King Charles has cancer

[SWP's back]

No I haven't. He's taking up a space because the specialists he is seeing will also work NHS roles a few days a week. We've got numerous specialists working in a dual capacity. So whilst he's not jumping the NHS queue, he's still slotting into their schedule which includes NHS patients and the problem is exacerbated.

If the two were run completely independently with a set of staff in private and a separate set in the NHS then it would be fine. But that's not the case.

I know when my Mum was getting cancer treatment through the NHS that her oncologist was doing the same. Some days he'd be in one NHS hospital, others he'd be at another NHS hospital in the same trust and then a couple of days he'd be at his private hospital. Tracking where he was and finding out where to call and when was incredibly difficult as a result. Her surgeons were doing the same thing and so it was rare both would be together in order to discuss scans/surgery/treatment. It was a car crash.

The private sector isn't helping free up NHS space as well as it could and probably should.

They’re not run separately though and thus Kaz is entirely correct.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

True enough, I paid out of pocket. I am completely uninsurable - it’d be like trying to insure a house built on an active volcano. My post history will tell you I have no love for private health for that reason alone - people like me would have no options if that’s all we had.

Oh, I've spent most of this week on the phone to my insurer trying to sort out a hospital-caused cock up. People who think that an insurance-based system would be better than the NHS have clearly never used one.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

If you have any symptoms that could suggest cancer you’re generally seen with 14 days on the NHS.

I had a FIT test just three weeks ago, on the Tuesday, the Doctor called me in said I had a high level of blood in my waste which could be bowel cancer. Had my prep meeting at the hospital on Friday and booked the Colonoscopy and Endoscopy for last Tuesday.

Unfortunately my BP was so high on the day the procedures were cancelled. Seeing the Dr tomorrow for a prescription of Diazepam, Friday at hospital for the pre procedure then next Tuesday at the hospital again.

The stuff you take to clear you out is bleedin horrible and all I can think of is when I come round from my procedure the Doc will be telling me the worst news. I’ve been having abdominal pains for some months now but it’s not that painful so I kind of ignored it.

I’m 64 so had a decent life but having worked hard all my adult life I would like a few more years just to carry on enjoying my retirement (just 18 months at the moment).

Sorry to hear your issues. The drink is by far the worst part of the colonoscopy though. I’ve had them with and without sedation and they don’t hurt either way.

Good luck and I hope you get the news you want. I overheard what the doctor was saying during the procedure, so had a pretty good idea of what the results were going to be.

 

[hammocity]

Sorry to hear your issues. The drink is by far the worst part of the colonoscopy though. I’ve had them with and without sedation and they don’t hurt either way.

Good luck and I hope you get the news you want. I overheard what the doctor was saying during the procedure, so had a pretty good idea of what the results were going to be.

Thanks, my last one was booked at 2:30 so I had all day where my anxiety went through the roof, this time it’s 8am so hopefully that time and the Diazepam will lessen my BP. A couple of other posters echoed your experience saying it doesn’t hurt and is nothing to worry about, that’s quite comforting for me, cheers.

 

[supercity88]

They’re not run separately though and thus Kaz is entirely correct.

Of course they are run separately. You can't have private and NHS treatment for the same issue. They're independent.

The point I was making, is that many of the doctors and surgeons are working for the NHS and privately. There's a very limited pool of people who work explicitly for the private sector. So the private sector hinders the NHS, it doesn't help it. Kaz made the point that Charles isn't taking a spot from the NHS waiting list, but naturally you do because the person you are seeing privately could be working for the NHS.

In an ideal world we'd have an entirely separate workforce for both.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Thanks, my last one was booked at 2:30 so I had all day where my anxiety went through the roof, this time it’s 8am so hopefully that time and the Diazepam will lessen my BP. A couple of other posters echoed your experience saying it doesn’t hurt and is nothing to worry about, that’s quite comforting for me, cheers.

I think it’s important to reassure as many men as possible about colonoscopies not being as bad as we all fear they could be. If it helps one extra bloke go and it saves a life, it’s more than worth it.

Even if the worst is diagnosed, it’s not necessarily the end. My grandad was given 6 months to live in 1989 when he had 1/3 of his bowel removed due to cancer. He lived another 26 years and died aged 84.

Good luck anyway.

 

[SWP's back]

Of course they are run separately. You can't have private and NHS treatment for the same issue. They're independent.

The point I was making, is that many of the doctors and surgeons are working for the NHS and privately. There's a very limited pool of people who work explicitly for the private sector. So the private sector hinders the NHS, it doesn't help it. Kaz made the point that Charles isn't taking a spot from the NHS waiting list, but naturally you do because the person you are seeing privately could be working for the NHS.

In an ideal world we'd have an entirely separate workforce for both.

Right but Charles isn’t making someone on the NHS wait longer is he. He’s taking up private consultant time that’s already scheduled in. That’s the point. A point you seem to be missing.

You’re talking about a hypothetical system that doesn’t exist.

 

[west didsblue]

Of course they are run separately. You can't have private and NHS treatment for the same issue. They're independent.

