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Colchester Hospital
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What on earth is going on here ? This Hospital has barely been out of the news all year, all for the wrong reasons. Now operations have been cancelled and patients have been sent home. Are there any AB'ers that live locally ?
What on earth is going on here ? This Hospital has barely been out of the news all year, all for the wrong reasons. Now operations have been cancelled and patients have been sent home. Are there any AB'ers that live locally ?
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This might be a good place to start:
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A general observation rather than an explanation for Colchester, but after after more than thirty years of working for the NHS, I still maintain interest and contacts with those on the front line.
I have never known the NHS to be under such pressure in so many areas, and I fear that episodes like this will become more common.
I have never known the NHS to be under such pressure in so many areas, and I fear that episodes like this will become more common.
Interesting Slaney...thanks.
The big sea change seems to be that huge numbers of people are now treating Casualty as their Doctors waiting room. My own Doc has recently started a complicated appointment scheme, where I have had to wait 3 and even 4 days to see my GP. Is it any wonder that people are putting the phone down and going to Casualty instead ?
I was hoping that some ABers had personal experience of Colchester Hospital.
The big sea change seems to be that huge numbers of people are now treating Casualty as their Doctors waiting room. My own Doc has recently started a complicated appointment scheme, where I have had to wait 3 and even 4 days to see my GP. Is it any wonder that people are putting the phone down and going to Casualty instead ?
I was hoping that some ABers had personal experience of Colchester Hospital.
Wolfie...clearly unacceptable I would have thought.
The way my Surgery works is like this. You start ringing from 07:30 on a Monday morning. You will probably get the engaged signal until, perhaps 08:30 and then all the appointment slots have gone. You repeat this every morning until you are lucky. Normally for me its about Wednesday, that I am successful. I can make an afternoon appointment, with my choice of GP but this may not be for 4-5 weeks. If its not urgent and I just want to see him for my annual Diabetes check, than that OK.
But most times when we want to see a GP, we, at least, think that it is urgent and a wait of a few days just isn't acceptable.
I don't blame my own Doctor for this at all...its just that the Surgery is very popular, perhaps too popular for its own good. I know that they are trying to recruit a 4th GP to the practise.
The way my Surgery works is like this. You start ringing from 07:30 on a Monday morning. You will probably get the engaged signal until, perhaps 08:30 and then all the appointment slots have gone. You repeat this every morning until you are lucky. Normally for me its about Wednesday, that I am successful. I can make an afternoon appointment, with my choice of GP but this may not be for 4-5 weeks. If its not urgent and I just want to see him for my annual Diabetes check, than that OK.
But most times when we want to see a GP, we, at least, think that it is urgent and a wait of a few days just isn't acceptable.
I don't blame my own Doctor for this at all...its just that the Surgery is very popular, perhaps too popular for its own good. I know that they are trying to recruit a 4th GP to the practise.
These problems with the NHS are not just a recent symptom of malaise, but have been present and deteriorating for the past 30-40 years and have been highlighted by many NHS professionals.
However to openly critisise "our " NHS has been tantamount to treason and to suggest that it is not the "envy of the world", has been unthinkable.
slaney is correct....Colchester is the "tip of the iceberg."
However to openly critisise "our " NHS has been tantamount to treason and to suggest that it is not the "envy of the world", has been unthinkable.
slaney is correct....Colchester is the "tip of the iceberg."
Morning Sqad ! Yes, you are right of course. But the NHS may be in a mess but at least we have it. Some friends in the States have just had their 1st baby and within a few hours, it started to turn blue. Very quickly they diagnose the he had heart transposition, with all the bits connected the wrong way.
He has now had all that sorted out and has had a heart pacemaker fitted. He is in Pittsburgh now but they are hoping that he will be transferred to the Boston Children's Hospital, as soon as he well enough. I understand that this is probably the best childrens hospital in the world
My friends have health insurance, which is very reassuring, as this treatment would cost them over a $million if they didn't.
My point in telling this story is that what would happen in Britain if we had the same type of health arrangements here ? As you know, my brother had a serious head injury nearly two years ago and he has made a 95% recovery. When he needed the really high-end care and treatment, he got it and I doubt if it could have been any better. But his after care and rehab wasn't very good at all.
So what would we do if we didn't have the NHS ? What would happen to my American friends little boy, if he came from a poor, out of work family ?
He has now had all that sorted out and has had a heart pacemaker fitted. He is in Pittsburgh now but they are hoping that he will be transferred to the Boston Children's Hospital, as soon as he well enough. I understand that this is probably the best childrens hospital in the world
My friends have health insurance, which is very reassuring, as this treatment would cost them over a $million if they didn't.
My point in telling this story is that what would happen in Britain if we had the same type of health arrangements here ? As you know, my brother had a serious head injury nearly two years ago and he has made a 95% recovery. When he needed the really high-end care and treatment, he got it and I doubt if it could have been any better. But his after care and rehab wasn't very good at all.
So what would we do if we didn't have the NHS ? What would happen to my American friends little boy, if he came from a poor, out of work family ?
I don't know the answer but every time I have gone to the GP in the last 3 years I have seen a different locum. No continuity whatsoever. As for hospitals I think a contributory factor is we are so inundated with health warnings (eg a 3 week cough, blood in pee, it could be cancer) that many people are terrified into rushing to A&E rather than see a GP first because that can be hard to get an appointment. Even on this site countless times I've seen people advised to go A&E with bruises, temperatures, throwing up, general aches and pains, the whole health system is at busting point.
mikey......you, like others "muddy" the water, by comparing State funding with private funding.
That isn't the point.
