Not diabetes related - just a general moan about the postcode (health) lottery

[Deb_l]

Not me, my friend's mum. They live in South West Scotland and she has been on the cataract surgery waiting list for nearly 18 months now, which is ridiculous. It's seriously life affecting and is stopping her driving and doing normal day to day activities, which is horrendously sad.

Meanwhile, back in Barnsley (with me). I was referred for my cataract surgery at the end of April 2024 and by the second week in May 2024 I had the surgery - just 4 weeks later!

Believe me, I'm not complaining about my treatment - that was outstanding. It should however be the same for everyone, regardless of postcode. They say it's better to have your health than wealth. What a load of tosh. In this instance, money would buy the health she so desperately needs to live a normal life again.

 

[rebrascora]

That is really sad for her. Has she tied chasing it up? I do feel that we need to advocate strongly for ourselves these days with the NHS.
Getting in touch with her local MP might also shine a light on the issue especially when others in different areas of the country are getting vastly improved treatment times and perhaps get things into gear for her.

 

[Deb_l]

That is really sad for her. Has she tied chasing it up? I do feel that we need to advocate strongly for ourselves these days with the NHS.
Getting in touch with her local MP might also shine a light on the issue especially when others in different areas of the country are getting vastly improved treatment times and perhaps get things into gear for her.

Her daughter (my friend) was going to chase them again this week to find out where she was on the list. It's so rubbish that a once very independent woman is now virtually housebound and can only go out if accompanied

 

[p4ul]

I'm in despair at the state of the NHS. The amount of money that is pumped into it, and we see a deterioration in quality of care year after year after year.

I've been unfortunate enough to have to engage with the NHS recently and have been frustrated at every turn. Today, my GP won't prescribe a drug requested (in writing) by my cardiologist because “he doesn't agree”.

And at some point, someone ought to address the elephant in the room. It's not just the system; many of the people employed by the NHS just don't care either.

Maybe it's controversial, but a system that is supposedly the envy of the world has never been replicated, anywhere, ever.

Yours faithfully,

Frustrated of Tunbridge Wells

 

[saffron15]

It is an op in my area of England, where lots of private clinics have sprung up. Friends have been dealt with in under a month. I was put down for an op by my optician in February 2024. I've been shortsighted from childhood though glasses free in my twenties. I had to go back to optician in February as glasses prescribed in the November not strong enough. I suspect undiagnosed diabetes may have contributed but she said my cataracts ( which I knew about )had made me appear more short sighted I was seen by the hospital end of August and had first op end of October.

In 2006 I had my first attack of uveitis an autoimmune condition. Each time it happens I have steroid eye drops. Eventually both pupils stuck down and when ten years ago I asked about it the consultant said they would be done when I had cataract ops. Because the procedure would be done immediately after cataract it makes op more complicated and longer. In fact when I had the second op the surgeon intended to let a less experienced surgeon do it under his tutelage but he changed his mind.



Whilst waiting to be seen I was diagnosed with diabetes and passed a DVLA eyetest. The surgeon had wanted second op to be 6 weeks later but I had a flare of uveitis and a macular oedema. Private clinics don't want patients like me.

I'm pleased to say I got new glasses a few weeks ago and can see well. My prescription has reduced a lot. Not sure how much is cataracts and if anything may have been undiagnosed diabetes.

It seems to be a quick cost effective op as people can thrive after it.

 

[Leadinglights]

I'm in despair at the state of the NHS. The amount of money that is pumped into it, and we see a deterioration in quality of care year after year after year.

I've been unfortunate enough to have to engage with the NHS recently and have been frustrated at every turn. Today, my GP won't prescribe a drug requested (in writing) by my cardiologist because “he doesn't agree”.

And at some point, someone ought to address the elephant in the room. It's not just the system; many of the people employed by the NHS just don't care either.

Maybe it's controversial, but a system that is supposedly the envy of the world has never been replicated, anywhere, ever.

