I've just had a thought..

[Scrumpy]

My granddaughter Hattie has been waiting over 4 months to have a very painful wisdom tooth removed.. still waiting.. Marnie, my daughter waited for nearly 2 years to have pain relief for a trapped nerve in her head.. Edna has been waiting over 2 years for an uncomfortable bowel op.. Shaun is still waiting to see a specialist for painful stomach problems.. and.. and.. These are just people I know..
Hattie is having to go private.. The others can not afford to..
Are the government pushing us in a corner  driving us to go private.. ? How long are they going to blame covid for the lack of treatment.. ? Something is going on.. Just a thought..

[klondike]

The two years the NHS became the National Covid Only service resulted in a huge backlog of cases.
https://nhswaitlist.lcp.uk.com/

I saw speculation that there may be tax relief on private healthcare costs which makes a change. When I was employed and got BUPA it was treated as a benefit in kind and reduced my tax code despite it reducing NHS costs when I had private treatment on it. That along with a company car gave me a negative tax code - I owed them money before I got a penny in cash. When I started up as a contractor I felt no guilt at all in paying the absolute minimum in tax and using every avoidance measure I was able to.

[Alex]

My friend has been flat on his back for 3 weeks now, he doesn't know what 's caused this awful pain.  All he's managed to get is a phone appointment with his doctor and a prescription for painkillers.  How can a doctor expect to diagnose without actually seeing the patient  ?
On my surgery website, pre-Covid, you used to be able to book an appointment, there wasn't a lot of choice with regard to dates, times and you couldn't choose a doctor but that didn't matter.  I went on last Friday and the appointment section has been removed.    Repeat prescriptions are still available as are "services" which may require payment !   

[Raven]

My friend has been flat on his back for 3 weeks now, he doesn't know what 's caused this awful pain.  All he's managed to get is a phone appointment with his doctor and a prescription for painkillers.  How can a doctor expect to diagnose without actually seeing the patient ?

That's exactly what happened to me 16 months ago if you remember. I was told I had a pulled muscle in my leg and was sent painkillers that had no effect at all. Several phone calls later and the GP still playing guessing games and I was in agony and furious. I'd been up all night yelping with pain and Himself phoned and got me an emergency appointment with a Chiropractor who told me it was no pulled muscle but something pressing on my Sciatic Nerve. He helped me a lot with only one appointment but it took several to get things sorted, maybe your pal would benefit from seeing a Chiropractor as they deal with all things Back, Neck, legs ect.

https://www.dukehealth.org/blog/should-you-see-chiropractor-back-pain

[crabbyob]

i booked a repeat prescription online last week and got notified they had recieved it, but i heard nowt else, so just to gey me out the house i drove the nine miles to the surgery, traffis was almost at a standstill on the A19, then when i got to the front after about two miles i foun a cyclist taking up his full cars width... no not a lycra encased demi-god, but a pensioner wi a shopping bag on his handlebars. then when i got to the chemists they had no prescription, the doctors was next door, no sign of my online request [please retain the Douglas head not the crabbyob one] it can be ready in 48 hours, i smiled and explained it was a twenty miler round trip to collect it, so she sent the doctor a message [he was next door technology eh?] meanwhile i asked if i could have a record of my FOUR vaccinations printed off [immigration] yes but it needs to be on four seperate sheets...lol... so i got my prescrition and headed home after watching two old men playing on Askern Lake with remote controlled yachts... i soon came up to a long line of traffic, hes done his shopping and is going home i thought...lol... nowt so boreing.. it was a gypo driving a trotting cart pulled by a lovely pinto pony... ffs... lol, to be honest i saw the humour in it and smiled for the five or so miles we followed it before it turned off, it was doing a fair speed, up to twenty in places....
i cant really complain about the NHS, i have had several cancers all dealt with by the NHS, ok the last treatment was delayed almost a year but after the prescribed doses there is no sign of any cancer in the Prostate... go get checked out guys they can check it with a blood test...

[zoony]

Just by chance I have a phone consult on Thurs am and it's on my list. 

[GrannyMac]

My granddaughter Hattie has been waiting over 4 months to have a very painful wisdom tooth removed.. still waiting..

Has she got a dental hospital nearby?  They are normally linked to universities and are always worth a try in an emergency.  My OH had a cracked wisdom tooth removed a couple of months ago, free of charge, within a few days of ringing them.  They looked after him well.   His dentist had previously told him to wait.  Now he's no longer with that dentist! 

[crabbyob]

ive been waiting two years to see mine....
i will be knocking on her door at 8.00 a.m. the 8th april God willing...


but thats great advice from Granny Scrumpy, google your closest one, i remember in Brum in the sixties all the Indians went to the dental Hospital for all dental work, they learn everything there...

[Scrumpy]

I have just checked and we have no dental hospital nearby.. It sounds a brilliant idea though..
Hattie has managed to get a cancellation privately.. At a cost of 550.. Some places quoted a couple of thousand.. !! Scandalous..


Thank you GrannyMac.

[GrannyMac]

You're welcome Scrumpy, I hope she's pain free soon.

We are fortunate here, with so much specialist medical care.  crabbyob I know has had some treatment in Sheffield too.  Brother in law in Scotland paid over 10k because his prostate treatment kept being cancelled by the NHS.

[Sheila]

We have two main hospitals here on The Wirral and new operating theatres are being built in one of them to try and clear the backlog.

[Alex]

That's good news for the area Sheila, just had a quick Google and they hope to treat 3,000 patients a year ! 

[Sheila]

Yes Alex, it is good news.  As klondike said earlier, it is as though the NHS has thrown everything at COVID and neglected other things.  I am grateful that I have not needed a GP in the last couple of years as they are hiding.


Scrumpy, let us know how Hattie is.

[Scrumpy]

I saw Hattie yesterday.. One side of her face is slightly swollen.. It is painful to yawn..
While we were having coffee the dental surgery phoned saying they had a cancellation.
She has her op tomorrow (Thursday) late afternoon..
So pleased for her..
But this was after much checking in the area.. telephone calls.. prices..
It shouldn't be like this.. I feel sad for those not in a position to source/obtain/ afford treatment.

[crabbyob]

in the early eighties the steward of our club was upset by the news that his wife required a ladies op.she was so debilitated she couldnt work, and it was she who did all the catering for weddings ect, which was a big earner for them, but they were informed there was a two year waiting list, so  she would be off work for two years at least... have you considered going private i suggested, he was a bit shocked,and said i didnt think you would agree with that road... i smiled and pointed out the rules change when its family... so the enquired and it cost Them £30... and she was in within a week....
this was the catholic club Granny...