17 with 574 views | Freddies_Ears |
| Our NHS on 23:08 - Dec 16 by Freddies_Ears |
I gave up on my surgery after an unqualified doc prescribed lifetime meds for a condition I didn't have (it turned out), and shouldn't have taken at all given my symptoms. Luckily, I am able to use Google, and checked out my doubts. Some hours after leaving the surgery, I received a panicked call, telling me not to take what they had prescribed.
I gave up on Ipswich hospital a few years ago after a litany of linked errors left me with a huge infection after what should have been a minor, routine cancer op turned into a big procedure due to delays. The aftercare was even worse. I took my recovery private. The long version of this story is not one I'd tell on here, as it is quite an unpleasant tale; I owe my life to being able to afford a few £k. |
I am just back from visiting a very close relative who is sadly in his last days, or maybe hours, now in an NHS hospital. Overall, his care seems OK, but, in transferring him from one ward to another, they managed to lose his false teeth, so he can no longer speak intelligibly to visitors. OK, so it's not the biggest thing, but it feels like a denial of dignity, and it has made an upsetting time even worse. | | | |
| Our NHS on 15:06 - Dec 17 with 554 views | positivity |
| Our NHS on 12:33 - Dec 17 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
So with this setup I wonder if GP’s are even paying PAYE rates of tax..? |
all the ones i know are.
i guess as with any well-paid or self-employed individual, the minority will look at tax avoidance | |
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| Our NHS on 15:18 - Dec 17 with 532 views | Radlett_blue |
| Our NHS on 22:31 - Dec 16 by GlasgowBlue |
They differ because rather being employed by the NHS, surgeries are independent business that are contracted to the NHS. They are responsible fr their own finances. Some are owned and run by GP partners but more and more are being bought out by larger corporations.
My local surgery has been a partnership for as long as I was using it. Never had an issue getting an appointment but started struggling post covid and you had to phone a week in advance to be seen. They were recently taken over by a corporation and we can now get appointments much as it was before Covid. |
Well, mine is run by some of the GPs who are partners & service standards are awful. The worst of the doctors replaced my long standing GP who had retired; everyone tried to avoid an appointment with her, but unfortunately she's married to the managing partner. |  |
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| Our NHS on 16:53 - Dec 17 with 473 views | BlueForYou |
Both my wife & myself have received excellent service by our local NHS recently. Our surgery is very good now having changed earlier this year & the hospital were faultless in everything. Very joined up service & good professional people. We were impressed & quite reassured after all the nonsense you read about, including on here! |  | | |
| Our NHS on 17:30 - Dec 17 with 441 views | Herbivore |
| Our NHS on 16:53 - Dec 17 by BlueForYou |
Both my wife & myself have received excellent service by our local NHS recently. Our surgery is very good now having changed earlier this year & the hospital were faultless in everything. Very joined up service & good professional people. We were impressed & quite reassured after all the nonsense you read about, including on here! |
I'm glad you and your wife had an excellent service, that doesn't mean that everyone else has had the same experience and doesn't mean that their experiences are "nonsense". |  |
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| Our NHS on 20:52 - Dec 17 with 394 views | JackNorthStand |
| Our NHS on 23:29 - Dec 16 by Vaughan8 |
I was just going to say. My GP surgery, there is no way you'd ring up at 11 and get an appointment. |
Same with mine. Told to call back the next day at 8am when surgery opens and hope you get through before that days appointments are gone.
I am told this way of booking appointments was a directive from NHS England from some years ago.
Previously you could ring up and book an appointment for the following day, if that day was full.
Find the current method of appointment booking very frustrating. The poster certainly has had a more positive experience than I or others in my area have been experiencing. | | | |
| Our NHS on 21:00 - Dec 17 with 388 views | FrimleyBlue |
Differing results for different people im afraid
my dad had a seizure yesturday was taken to hospital so i drove to ipswich. Dad was still having facial seizures, " oh that's not normal then" no doc it's not, his notes should say that from the ambulance, oh ok ill now take a look. Erm has he been in hospital recently, yes for neumonia. and any other hospital visits in past 6 months, yes doc, July when you guys allowed a frail old man to fall off his commode and he broke his leg after he came in with breathing issues and couldn't stand properly, but you're staff left him on his own. Are your systems broke or something.. no notes to look at?