The point I was making, is that many of the doctors and surgeons are working for the NHS and privately. There's a very limited pool of people who work explicitly for the private sector. So the private sector hinders the NHS, it doesn't help it. Kaz made the point that Charles isn't taking a spot from the NHS waiting list, but naturally you do because the person you are seeing privately could be working for the NHS.

In an ideal world we'd have an entirely separate workforce for both.

If there was an entirely separate workforce for both many of the most talented doctors would follow the money and the NHS would be left with anything they could get. As it is, most doctors have a conscience and are happy to work both sectors, and the best doctors realise that they are more likely to better hone their skills dealing with more complex NHS patients rather than just treating generally wealthier (and consequently healthier) people using the private sector.

 

[bluemanchester]

I think we also should dispel the notion that private care is some kind of silver bullet for treatment like Charles is going to need. It’s absolutely not. Yes it does often help you get to the front of a queue for more straight forward diagnostics and things like that but when it comes to quality of care for complicated and life-threatening conditions, private care is often not the solution. There is no magic serum for all ills that is only available for private patients.

I know this from personal experience. I went to a private specialist last year for a complicated issue and he said there is no private clinic in this country that can offer the care the NHS can offer for my particular problem. He was absolutely right, once I was pointed into the right place and I’d gotten through the layers of admin, it was clear the NHS was best-equipped to support me.

You are correct there is no magic bullet. My daughter who is in the medical world says to me if I ever use a private healthcare clinic make sure it is attached to a NHS hospital that deals with that treatment because if it goes wrong private clinics may not be able to solve it. The NHS now has the problem that private clinics are creaming off the easy operations that have a long NHS queue. This is causing a problem because the NHS do not have as many routine operations to train their surgeons. This is becoming a real problem. Fortunately the NHS is something the whole country wants to succeed and is recognised all over the world and could be the greatest gift a country has given to its citizens. What other industry, person or business could get nearly every house in the country on their doorstep banging pots and pans for the staff who when the whole world was panicking and locking their doors they left home every day to report to work. Angels all of them just for that alone besides the help and comfort they give grieving families.

 

[BimboBob]

No I haven't. He's taking up a space because the specialists he is seeing will also work NHS roles a few days a week. We've got numerous specialists working in a dual capacity. So whilst he's not jumping the NHS queue, he's still slotting into their schedule which includes NHS patients and the problem is exacerbated.

If the two were run completely independently with a set of staff in private and a separate set in the NHS then it would be fine. But that's not the case.

I know when my Mum was getting cancer treatment through the NHS that her oncologist was doing the same. Some days he'd be in one NHS hospital, others he'd be at another NHS hospital in the same trust and then a couple of days he'd be at his private hospital. Tracking where he was and finding out where to call and when was incredibly difficult as a result. Her surgeons were doing the same thing and so it was rare both would be together in order to discuss scans/surgery/treatment. It was a car crash.

The private sector isn't helping free up NHS space as well as it could and probably should.

Why would you need to track your oncologist?

I've never had to track him or had a problem of where to ring if I need anything. And before you ask, yes, I'm on the NHS. My treatment is based in Leicester. They have a dedicated cancer centre, like all regions, of which my oncologist is part of a huge team that look after an increasing amount of cancer patients. If I have a problem I ring a 24 hour manned hotline. They then advise me what to do. Usually go to Leicester. If I have an admin problem, and it's quite hard to have one of them seeing as they text and send mail out on a regular basis, then there's a number to ring. It's not my oncologist.
The times I do have to go in to see someone I occasionally get my oncologist. Mostly I get one of his team. They all sing from the same song sheet so it's never a problem. If I really need something then they provided his secretary's number. Just leave a message and they are in contact within 24 hours.

He rings me once a month before my home treatment, to discuss my recent bloods and to make sure I'm ok to have my next immunotherapy. He did this yesterday and yes, I'm still kicking the cancers arse. It's a personable chat and lasts around 5 minutes. There's no rush on his part. He listens to my concerns. If I bring anything up then it's put down for the next blood tests. That I arrange at my local hospital once a month.
Today I've had a call about the delivery of tomorrow's drugs. A nurse will text me in the morning to confirm delivery and time she'll be popping in to administer.

It's all very slick and well organised and for the most part doesn't involve him at all. At least what's visible to me.

As for taking up a place...as you said, most, if not all specialists work NHS and Private. They have spaces to fill. No one will lose out because of this as both systems work independently and alongside each other. I've been to private hospitals for scans. I've been to private hospitals for operations. I have some next week.

If you pay to have private then you will not jump any queue. You will just see less patients around. It's more of a one on one scenario. Your appointment will be on time. Generally. If it's a private hospital it will appear brighter, cleaner and more efficient.

The King though, different proposition. He will have his own surgeon. A surgeon who is probably not doing other operations but spends his time doing lectures and teaching. He probably has a title added, like OBE or Sir. It's another level of treatment in a very exclusive private hospital. One that the likes of you and I, private or not, will never see.