The point seems to be, what can we do to improve the efficiency of State aided medicine and quite frankly, i cannot now see an answer.....all too late. It is like a giant oil tanker on collision course with another ship 30 miles away, but our "tanker" is such a monstrosity that it cannot turn in time and a collision is inevitable.
prudie is spot on.. 45 years ago any doctor who did his 6 month casualty stint would have told you that A&E was being abused. Casualty offocers who complained were labelled "trouble makers" and given no support by administration and i hate to say,Consultants.
Hospital diagnosis and treatment has erupted over the past two or three decades and what has happened? Money has been poured into GP's and primary Care to please the electorate.
That is a disadvantage of State medicine .........it is Politically controlled.
How do we get out of this? We don't, the cracks will be papered over.
That isn't the point.
The point seems to be, what can we do to improve the efficiency of State aided medicine and quite frankly, i cannot now see an answer.....all too late. It is like a giant oil tanker on collision course with another ship 30 miles away, but our "tanker" is such a monstrosity that it cannot turn in time and a collision is inevitable.
prudie is spot on.. 45 years ago any doctor who did his 6 month casualty stint would have told you that A&E was being abused. Casualty offocers who complained were labelled "trouble makers" and given no support by administration and i hate to say,Consultants.
Hospital diagnosis and treatment has erupted over the past two or three decades and what has happened? Money has been poured into GP's and primary Care to please the electorate.
That is a disadvantage of State medicine .........it is Politically controlled.
How do we get out of this? We don't, the cracks will be papered over.
Sqad, these days the only people who use the words "NHS" and "envy of the world" in the same breath are it's detractors.
It doesn't do badly as you know, in international league tables , but how long that state of affairs will last, who knows.
http://
It doesn't do badly as you know, in international league tables , but how long that state of affairs will last, who knows.
http://
The problems in the NHS are not helped by increasing population and can only get worse as more people inhabit this island. There's only a finite amount of money that can be put into the system and amount of people who can be trained to 'serve' but not enough in time to ease the situation now when it's needed most. As said, many people are not treating A&E as it's meant to be used, so that's overloading the system too. If we didn't have the ever burgeoning population growth I'm of the opinion the NHS might just cope.
So what is the ideal answer then Sqad ? Suppose you could wave your magic stethoscope, what should be done in Britain to make our health system work properly? Suppose that all the politicians were to promise to listen to the advice that Dr Sqad, what would you say ?
The American system can hardly be held up as a shining example of public health care, if so many people are disenfranchised.
The American system can hardly be held up as a shining example of public health care, if so many people are disenfranchised.
Well said Sqad and like you I think it's all too late, the rot set in ages ago. With state health needs IMO it should never be politically controlled but that's not going to change now either. They should have listened to those who know what was and is wanted.....but 'they' never will when it comes to winning votes! The NHS should not be a political pawn which it has now turned into and too late to do anything viable with. Population growth as I said will just add to the problems and the spiral downwards will gather pace afaic.
mikey...it would take too long to describe Health Care under sqad.......but it would be unrecognisable and totally unacceptable to the Public Sector of the NHS, so I will desist.
slaney
\\\\Sqad, these days the only people who use the words "NHS" and "envy of the world" in the same breath are it's detractors. \\\\
Quite, but the protagonists, particularly left wing Politicians didn't hold back in the 80's and 90's so why shouldn't the antagonists now have their opinion publicised?
slaney
\\\\Sqad, these days the only people who use the words "NHS" and "envy of the world" in the same breath are it's detractors. \\\\
Quite, but the protagonists, particularly left wing Politicians didn't hold back in the 80's and 90's so why shouldn't the antagonists now have their opinion publicised?
I can only judge by experience, but I will say that Carakeels recent stay in Hereford County hospital for 10 days for her total knee replacement was nothing short of excellent, the cost of the components alone was well in excess of £25.000, that is before the costs of medication and staffing etc. The staff were fantastic an tended her every need. We have no complaints at all.
Ok so the food was dire!!!
The problem is, no one ever shouts about all the really good services and good outcomes, just the bad ones!!
If CQC had thought the place was excellent would we have read about it anywhere, No. We just love all the negative and bad news!!
Clearly this place had big issues that need addressing but not all is bad with our hospitals or our NHS system as some would have you believe.
Ok so the food was dire!!!
The problem is, no one ever shouts about all the really good services and good outcomes, just the bad ones!!
If CQC had thought the place was excellent would we have read about it anywhere, No. We just love all the negative and bad news!!
Clearly this place had big issues that need addressing but not all is bad with our hospitals or our NHS system as some would have you believe.
slaney...I think that you now them............but I will take the bait.
GP's are GROSSLY overpaid and the importance of Primary Care has been misdirected. The main function of a GP is to see a patient and decide if hospital referral is necessary both for treatment and investigation. This is not happening at the moment, because the GP "holds back" knowing that the hospital is under pressure and waiting times would increase. Bad for the Politicians.GP's NOT paid extra for blood tests, routine checks, minor surgery or obstetric care.........this should be a part of their job.
No GP house calls and ALL GP surgeries attached to hospitals providing a 24 hour cover by the GP's themselves.
slaney ..that is just GP,s..........other ideas I can't be bothered to announce...sorry.
GP's are GROSSLY overpaid and the importance of Primary Care has been misdirected. The main function of a GP is to see a patient and decide if hospital referral is necessary both for treatment and investigation. This is not happening at the moment, because the GP "holds back" knowing that the hospital is under pressure and waiting times would increase. Bad for the Politicians.GP's NOT paid extra for blood tests, routine checks, minor surgery or obstetric care.........this should be a part of their job.
No GP house calls and ALL GP surgeries attached to hospitals providing a 24 hour cover by the GP's themselves.
slaney ..that is just GP,s..........other ideas I can't be bothered to announce...sorry.
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