The NHS...2025.

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St Helens Blue (Exiled)

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5 May 2011
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Having worked in the public sector for 27 years I just wanted to post about my experience at Whiston hospital. My back went last week and so my gp referred me for an urgent MRI scan. Overnight this Monday to Tuesday I lost feeling in my leg so doctor advised me to go to A and E. I wish I hadn't. Mrs dropped me at 1245pm yesterday afternoon. As I walked in I have never in my life seen it so full. They were queuing out of the door. I sat down in absolute agony and was triaged at 1435hrs. Nurse said I should be seen by a doctor within 6hrs which I thought was ok. Sat back down and wasn't spoken to until I had my b.p taken at 1500hrs in the seating area.The nursing assistant offered me drugs which never came. At 2100hrs a senior nurse on nights came out and said there were 195 persons in A and E, 65 awaiting beds, 95 awaiting a doctor and the rest minors which can be treated by a nurse. There was 2 doctors on duty!!! They asked people to go home. I refused as I had lost feeling in my left leg and was struggling to piss. I got called at 2110hrs and thought I was being seen. How wrong I was. I hobbled through to see elderly people in corridors who looked so ill on beds, seriously ill etc. I asked myself what has this NHS become? People potentially dying in corridors
.WTF
I sat down and was left until 0300hrs When I was given morphine as I was pretty much in tears with the pain on the floor. Eventually a loveley doctor saw me at 0515hrs today. At 1st they believed it may be cauda equina syndrome but luckily tests proved it appears to be a prolapsed/bulging disc. Finally got home at 0630hrs today.
Now I know public services are stretched but what I witnessed was quite horrific.
Apparently it is only going to get worse. There were more police officers in hospital cuffed to prisoners than doctors. How the fuck is that happening. How anyone would want to work in the NHS is beyond me but respect to anyone who does. Personally. I wish it was like America where we all pay.
 
The NHS is the countries largest employer and the largest employer of people in Europe.

I went to the hospital yesterday and saw a lovely doctor and nurse for something important but not life threatening. The corridors I was on were bustling with staff.

To get to the main entrance we walked past A&E and saw people sleeping on the floor in sleeping bags, and the A&E wasn't anywhere near full. Something has gone wrong here.
 
Something should be done but I don't know what.

Extra tax that gets funnelled into the NHS? But of course that doesn't address the issues that (i) there aren't enough staff in the NHS and (ii) is the money being spent wisely or is pointless beauracracy eating it up?

Sorry that you had to go through this and I hope the pain eases up soon.
 
As soon as you described your condition I knew it was a prolapsed disc, I’m not been funny when I had mine done they said if I’d had your symptoms it was an immediate A&E visit and would be an operation it can lead to paralysis if the disc is bulging inwards like that. Mine luckily was outwards and just unbelievable sciatica, keep an eye on it mate because I know someone who had this and ended up having an emergency operation. No way you should’ve waited that long but it doesn’t surprise me anymore.
 
Blue Maverick said:
As soon as you described your condition I knew it was a prolapsed disc, I’m not been funny when I had mine done they said if I’d had your symptoms it was an immediate A&E visit and would be an operation it can lead to paralysis if the disc is bulging inwards like that. Mine luckily was outwards and just unbelievable sciatica, keep an eye on it mate because I know someone who had this and ended up having an emergency operation. No way you should’ve waited that long but it doesn’t surprise me anymore.
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Thanks mate. Pain was an 11 out of 10..its down to 7 today,as taking more specific nerve targetting drug. Just saddens me to see it how it was Blue. Hopefully scan soonest and then we will know more.
Doc said the disc or bulge is pushing on sciatic nerve causing the intense pain.
 
St Helens Blue (Exiled) said:
Thanks mate. Pain was an 11 out of 10..its down to 7 today,as taking more specific nerve targetting drug. Just saddens me to see it how it was Blue. Hopefully scan soonest and then we will know more.
Doc said the disc or bulge is pushing on sciatic nerve causing the intense pain.
Click to expand...
Ye it will be but the losing feeling in your leg and trouble peeing are massive warnings signs I got told not to fuck about if that happened, hopefully it will be similar to what I had or lesser.
 
