nhs

[Lonnie]

Patricia Hewitt has said, The NHS just has enjoyed its best year ever, does anybody really believe this?.

[Kathyan]

Personally, I don't believe anything any politician says these days. All they care about is themselves. As for the NHS, jobs are being cut all over the place and all Hewitt can come up with is this ridiculous statement. It's time they all joined the real world.

[smudge]

NO - well certainly not appointment times!

My daughter went for a head scan yesterday & was told to make an appointment to see her consultant in 3 weeks time for the results.

She phoned the hospital for a follow up appointment & was told it would be in the middle of July, which of course is over 11 weeks time! This is far too long to keep someone waiting for results!

I recently had a heart procedure done & was told to make a follow up appointment for 3 months later. I was sent an appointment for, wait for it, 6 months later. I complained & it was shortened to 4 months.

Having said that the treatment I received was second to none.

[jno]

No.

[PhilBy]

I have to attend hospital 6/8 times a year and in my experience I have found that they have improved head and shoulders over anything in the past. Our town has also introduced a large walk in clinic funded by the NHS where more minor complaints can be dealt with and thus reducing the waiting list at the hospital even more ............. It was only in the early 90's when my wife fell off a bicycle and broke her wrist, this happened around 6pm and when she attended the hospital she was x-rayed to confirm that it was indeed broken and then sent home with her arm in a sling until Monday, this we were told was due to the weekend being their 'busy' period and no theatre time could be offered until the following Monday and blamed it squarely on the Goverment cut backs of the time .......... The other party still stay they could deliver better services whilst paying less for them ........ I for one hope they never get the chance :-)

[JudgeJ]

MS Hewitt also said, in the same sentence, that we had just endured one of the coldest winters for decades. Does anybody remember it being particularly cold last winter? I certainly don't.

[sense4all]

Hubbie broke ribs last summer, for the first time local hospital was rotten.We have lived around her for years and it was the first time he went to A & E at the Hospital, thay didn't take him seriously til he semi-collapsed, abysmal .

They are brill. when I have to take kids for A & E, the kids have a different bit so they don't have to sit with alkies etc. So a mixed bag for us I'm afraid.

I do not as a rule believe politicians - I am a sceptic I'm afraid.

[121561]

In Her world she might, but bits of paper with figures on it does not show the reaility.

[jake-the-peg]

I think "Patchy" seems the best way to describe it - I hurt my eye the other month. Saw A GP same day and was referred to a Hospital where I was seen by a specialist the same day out of hours.

You seem to hear stories like this with equal measure of those of horror stories

Of course my little eye problem would have probably cost me a couple of thousand pounds had I lived in the US and not had insurance.

Of course David (sorry "Dave") Cameron has rejected Margaret Thather's health policies (to subsidise private health insurance) as "flawed".

Which kind-of reassures me - but then I guess it's meant to isn't it?

[PatriciaH]

I said nothing of the sort! :)

[Lonnie]

Thanks for the reply's, Its a mixed bag, which, according to treatment recieved, it probably should be, but as for the statement, over the past year, I think its actually got absymally worse, but thats my opinion.

[Zen]

I think she should have gone to Specsavers!!!

[Carol Anne]

Stobhill general hospital, Glasgow, closing this year, will cause much hardship to the poeple of the area it covers. Yeah right....

[nursecarla]

it probably has improved for the patients which is clearly the most important aspect but it is at the expense of the staff and i dont just mean nurses, there are a lot of very hard working clerical staff within hopsitals who are paid poorly and are severly understaffed i think is an area people often forget about, the money is there but there are far too many managers supervisiors etc and not enough workers the nhs is top heavy

[SaxyJag]

Don't like to say at the moment. Mrs Hewitt's our MP and we've asked her to look into my husband's case. He has asked her if the hospital not writing to tell him when his appointment was is their way of reducing waiting lists.

He looked after her at an official function a couple of years ago, so we reckon she owes him one.

[gazzawazza]

In March I had to have two operations and am now undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. I have to say that I simply cannot praise every member of the medical staff highly enough. They truly are a blessing to us all.

As for politicians, I would not trust any one of them as far as I could kick John Prescott.

[Toureman]

I completly agree with gazzawazza I hope your Chemo and radiotherapy work OK they did with me when I was diagnosed with Cancer. I have been clear for 6 years now.

I cannot praise the health service enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes the health service has had it's best year ever

[gazzawazza]

Thanks for your support Toureman, brilliant news for you. I'm just staying positive and looking forward to when I receive my own good news in the future. Gazz.

[Lonnie]

I'm truly pleased for the people that have had good experiences wuth the NHS, but that wasn't the question, it wasn't about if you think its a good or bad service, all it was, was do you believe that the NHS has just enjoyed its best year ever, nothing else.

[jasperthomas]

No, the NHS has not enjoyed its best year ever! where has Ms Hewitt been the last 12 months? Planet Zug? Either that or travelling with Cherie Blair as her new "Twaddle" guru" At least she would have got a free hair-do!

[Lonnie]

Hi jasperthomas, she probably gets hers free anyway, paid for by us.

And welcome to the madhouse.