Yours faithfully,

Frustrated of Tunbridge Wells

I think they do care but are also frustrated by the system.
The whole health and social care system needs a new way of looking at it but unfortunately that would mean people would have to pay a lot more in their taxes. It was never designed to do what people now expect of it for free.

 

[saffron15]

I am a pensioner on a relatively low income but do have savings. I think pensioners should pay the equivalent of national insurance. I assume very poorest wouldn't but we are an age group who now need medical services. Between 21 and 41 I only went to the Doctor twice. I am happy to contribute on basis if another person has complicated health needs we all share in the cost.

 

[Martin.A]

Maybe less to do with postcodes and more to do with the NHS in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland being the responsibility of the devolved administrations? Either way I agree that treatment shouldn't depend on where you live.

 

[debs248]

Leaving aside issues of funding, if it's a National Health Service, we shouldn't be seeing these huge regional variations in access to treatment. It seems incredibly unfair to have to wait years for something a friend or relative 100 miles away can have sorted in weeks.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about the delays in your friend’s mum’s treatment @Deb_l

Glad your appointment and op came through so speedily!

 

[Felinia]

I'm in Devon. My friend waited 2 years for her 1st knee replacement, and was told whe would get the 2nd in 3 months. After 3 months she was called for her pre-op assessment. 6 months later, still no operation, the assessment has run out, and she was told - "we don't know when". Contrast that with me. I saw my GP with a suspicious leg lesion on the Monday, saw a Consultant the same week at 7.30pm, and had it removed the following Wednesday - 10 days from start to finish. All courtesy of the NHS. My cousin in Hampshire was told there was an 18 month wait to see the Consultant about his suspicious lump, so he went private. He was operated on 4 weeks later. We were both benign I'm pleased to say.
So it's not just a county wide lottery, it's a lottery within the county. I was the lucky one.

 

[silver minion]

Her daughter (my friend) was going to chase them again this week to find out where she was on the list. It's so rubbish that a once very independent woman is now virtually housebound and can only go out if accompanied

I have only just been referred for cataract removal. I received a letter by email from my doctor confirming they had sent a referral to the local hub in Lincolnshire who assess you and presumably book the surgery. I now have to wait for them to contact me and cannot chase it up until mid August if I haven't heard from them. Fingers crossed it won't be too long. Not being able to drive is already getting a bit tedious.
I hope your friend's mum has her surgery soon. I agree that 18 months delay is really not acceptable for a routine procedure.

 

[Leadinglights]

I am a pensioner on a relatively low income but do have savings. I think pensioners should pay the equivalent of national insurance. I assume very poorest wouldn't but we are an age group who now need medical services. Between 21 and 41 I only went to the Doctor twice. I am happy to contribute on basis if another person has complicated health needs we all share in the cost.

Years ago there was at least 4 working people for every pensioner, now it is more like 2.

 

[CliffH]

'm in despair at the state of the NHS. The amount of money that is pumped into it, and we see a deterioration in quality of care year after year after year.

I've been unfortunate enough to have to engage with the NHS recently and have been frustrated at every turn. Today, my GP won't prescribe a drug requested (in writing) by my cardiologist because “he doesn't agree”.

And at some point, someone ought to address the elephant in the room. It's not just the system; many of the people employed by the NHS just don't care either.

Maybe it's controversial, but a system that is supposedly the envy of the world has never been replicated, anywhere, ever.

Yours faithfully,

Frustrated of Tunbridge Wells

I worked in the NHS for many years and came across thousands of people who cared enormously - often doing lots of unpaid overtime. Unfortunately I also saw some of those people burn out and leave the NHS because of the insatiable demand.

I think the primary issue is that we have much higher health expectations nowadays than when the NHS was designed and started. For example, my mother's nearly 89 and has several significant health conditions. She wouldn't still be alive if it weren't for the excellent care that she receives (at great cost to the public purse) from different NHS departments.

Also, we have lots of conditions (including many psychological health conditions) that either weren't recognised at all in 1948 or that were anticipated to take up only a tiny percentage of the NHS' budget.