After today's escapade, I think the NHS couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery
Come in whenever you're passing for an ECG. Cardiology will have a record of you requiring one
Meanwhile, a letter arrives for an ECG appointment at a different hospital
Two days later, original hospital phone call to say come in for a new MRSA swab and an ECG. What about the appointment letter! Oooh, didn't know about that. We'll cancel it and book you an appointment here when you have your swab and the appointment on the letter will be cancelled
Today, swab taken, now go to cardiology for your ECG, but not sure you have an appointment
No appointment had been made. I explain the situation and I'm looked at like I was lying to them. But Cardiology tell me I've got an echo test booked for August which I had no idea about. Begrudgingly, as I'm there, they can fit me in for an ECG
Two hours of waiting later, I tell them I'll make an appointment to come back. Can I do it the same day and around the same time as my Echo? The same receptionist asks me "why am I there?" and looks at me like I've just asked for the world
A whole morning to have a cotton bud shoved round my goolies
 
Not me but a close family member

1st July
what had been thought to be a stiff neck for about a fortnight went from 2/10 pain to 10/10 ice cold stabbing pain in shoulder blade, radiating down the arm into the fingers which felt numb, went to A&E 3.30am
Given codeine by triage nurse
Saw doctor at 5.45am bloods taken. Asked for stronger painkillers as codeine had no effect.
7.00am Given oramorph, which also had no effect
7.20am Xray
9.15am saw second doctor bloods and xray clear.
10.10 doctor says current thinking is frozen shoulder. Waiting to see orthopaedic specialist Asked again for stronger painkillers.
10.45 Saw orthopaedic doctor He said he would talk to shoulder specialist in team meeting at 5.00pm ( no feedback received) and said he would prescribe stronger painkiller.
11.30 checked with reception. No painkillers prescribed
12.00pm codeine given, no effect.
12.00pm Saw physio who did some movement exercises. Made pain worse. Physio said to “tell your pain receptors it doesn’t hurt”
1.15pm back in A&E for ECG. Assume all clear as no feedback given.
1.35 discharged. Told they couldn’t give any stronger painkillers. Told to call GP or phone 111 if needed.
4.20pm called doctors
6.15 approximately doctors phoned back with prescription for Tramadol and Amitryptaline. Also arranged ultrasound on shoulder

2 July
Some concern about Tramadol and existing meds interacting so separate conversation with specialists elsewhere
Pain severity increased
Codeine no effect
Amitryptaline minimal if any effect
Very little sleep and hasn’t eaten for 36 hours
Rang 111 spoke to several people. Suggested taking codeine again.
Specialist confirmed no interaction between Iptakapan and Tramadol
Decided to take Tramadol. Checked with google when this could be safely taken after codeine only to find a minimum 12 hour separation was recommended. No one from the NHS has advised of this. Decided to take paracetamol and ibuprofen for the next few hours although these have had no noticeable effect previously.

3 July
1.45am took 1 Tramadol helped a little
Slept for about 4 hours
7.45 took 2 Tramadol little effect
11.00 text message appointment for 15/07/25 at trauma and orthopaedic stepping hill
12.30 contacted GP referred to Master Call 9.00pm appointment
14.30 took 2 Tramadol no effect
21.00 doctor at Master Call diagnosed Pleurisy and referred to hospital.
22.15 arrived wythenshawe A&E
23.20 doctor says not pleurisy. Diagnosed as trapped or compressed nerve caused by slipped disk in neck.
23.25 oramorf given blood taken
23.55 chest xray

4 July
5.00 approximately examined by different doctor. Herniated disc in the neck diagnosed. Told no further treatment under A&E. Referred back to GP. Prescription for Oramorf given. Doseage of Amitryptaline increased to 20mg once per day. Told Only treatment is physio.
Discharged
Pain at this stage is fluctuating between 8/10 and 10/10

8 July
Specialist clinic for other condition. Doctor also carried out assessment of pain from shoulder and agreed that it seemed likely to be herniated disk trapping a nerve. Suggested MRI scan would confirm.
Advised he would write to GP with that recommendation

