NHS Timescales

[Grant]

I love the NHS but the timescales are absolutely doing my head in. My Colonoscopy with Balloon Dilation is Oct10. I had a colonoscopy in June & didn't get a follow up so made an emergency appointment. Now I've pre empted things by booking my follow up appointment. 27th October. 17days after the procedure, 17 days for the stricture to start to close up, 17 days before they will start me on different meds.
I feel very selfish in having a moan about it, but all I'm trying to do is avoid more surgery & that costs the NHS a lot of money. My old specialist left & wasn't replaced so we now have just one Specialist & another Dr who isn't a Gastro specialist but is qualified to do balloon dilations for the area.
The one I had done in June couldn't be dilated because the Snr Registrar wasn't qualified. I feel its 4 months wasted.
Sorry to moan but its doing my head in.
Rgds
Grant

 

[Trysha]

Hello Grant,
You have every right to complain of the unacceptable delays which occur for vital investigations and for proper treatment., and I share your concerns.
It seems to be happening all across the world and would appear to be a result of government cutbacks and money mismanagement.Far too much of our taxpayers money is going in the wrong direction such as bloated administration staff etc.
There is so much suffering on this forum alone.
Don't know what the answers are since it seems many governments are going in the same direction.
Hugs---
Trysha

 

[Grant]

Tks Trysha, I agree. The admin @ our local Super Hospital is appalling & my old specialist left because of it. I really do think that that long term it will cost more money because patients will require very expensive surgery because of the delays.
Rgds & Hugs also
Grant

 

[Mister_Hotspur]

Do you have an ibd nurse? It may be worth speaking to them as they often help speeding things up. Im very lucky my Gi and nurse are really good, my Gi performed the last scope himself and pretty much explained what was going on the whole way through. When I needed steroids I just emailed my nurse and she arranged a prescription to be sent out without the need for an appointment.

I know it's luck of the draw, I don't need surgery at the moment but it took 6 months to get an appointment with a surgeon and be put on his list. The rise in obesity and the magical gastric band means everyone now 'needs' surgery because going on a diet is far too much hard work.

 

[Goldfish]

It is very annoying. I am trying to get a medical card to help me as I am unemployed -made redundant in 2010 (to be a full time mature student in 2 days) and my husband is on a low wage. Cant really afford the meds but struggling at the mo but if I ever need to go on more I will be stuffed without the card. Keep telephoning them to ask what the problem is and they keep saying " we haven't received wage slips, P60's etc". Yes they have and it costs me every time I resend them and every time i phone them. I need this card!
Any way what I wanted to say was sometimes I feel like going on to a radio chat show, you know a very popular one to bring up the issue and to see if that will make any difference. There must be so many people will genuine grievances. Some of the stuff people are going through is ridiculous and then other people seem to waltz in, announce they are jobless and have no money when in reality they are working a fast one, and get everything for free. HELLO! Is it just me or does anyone agree. :ymad:
I hope things get sorted out Grant. Seems such a nonsense and you are really trying to be helpful to the NHS.

 

[StarGirrrrl]

Is only going to get worse under the current Government i'm afraid. My latest wait is 4 months for Pain Management clinic, and Rheumy wanted to see me again in 3 months but no appointments until the 4 month mark. Although I was given the advice line number to use in the meantime if neccessary.

Am waiting for 2 surgeries right now. Each different department has to consent (a letter went to one 6 weeks ago, no reply yet), then may want to see me in their clinics, before I even get on the waiting list for the actual procedures. Honestly? I will be lucky if I get any surgery this year now.

 

[Grant]

Mister_Hotspur, yes i do & she is absolutely brilliant. And she has moved things for me in the past. But the problem is that with only two qualified Baloon Dilaters & only one of them a Gastro Specialist the wait is long. I've spoken to her & this is the quickest it can be done. I'm watching my diet like crazy to reduce any risk of obstruction.
Rgds
Grant

 

[Carrie]

I am grateful for the NHS, but some of their policies are crazy, especially when compared to having good insurance when I lived in the US.

I spent three months in hospital trying to gain weight so I could be healthy enough for surgery. My digestive system was essentially broken and I was unable to absorb any nutrients, even on a liquid diet. After a month of dicking around and trying two liquid diets, I got a Hickman line and was started on TPN. My local trust doesn't have a home PN program, so they transferred me to another hospital (St. George's in Tooting)--this was after spending two months in the local hospital. Turns out it would have taken St. George's six to eight weeks to set me up on the home PN program anyway.

I got lucky in the end, and the surgeon had just returned from holiday shortly after I got to St. George's and had an open slot to do the surgery the day after I met him. He deemed me healthy enough to go through it, and said I probably wouldn't get any better as it stood. Four weeks post-op and I'm much happier and healthier than I was before (probably the healthiest I've been since I've moved to the UK).

Grant, I hope your situation can be sorted out soon. I know how annoying and complicated it is to have to watch everything you eat in order to avoid an obstruction.

 

[Mapper]

Carrie, I hear you! I moved here from the US just over a year ago, and I am seeing the good and the bad of the NHS. I think for me the thing I find most shocking are the long waits, but on the other hand, everyone can get treatment. A mixed bag. The system has been very good to my children, and it is definitely effective for those with acute, serious problems. When you have a chronic illness, it's hard to feel the love, but patience and persistence are what I am learning. As long as my gut doesn't explode first.

 

[StarGirrrrl]

That everyone can get treatment is wonderful, but there are restrictions, I have had funding for 2 tests denied that I really need. But the pen pushers don't see it that way.

 

[Artificial]

Hey grant,

I see you live in Lee on Solent...do you go to QA hospital by any chance?

I've had a nightmare with waiting times...had a colonoscopy in July and only just had a follow up appointment this week. My GP even tried to push for an earlier appointment and that didn't help either!

Rachel x

 

[Grant]

Hi Rachel, yes QA for me as well. Since Dr Duncan left & hasn't been replaced then they are limited to who can do what. Very frustrating.
Keep well
Rgds
Grant