Anyway, finally stopped the facial seizures with meds. still in resus
"we've come to move your dad to a side room" you know he's cpe positive don't you. " oh is he, can't move him then"
today still stuck in same place, nurse came over as i entered the room, your dad's been ok, very confused said he can't feel his left fingers, yes correct he had no feeling in that arm all day yesturday, " oh right that doesn't say that in the notes"
Anyways, heard the worst part today
Hi dad
" Why are you calling me dad"
took 10 minutes before he realised who i was, that was like a dagger to the heart. [Post edited 17 Dec 21:03]
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| Our NHS on 21:05 - Dec 17 with 373 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
The NHS is fantastic. It is underfunded and could be even better if governments could raise sufficient taxes to invest properly in it. However, it is so much better than having to rely on private healthcare (unless you are in the wealth bracket that means you are able to comfortably). |  |
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| Our NHS on 21:14 - Dec 17 with 355 views | football |
Could not agree more. We really are lucky to have the NHS given some other countries, such as the USA who charge a fortune so if you are poor you are in a worse position and other countries who just dont have good medical at all. I am lucky not to engage in it often, or the kids, but when we have they have been faultless. I've had two C scares and both times the speed in which they acted was impressive = both clear but if not, that speed could have saved my life. Both parents had cancer, and whilst the prognosis was not good for both, the care, attention and support they had (as did we) cannot be underestimated | | | |
| Our NHS on 21:43 - Dec 17 with 345 views | TresBonne |
| Our NHS on 21:00 - Dec 17 by FrimleyBlue |
Differing results for different people im afraid
my dad had a seizure yesturday was taken to hospital so i drove to ipswich. Dad was still having facial seizures, " oh that's not normal then" no doc it's not, his notes should say that from the ambulance, oh ok ill now take a look. Erm has he been in hospital recently, yes for neumonia. and any other hospital visits in past 6 months, yes doc, July when you guys allowed a frail old man to fall off his commode and he broke his leg after he came in with breathing issues and couldn't stand properly, but you're staff left him on his own. Are your systems broke or something.. no notes to look at?
Anyway, finally stopped the facial seizures with meds. still in resus
"we've come to move your dad to a side room" you know he's cpe positive don't you. " oh is he, can't move him then"
today still stuck in same place, nurse came over as i entered the room, your dad's been ok, very confused said he can't feel his left fingers, yes correct he had no feeling in that arm all day yesturday, " oh right that doesn't say that in the notes"
Anyways, heard the worst part today
Hi dad
" Why are you calling me dad"
took 10 minutes before he realised who i was, that was like a dagger to the heart. [Post edited 17 Dec 21:03]
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Sorry to hear that Frimmers. That last line was really moving. Hope you're ok mate. | | | |
| Our NHS on 22:41 - Dec 17 with 328 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Our NHS on 21:00 - Dec 17 by FrimleyBlue |
Differing results for different people im afraid
my dad had a seizure yesturday was taken to hospital so i drove to ipswich. Dad was still having facial seizures, " oh that's not normal then" no doc it's not, his notes should say that from the ambulance, oh ok ill now take a look. Erm has he been in hospital recently, yes for neumonia. and any other hospital visits in past 6 months, yes doc, July when you guys allowed a frail old man to fall off his commode and he broke his leg after he came in with breathing issues and couldn't stand properly, but you're staff left him on his own. Are your systems broke or something.. no notes to look at?
Anyway, finally stopped the facial seizures with meds. still in resus
"we've come to move your dad to a side room" you know he's cpe positive don't you. " oh is he, can't move him then"
today still stuck in same place, nurse came over as i entered the room, your dad's been ok, very confused said he can't feel his left fingers, yes correct he had no feeling in that arm all day yesturday, " oh right that doesn't say that in the notes"
Anyways, heard the worst part today
Hi dad
" Why are you calling me dad"
took 10 minutes before he realised who i was, that was like a dagger to the heart. [Post edited 17 Dec 21:03]
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Take care buh xx |  |
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| Our NHS on 08:19 - Dec 18 with 244 views | brazil1982 |
| Our NHS on 21:00 - Dec 17 by FrimleyBlue |
Differing results for different people im afraid
my dad had a seizure yesturday was taken to hospital so i drove to ipswich. Dad was still having facial seizures, " oh that's not normal then" no doc it's not, his notes should say that from the ambulance, oh ok ill now take a look. Erm has he been in hospital recently, yes for neumonia. and any other hospital visits in past 6 months, yes doc, July when you guys allowed a frail old man to fall off his commode and he broke his leg after he came in with breathing issues and couldn't stand properly, but you're staff left him on his own. Are your systems broke or something.. no notes to look at?
Anyway, finally stopped the facial seizures with meds. still in resus
"we've come to move your dad to a side room" you know he's cpe positive don't you. " oh is he, can't move him then"
today still stuck in same place, nurse came over as i entered the room, your dad's been ok, very confused said he can't feel his left fingers, yes correct he had no feeling in that arm all day yesturday, " oh right that doesn't say that in the notes"
Anyways, heard the worst part today
Hi dad
" Why are you calling me dad"
took 10 minutes before he realised who i was, that was like a dagger to the heart. [Post edited 17 Dec 21:03]
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Sorry to hear that, my Mum has dementia and doesn't recognise me most of the time. It's quite sad. |  | | |
| Our NHS on 08:56 - Dec 18 with 219 views | OldFart71 |
I praise the NHS for my prostate cancer treatment I had back in 2023/2024.
But locally they are pretty rubbish to be honest. It takes an hour and a quarter to get through and they referred my wife to ENT Ipswich back in January and she still hasn't got an appointment.