9 July
Pain reduced and now mainly in the arm. No morphine needed until early hours of 10th.
Ultrasound - doctor confused as to why. Said MRI scan is needed. Ultrasound showed nothing

10 July
Filled in form online for GP appointment.
Response from GP surgery was to offer physio appointment on 16th. Said they cannot refer for MRI scan
Requested face to face appointment
Appointment made for 11 July

11 July
Saw GP no examination
He phoned orthopaedic at stepping hill. "Only they can authorise MRI scan"
Waited for 45 minutes. Doctor hasn’t got through yet. Went home to await phone call
Doctor phoned 10.30. Spoken to hospital who said nothing they were prepared to do before appointment on 15th at orthopaedic.

15 July
Saw Doctor who examined and agreed it was likely a slipped disc trapping a nerve
Will refer for MRI scan. Likely to be 2 weeks. Advised that the acute pain usually settles down in 4-6 weeks
Post MRI likely to be seen by neck specialist.

So another 2 weeks minimum of intense pain, treated by self administered morphine and NSAID's

Apologies for the length of this, I've condensed it as much as I could :/
 
My partner got a letter for an appointment in July. Checks the date and it's a Sunday. Re-read the letter and it's for July 2026!!
 
St Helens Blue (Exiled) said:
Having worked in the public sector for 27 years I just wanted to post about my experience at Whiston hospital. My back went last week and so my gp referred me for an urgent MRI scan. Overnight this Monday to Tuesday I lost feeling in my leg so doctor advised me to go to A and E. I wish I hadn't. Mrs dropped me at 1245pm yesterday afternoon. As I walked in I have never in my life seen it so full. They were queuing out of the door. I sat down in absolute agony and was triaged at 1435hrs. Nurse said I should be seen by a doctor within 6hrs which I thought was ok. Sat back down and wasn't spoken to until I had my b.p taken at 1500hrs in the seating area.The nursing assistant offered me drugs which never came. At 2100hrs a senior nurse on nights came out and said there were 195 persons in A and E, 65 awaiting beds, 95 awaiting a doctor and the rest minors which can be treated by a nurse. There was 2 doctors on duty!!! They asked people to go home. I refused as I had lost feeling in my left leg and was struggling to piss. I got called at 2110hrs and thought I was being seen. How wrong I was. I hobbled through to see elderly people in corridors who looked so ill on beds, seriously ill etc. I asked myself what has this NHS become? People potentially dying in corridors
.WTF
I sat down and was left until 0300hrs When I was given morphine as I was pretty much in tears with the pain on the floor. Eventually a loveley doctor saw me at 0515hrs today. At 1st they believed it may be cauda equina syndrome but luckily tests proved it appears to be a prolapsed/bulging disc. Finally got home at 0630hrs today.
Now I know public services are stretched but what I witnessed was quite horrific.
Apparently it is only going to get worse. There were more police officers in hospital cuffed to prisoners than doctors. How the fuck is that happening. How anyone would want to work in the NHS is beyond me but respect to anyone who does. Personally. I wish it was like America where we all pay.
Click to expand...
That’s been normal f o r years mate.
I’m retired from nhs but can remember 30/ 40 years ago that this was a time bomb waiting to happen.
They reduced nursing schools for one part when they knew there was also going to be a mass reduction in experienced staff leaving . They paid a large number of staff poorly for years and played catch up ever since.society in general never realised the ever increasing pressures put on staff and how it affects them and the system as a whole. The hospitals take the brunt of it being available 24/7.nobody is turned away. All services pass the responsibility back on to hospital in fear of making a decision which can sometimes be wrong and they get hammered for it. Many people abuse the system and many should be either using other services or self managing.
There is probably quite a bit of money wasted but not always easy to sort
As an aside I think we have too many people in the country for service’s available and need to ensure that’s Jose coming in add to system rather than just milk it further. Also there are many wasters in uk who are in it for themselves and cost a lot of resources but not sure there’s much that can be done to add to society in general in a positive way. We all could pay more money but it seems like a bottomless pit.
There is lots to like re nhs over American system though so probably better with the devil we know.
Hope you get better soon as have had similar back ops.mine was in part caused by working in nhs when health and safety of staff was less in vogue
 
I have always had amazing service from the NHS.
I have suffered from skin cancer since 1985 when I had the first lot cut out and replaced by a 6"×6" skin graft. 5 years ago some cut out of my head.