 

[Deb_l]

I worked in the NHS for many years and came across thousands of people who cared enormously - often doing lots of unpaid overtime. Unfortunately I also saw some of those people burn out and leave the NHS because of the insatiable demand.

I think the primary issue is that we have much higher health expectations nowadays than when the NHS was designed and started. For example, my mother's nearly 89 and has several significant health conditions. She wouldn't still be alive if it weren't for the excellent care that she receives (at great cost to the public purse) from different NHS departments.

Also, we have lots of conditions (including many psychological health conditions) that either weren't recognised at all in 1948 or that were anticipated to take up only a tiny percentage of the NHS' budget.

Yes, I would absolutely have to agree. My mum will be 94 this year and has had a couple of recent 'episodes' which resulted in short-term hospital stays. Never once was she fobbed off as being too elderly for treatment and has had brain scans, x-rays, ultrasounds etc.

Funnily enough, I've just been talking to my neighbour about his knee replacement. He's on a waiting list for that. He's in his 80's and I know he's fairly wealthy because he's told me as much. I've just said to him, why wait???? Just pay for it!! Yes, 12k is a lot of money but if it buys you a VERY good quality of life for the rest of your life (which frankly isn't long at 80), then what are you waiting for??? I didn't put it quite that bluntly to him 😉

 

[Martin.A]

Leaving aside issues of funding, if it's a National Health Service, we shouldn't be seeing these huge regional variations in access to treatment. It seems incredibly unfair to have to wait years for something a friend or relative 100 miles away can have sorted in weeks.

I agree, though only a week ago an article in The Scotsman claimed that "the current system of delivering health care and social care in Scotland is unsustainable, often stretched beyond capacity, overly complicated, difficult to navigate, often inefficient”.

 

[CliffH]

I agree, though only a week ago an article in The Scotsman claimed that "the current system of delivering health care and social care in Scotland is unsustainable, often stretched beyond capacity, overly complicated, difficult to navigate, often inefficient”.

A key difference is that all NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland

 

[Martin.A]

A key difference is that all NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland

As they are in Wales and Northern Ireland?

 

[CliffH]

As they are in Wales and Northern Ireland?

Are they? I don't know, I'm afraid.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

I can understand NHS staff burnout, @CliffH.

I had a Urology app't this morning at the Royal Berks Hospital in Reading. I've only been there once before. The waiting area was small, cramped and very busy. Thurs and Fri are the weekly repeat days for the Urology "One Stop" consultations, bringing a lot of extra patients, potentially thee for a series of tests across up to 4 hr duration. These extra patients are amidst the steady flow (no pun intended) of outpatient app'ts.

An older lady waiting for her 0920 slot was still there at 10am and her partner/husband decided to loudly and offensively announce to everyone that "it all wasn't good enough", then went and berated the luckless 2x receptionists. Once he'd got centre stage, he was determined to make his point and in doing so not only offended everyone else, but went on and on, repeating himself and preventing the receptionists from investigating his wife' appointment or dealing with others. All most unreasonable. Bearing in mind the current heat wave, the no of people crammed into a limited space and obvious overload of patients, I would struggle to want to come to work in such circumstances.

Of course it wasn't the fault of the Receptionists - the complaining man felt they should have known his wife was still waiting and seemingly lost in the system. No doubt the booking system had tried to squeeze more out of an overcommitted Dep't; and no doubt patients expectations were not at all well managed (if my appointment letter is representative of what to expect). But there would have been considerable justification to my mind if the receptionists had politely but firmly told him to leave. The lady whose app't this was for, was clearly used to this sort of behaviour by him - but I would have been happier if she had looked more contrite or embarrassed by his dreadful behaviour.

Nobody wins: the NHS overload is worsened; even if affordable there are not sensible policing or control arrangements to deal with a belligerent idiot; the experience of other patients is made more stressful by the misbehaviour of one person. It is a mess and I have no obvious solution to suggest that is helpful.