A neighbour around a month ago fell off a ladder. The lady who phoned for an ambulance was given a time of 13 hours before it would get to him.
I had an appointment at Ipswich hospital the appointment was for 9 a.m. They started receiving patients at 8.30 and at that time there was a communication on the tv saying they were running 45 minutes late. How can you be running 45 minutes late when you have just started ?
I respect the many that do this job but there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians.
As I say when having the cancer treatment they were excellent. However I did have to point out because I started on a watch and wait system that requires a blood test every 6 months that another consultant was also requesting blood test results so that worked out at every 3 months. He did get it stopped as he said that it was his responsibility and not the other consultants. A case of one hand not knowing what the other was doing. | | | |
| Our NHS on 09:20 - Dec 18 with 201 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Our NHS on 21:00 - Dec 17 by FrimleyBlue |
Differing results for different people im afraid
my dad had a seizure yesturday was taken to hospital so i drove to ipswich. Dad was still having facial seizures, " oh that's not normal then" no doc it's not, his notes should say that from the ambulance, oh ok ill now take a look. Erm has he been in hospital recently, yes for neumonia. and any other hospital visits in past 6 months, yes doc, July when you guys allowed a frail old man to fall off his commode and he broke his leg after he came in with breathing issues and couldn't stand properly, but you're staff left him on his own. Are your systems broke or something.. no notes to look at?
Anyway, finally stopped the facial seizures with meds. still in resus
"we've come to move your dad to a side room" you know he's cpe positive don't you. " oh is he, can't move him then"
today still stuck in same place, nurse came over as i entered the room, your dad's been ok, very confused said he can't feel his left fingers, yes correct he had no feeling in that arm all day yesturday, " oh right that doesn't say that in the notes"
Anyways, heard the worst part today
Hi dad
" Why are you calling me dad"
took 10 minutes before he realised who i was, that was like a dagger to the heart. [Post edited 17 Dec 21:03]
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I can relate to much of that, hope things improve for your Dad and for you. Be strong. | |
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| Our NHS on 09:56 - Dec 18 with 178 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Our NHS on 21:00 - Dec 17 by FrimleyBlue |
Differing results for different people im afraid
my dad had a seizure yesturday was taken to hospital so i drove to ipswich. Dad was still having facial seizures, " oh that's not normal then" no doc it's not, his notes should say that from the ambulance, oh ok ill now take a look. Erm has he been in hospital recently, yes for neumonia. and any other hospital visits in past 6 months, yes doc, July when you guys allowed a frail old man to fall off his commode and he broke his leg after he came in with breathing issues and couldn't stand properly, but you're staff left him on his own. Are your systems broke or something.. no notes to look at?
Anyway, finally stopped the facial seizures with meds. still in resus
"we've come to move your dad to a side room" you know he's cpe positive don't you. " oh is he, can't move him then"
today still stuck in same place, nurse came over as i entered the room, your dad's been ok, very confused said he can't feel his left fingers, yes correct he had no feeling in that arm all day yesturday, " oh right that doesn't say that in the notes"
Anyways, heard the worst part today
Hi dad
" Why are you calling me dad"
took 10 minutes before he realised who i was, that was like a dagger to the heart. [Post edited 17 Dec 21:03]
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Sorry to hear that frimmers. All the best to you and your family mate. |  |
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| Our NHS on 10:19 - Dec 18 with 162 views | ITFCson |
Like most things there is good and bad. Recently my uncle (who lived alone) had a heart attack and fell. Upon hearing the thud and cries for help his neighbour (who occupied the flat below) called an Ambulance.
The ambulance never turned up, not even a welfare check the following day. It was his friend who cleaned for him who found him passed away the following afternoon. Likely he'd not of made it anyway but still quite harrowing how they simply cancelled a 999 call. | | | |
| Our NHS on 10:30 - Dec 18 with 157 views | Ralphinho |
My wife and I are at two different surgeries (one in Ipswich, one outside of Ipswich) and we have both ALWAYS been able to secure same day GP appointments if we call at 8am. When my wife had another issue, she called later in the day and got an appointment for later that day.
Family have had issues with treatment in Ipswich hospital, I think largely due to them being overworked and stretched. Care always seemed to improve once someone pointed out the shortfalls (in a polite way). It's certainly not intentional. Highlights the importance of having someone to advocate for you when you are vulnerable and raises concerns for people who do not have anyone to rely on.
Somebody stated £2700ish pppa.. Considering how much operations cost to get done privately, that feels like a bargain! I cant help but feel that insurance will cost around that, especially for those with preexisting health conditions. All for the greater good.
Truth is, you get what you pay for. Everyone wants a Rolls Royce (Scandinavian) standard of Health Care whilst only paying for Dacia levels of health care through UK taxes.
Personally, I'd rather pay more tax and have Rolls Royce public services , but you wont catch me complaining about the Dacia whilst its still running, even if the engine warning light is on and it breaks down here and there - it's all I am paying for so why should I expect better! |  |
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