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[omega3000]

I fail to see how £13billion a year paid to the EU would not make any difference if given to funding the NHS 

[Taxi_Driver]

I'm not so sure it's as bad as the media make out, TBH (apart from all the waste).

My doctor's surgery irritate me because they won't allow me to book non-urgent visits to my GP in advance. If I phone them, they insist on giving me an appointment later that day or next day, when there's insufficient notice to arrange work commitments around it.

Pharmacies are taking an increasing workload from the NHS. My local chemist has offered me NHS flu jabs while I've been collecting prescriptions the last couple of winters, saving an appointment at the surgery, and they can now carry out reviews for certain conditions, again, saving an appointment at the surgery.

I agree that those who are no-shows at surgeries, or present for time-wasting reasons, should pay a penalty. It should be free at the point of use to those who don't waste resources, however.

Both of my parents have had episodes requiring surgery in the last 3 months. In my Dad's case it was not life threatening but completely debilitating. He was operated on the day after presenting himself at casualty. In my Mum's case it was potentially cancer (but thankfully didn't turn out that way) and she got various scans, a biopsy then straight into Guy's for a major operation within a couple of weeks.

I don't doubt that some are failed by the NHS, but I've yet to personally experience care that could be improved in any way, TBH.

It does come at an enormous cost, of course, and, like most things in the public sector, the government risk a huge revolt if they dare to try to make it more efficient.

And they also go the other way...of being unhelpful and then cost the nhs more....

Example....im diabetic....every pharmacy ive been too....asking for 'whatever' ....then ask me if im diabetic...when I reply yes.....refuse to sell me anything and refer me to docs surgery....

Result....I was prepared to buy the item off the pharmacy....my surgery writes a script for the same thing and as im diabetic I get it free!!

[05omegav6]

I fail to see how £13billion a year paid to the EU would not make any difference if given to funding the NHS 

The NHS treats a million people every 36 hours, that's 243333334 people each year

£13 billion equates to £53 per NHS patient. Doubt it would go very far...

[The Sheriff]

243 million? There are only 70 million people in the UK and I haven't seen a doctor in ages. Who's getting my share? I should be able to save up all my appointments and be seen immediately when I am ill.

[The Red Baron]

My dad had to be rushed in on Sunday. Ambulance called at 12.45 ,didn't get to him until 3.45. Bloody hospital only a mile away. That was Blackpool Victoria.

[05omegav6]

My dad had to be rushed in on Sunday. Ambulance called at 12.45 ,didn't get to him until 3.45. Bloody hospital only a mile away. That was Blackpool Victoria.

Sorry to hear that How is he doing?

Does raise the question as to why he wasn't taken there rather than waiting three hours...

I understand there might be very good reasons why not, and mean nothing by it, merely asking the question.

[Rods2]

According to the BBC a major reason for the A&E crisis is that patients are complaining they can't get an appointment at their local GP, so go to A&E instead!

Labour renegotiated about 10 years ago a new contract with GP's it doubled their wages from about £100k to £200k and relieving them of working out of hours. The other side of the coin was that in return, they would take much more of the workload including minor ops to make regular NHS crises much less likely. Obviously, it is working well. 

[Varche]

According to the BBC a major reason for the A&E crisis is that patients are complaining they can't get an appointment at their local GP, so go to A&E instead!

Labour renegotiated about 10 years ago a new contract with GP's it doubled their wages from about £100k to £200k and relieving them of working out of hours. The other side of the coin was that in return, they would take much more of the workload including minor ops to make regular NHS crises much less likely. Obviously, it is working well. 

I am not sure that is a fair critique of GP's from my experience. We have two elderly relatives in difficulties at the moment. One was visited out of hours to make an assessment (care home or continue at his home with carers) . The GP then called after the visit to give their prognosis including recommending a specific care home that would suit his needs.

We are able as next of kin to have Email discussions about these relatives. Often quite detailed.

The other person , the GP took time out and made an appointment to ring us to discuss in length their situation - after hours   

I think people overlook three basic givens

1. There are more people in the UK.
2. More of those people are living longer and throwing up auxilliary health problems that wouldn't have been there twenty years ago (that age group would have been dead then)
3. Social Services has been slashed despite and ever increasing number of olds that need their care.

Interestingly Holland has initiated "care in your family" policies. In other words YOU will be responsible for looking after your parents , aunts etc when they need care. God help the UK if Cameron   Boris Johnson latches onto it and initiates that in the UK. Great money saver!!

Like I said at the beginning the whole NHS needs a root and branch reform and charging brought in (with auto debits from your bank acct for missed appointments for example). Will any government do it? No, four yearism.

[AndyRoid]

£300 for an op?  Assuming that includes diagnostic procedures I'd have elected to carry on sh.. pooping blood & blood clots rather than pay that to have a camera stuffed up there which (so far) has ultimately told me nothing is wrong (except the obvious that there's clearly no medical cause for… hmm!)

Or I'd have gone private and paid my £100 excess

Did you opt for sedation when they did that or have it done "as is"?
If the latter, you need to become an MP or a priest 

[aaronjb]

They gave me 2mg of something, but given how everyone described the sedation to me I'm not convinced it did a lot! I felt completely normal, not even like I'd had a drink..

It wasn't too bad except when she was trying to navigate around the bends...

[Kevin Wood]

And they also go the other way...of being unhelpful and then cost the nhs more....

Example....im diabetic....every pharmacy ive been too....asking for 'whatever' ....then ask me if im diabetic...when I reply yes.....refuse to sell me anything and refer me to docs surgery....

Result....I was prepared to buy the item off the pharmacy....my surgery writes a script for the same thing and as im diabetic I get it free!!

There was a chemist near my office who was like that. Went out of business in the end.

He always gave me the Spanish inquisition when I picked up a prescription, as if the docs wouldn't have told me what it was for, how it worked and how much to take when, what side effects to expect, etc. Just the sort of nonsense you want to spend half your lunch hour hearing when you're picking up a prescription you've been on for 30 years.

Anyway, I was moaning to a female colleague about this once. Her response "You don't ever have to go there and buy a box of Tampons".