But now I have a new 'mole' which is growing and now itchy, red and scabby and sore.
The doctor said she would book me in as an emergency due to my history. 4 weeks later I still hadn't heard anything so phoned the doctors again to be told I wouldn't be seen till September.
This freaked me out so I phoned the cancer support team. They said phone the doctors again and tell them to use the 'pathway'.
I did this on Friday and the doctors said he would.
I'm still waiting for an appointment and I won't lie I'm getting worried now as this 'mole' as its sore to just have clothing against it. It seems very much like the melanoma back in 1985 but hasn't got the black centre yet.

Hopefully I get an appointment soon
 
St Helens Blue (Exiled) said:
Personally. I wish it was like America where we all pay.
Click to expand...
If you get cancer and a bill for hundreds of thousands for scans and treatment with insurance refusing to pay you'd lose your house and everything.

If you're rich it's fine. NHS has been run down for a reason so people want it to collapse for the American system of massive profits.
 
give it to gordon said:
I have always had amazing service from the NHS.
I have suffered from skin cancer since 1985 when I had the first lot cut out and replaced by a 6"×6" skin graft. 5 years ago some cut out of my head.

But now I have a new 'mole' which is growing and now itchy, red and scabby and sore.
The doctor said she would book me in as an emergency due to my history. 4 weeks later I still hadn't heard anything so phoned the doctors again to be told I wouldn't be seen till September.
This freaked me out so I phoned the cancer support team. They said phone the doctors again and tell them to use the 'pathway'.
I did this on Friday and the doctors said he would.
I'm still waiting for an appointment and I won't lie I'm getting worried now as this 'mole' as its sore to just have clothing against it. It seems very much like the melanoma back in 1985 but hasn't got the black centre yet.

Hopefully I get an appointment soon
Click to expand...


I hope you get sorted mate it sounds like a real worry.
 
mancityvstoke said:
If you get cancer and a bill for hundreds of thousands for scans and treatment with insurance refusing to pay you'd lose your house and everything.

If you're rich it's fine. NHS has been run down for a reason so people want it to collapse for the American system of massive profits.
Click to expand...

Private healthcare can be like they have in Germany which was/is an excellent service and does cater for the people who can't afford it.

We spend a metric shit ton on the NHS and we employ a veritable army of people, the problem is that the pace is incredibly pedestrian and inefficient.

That needs to change before anything else does.
 
mexico1970 said:
Private healthcare can be like they have in Germany which was/is an excellent service and does cater for the people who can't afford it.

We spend a metric shit ton on the NHS and we employ a veritable army of people, the problem is that the pace is incredibly pedestrian and inefficient.

That needs to change before anything else does.
Click to expand...
You're right something needs to change but not charging people who have cancer hundreds of thousands . Who can afford it is a very broad question and if you have a house to sell that may make you able to "afford it"

It's a worrying phase in our health care system that has been purposely destroyed.
 
mancityvstoke said:
Try ringing the GP....receptionist says ...go to walk in centre as we have no appts for two weeks.
Click to expand...
Of course but why do people go to A&E instead ?
My Son works in A&E at the Children's Hospital in Birmingham & you wouldn't believe what people bring their Children in for
 
mancityvstoke said:
You're right something needs to change but not charging people who have cancer hundreds of thousands . Who can afford it is a very broad question and if you have a house to sell that may make you able to "afford it"

It's a worrying phase in our health care system that has been purposely destroyed.
Click to expand...

Absolutely they shouldn't mate, they shouldn't charge anyone that amount. The answer can't be and shouldn't be shovelling money down its throat and watch it shit it out faster than you shovel.

We can't address it if people have still got the bang pans on the doorstep attitude and we can't change it if we don't fight the militancy within the NHS if we do try to change it.
 
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