Today 69 years ago the NHS was created. A vision of the government and Clement Attlee which would provide a unified health service available to all. The campaign and implementation was spearheaded by Nye Bevan who can be quoted saying:
I really do owe everything to the NHS and it is scary to see how the Conservative party are really making some difficult choices and actions which are really putting stress on the NHS which is a health service already on its knees.
It is a huge compliment to Scotland whose health service is by no means perfect but reading tweets this morning which said the Scottish system should be the road map for the health service in England, with that being said in newspapers headlines were slating the Scottish health services and hospital due to the number of beds being blocks and operations being cancelled. Its tough to see as I am both a service user of the NHS and employed by the NHS. I have also had experience of the NHS in England and there are huge differences which could be down to those who run the systems- the Scottish Government and British Government.
As an employee of the NHS I must say it is a fantastic organisation to work for. I have been very fortunate in my treatment by the NHS, I have a pension with them, receive a wage and have the support of colleagues but it is so hard to sit back and watch as wards are under staffed with not enough nurses, drs, domestics, care assistants and everyone is run off their feet all the time trying to cater for the needs of everyone else but not able to take the time out they need. NHS nurses have been subject to a 1% pay cap (along with other professions) which has crippled a lot of nurses who have families, mortgages and just trying to cover their bills. The 1% cap being lifted would make a huge difference because it would not only makes nurses lives more comfortable but it would be their effort recognised and help them feel valued in what they are doing.
As a user of the NHS and dependent on the NHS I really value them. I have gone from growing up in Scotland where because I was in school and under 18 I got free prescriptions so didnt need to rely on anyone for my medications and inhalers. I was guaranteed to get them no matter what. I then went to living in England being self sufficient and having to budget to include my growing medication list. At the time the cost of a prescription was £7.20 per item. It has gone up a huge amount now but this was about 10 years ago. I was on a huge number of medications and often needed multiple prescriptions of certain medications. It became a budgeting nightmare. I was fortunate that I was able to buy a pre-payment certificate so for £110 every year I was able to get all my prescriptions covered with it. Now living in Scotland prescription charges were scrapped which for me has been a real benefit as I have so many medications and currently have 32 regular items on my repeat prescription which is the medication I need every day. While free prescriptions for me are great I can imagine them being abused for some people who will go to the GP for something and get a prescription rather than spending the money themselves. A number of medications which people get on prescription could be things which can be bought over the counter but because they are free on script they go for that option putting more stress on the GP system.
I have also had some outstanding care from a variety of medical professionals. All hospitals across the UK have been great. The care I can’t fault especially when I was in hospital in Winchester and having my consultant from Southampton driving up after he finished work to review me as we were struggling to get control of my asthma. It is things like this that stick in your head and you won’t ever forget. Its also nursing care too. I can remember being in the resp ward Shawford Ward after coming out of ICU but finding it hard to breathe but being too terrified to go back to intensive care, but a nurse from ICU came to sit with me and go through why I didnt want to go back and reassured me it would be ok. She didnt have to do that but she did and it made a difference. It too sticks in my mind and when looking at the prospect of going to ICU I do think about that time. Not all hospital experiences are good and there are times when you do have bad nursing or bad medical care but its going to happen when services are stretched to the point of breaking.
It is scary to think that we really could be facing a time without the NHS. Im not sure how I would survive without them. They have been there to pick up the pieces when my asthma has kicked off. Looking at some numbers a night in ICU costs £2000 approx. I spent 4 nights earlier this year. I wouldn’t be able to afford that if the NHS is privatised. £500 approx for a night stay in hospital. I was in hospital for 3 weeks earlier this year. I would need over 1/2 a years salary to cover my hospital stays not including the added extras like x rays, bloods, IVs, drugs, food to name but a few.
I owe my life to the NHS as do so many other people but with so many people abusing the NHS and going to hospital for a sore tummy or headache, or cut finger when not needed is crippling the service. As a nurse I can’t say to people why did you bother going to the hospital because this could have been dealt with at home, we have to smile and provide the care we would give to other patients and hope their Dr will discharge them when required so the bed can be opened up for someone who really needs it. I often question going into hospital and calling an ambulance. If I can I will drive myself to hospital but am often told I was stupid for doing that and should have called an ambulance because people who were a lot less in need would call them but I feel if I am able to get myself there thats what I should be doing and if I can deal with my asthma at home then I should and do all I can to stay at home so to ease the burden on the stretched heath service.
Please stop and think if you do need the GP, or hospital or prescription. The NHS is on its knees but as a country we wouldn’t be able to survive with it and healthcare would not be accessible to all as it is now.
ANONYMOUS-ASTHMA 