Monday July 18, 0435 PM
NHS 'not putting patients first'
The NHS is still not putting patients first despite the many improvements made in recent years, a new report has revealed.
The Healthcare Commission said the NHS in England and Wales still had a long way to go to achieve a "patient-led" service.
The watchdog said that while improvements had taken place in services such as cancer and heart disease, others including sexual and mental health and dental services had lagged behind.
The Commission also highlighted poor standards in maternity care and form one part of the lengthy document focusing on many aspects of the patient experience.
One concern raised in the report, presented to Parliament on Monday, was the fact that many people faced difficulties making an appointment with an NHS dentist.
It said that nearly 60% of NHS dental practices were not taking on new patients - an increase from 40% in 2001 - and in some areas no dentists are taking on new NHS patients.
The report says that there are long waits for sexual health services, with 28% of people needing to be seen urgently having to wait more than 48 hours and 29% of people with symptoms waiting more than two weeks.
It said that only half of the UK's sexual health clinics are open more than 21 hours a week.
The report noted some improvement in mental health care in recent years, but said many services still fell short of what people needed.
It said that half of people with depression were not receiving treatment and 23% of patients on mental health and learning disability wards were still in mixed-sex rooms.
The Healthcare Commission said that many people were still not getting enough information about healthcare, particularly diagnostic tests and medication.
The Press Association.
And the poor sods cant * opt out of the system .
Maybe if they stopped paying for sex changes and the like they would have money to treat the sick.
My dentist in UK stopped taking new NHS patients back in about 1994! I was living in Berkshire and making appointments to see her when I went back to visit my folks in Devon, where she was located. It was a bit odd but worked fine and I didn't mind.
Got it John. Went to my doc this morning and got my 3 months supply of Vasotec and Apo-Hydro, for my blood pressure. Actual cost $290 my cost as a senior $12.
Why are you so against something that works for most of us. Saw a report on CNN that said 100 people die each day in US hospitals due to infections. Not that this doesn't occur in Canadian hospitals.
The only thing stopping Universal Health care in the US is big business.
As I am unemployed and have had no insurance for the past 8 months, the answer is YES!
My dentist here is backed up for 4 or 5 months, my doctor is backed up for 6 months. When I was looking for physicians here, I've also contacted a number of doctors and dentists here that are 'not taking new patients'. From my experience, having private healthcare in the US doesn't necessary improve the problem or the service. In fact, you're paying for a similar mediocre service.
Of course people in the UK are paying for the NHS too, but it is through taxes. So it is simply a question of whether
1) You want a federal/national or state agency running your health system, or the big corporations.
2) You want to pay a few extra $/£ in tax so that when you are out of work you don't have to worry about getting sick.
Oh and the ILs family doc hasn't been taking new patients for a couple of years now.
Come to think of it, it's a worse scenario here as you have a limited selection of doctors who work with your HMO or whatever. If the only ones who work with your company's weird health provider are not taking new patients, you have to travel out of town whenever you need to see the doc.
Maybe if they stopped paying for sex changes and the like they would have money to treat the sick.
Good point and i agree somewhat:-) but if you start ( moralizing on who gets what treatment) you will get the nutters arguing about self inflicted conditions like abortions , drugs etc .
Oooo, hasn't the Healthcare Commission been busy?
They released a report about maternity services today. One of the hospitals that they were studying, as an example of what was bad, was actually our local hospital. I had DS1 there 13 years ago and was really pleased with the service. My next three children were homebirths managed by that hospital. It actually compared very favourably with the care I received in the US when having my fifth child.
What you have to remember about UK medical care is that the culture is completely different. It's not just down to a difference in funding. It would be absolutely amazing if funded at even close to US levels.
Got it John. Went to my doc this morning and got my 3 months supply of Vasotec and Apo-Hydro, for my blood pressure. Actual cost $290 my cost as a senior $12.
Why are you so against something that works for most of us.
I had a professor whose wife died after a very long illness. He is a scientist and engineer who owned his own successful business for many years. due to his wife's illness and long term care, he lost his business and had to downgrade on his home. now at 75 is having to work instead of enjoying retirement. He can't get a permenant teaching position so teaches at many different places.
when a discussion came up of socialized systems I was shocked to hear him comment that he was totally against them. I found it difficult to understand how a man could go through losing his wife and livelihood all at the same time, and unable to retire due to past health costs etc., could still be so against socialized medicine. he couldn't see a connection at all.
I have no problems with us having to pay for our health insurance. I have no problem that our premiums are probably higher to cover for those who don't have health insurance and require urgent care. I do get frustrated of the fact that our insurance premiums are higher because of the number of employees at my husband's office is below the threshold for lower premiums but I accept that that is the way it has to be. I know there is this issue regarding prevention care being not available to those without insurance, however children are covered who don't have insurance for prevention so at least that is better than nothing. and to be honest, I have seen some of the New York State (not City) facilities available to those without insurance and they are just as good, if not better than what is available in the UK. They are so good that if you do have insurance you are not the priority and will get left until last to see the doctor over those who don't have insurance. things are definitely changing also for the better regarding emergency care where insurance information is not the first, second or third priority anymore which has to be a good thing.
what I do have a problem with is that this is not available everywhere and certain minority groups are affected more than others. And you only have to look at the death rates among the under 5's, death rates for newborns and life expectency rates, especially for African Americans and Native Americans.
Monday July 18, 04:35 PM
And the poor sods cant * opt out of the system .
Of course they can, there is private health insurance and private doctors and hospitals.
As I am unemployed and have had no insurance for the past 8 months, the answer is YES!
Are you sending out resumes at all, even going as far as knocking on doors?
Monday July 18, 04:35 PM
And the poor sods cant * opt out of the system .
Of course they can, there is private health insurance and private doctors and hospitals.
Yes, come on John - stop living in the past of 1950's Britain. I had BUPA health insurance in Britain within the last ten years and like Moo says, you get to use private doctors and hospitals WHEN you need them and IF the NHS will not cover it equivalently.
Best of both worlds as far as I was and still am concerned - you simply can't beat it and you don't have to feel like a complete bastard like here, because you are covered and many poor sods are not.