Latest moan from you and me 2026

Having just been forced to listen to several hours of Sky's day time TV ( NHS public waiting room) there were even two sets of sub titles. I have discovered why the world is in such a mess.

 

@Thevictorian I've previously mentioned my niece and the fact that she hadn't seen a doctor face to face since she first had problems back in September last year. She was at work, stood up and couldn't sit down again. She was in total agony if she tried but was told by the doctor it was a trapped nerve, despite not examining her and ignoring the fact that she has had a problem with her hips from birth. She finally had her first face-to-face appointment a couple of days ago and the doctor grudgingly agreed that she should have a scan. No date for that yet, and she has basically been without an income apart from SSP of about £100 per week for 4 months.
My wife is in a similar situation currently. Her abdomen is swelling badly and despite eating very little she is not losing any weight. Called at the surgery on 6th Jan to make an appointment to see a doctor and has been given an appointment for the 9th of Feb.

 

Hope your niece's scan appt comes through quickly, @KT53.

 

Unfortunately 'NHS' and 'efficient' are rarely seen in the same article. At least not reporting positively on the two.

 

Actually @KT53, some GP's and hospital do seem to be much better than others as in my own case today. Saw my GP FTF 28th Nov, had lung scan 10th Dec, subsequently referred to Respiratory Clinic which appointment was today at 12.30 with follow up by consultant at 2.30 pm. Didn't quite go according to plan as I was too breathless to do the breathing exercises (!) so helped onto a bed, monitored for 2 hours, given lunch and a cuppa, had a longish and thorough chat with the consultant - who can't find anything wrong. Breathing tests will be re-arranged just to be on the safe side and breathing exercises physio also arranged.

Efficient or what. The staff were brilliant and very kind.

I do hope your niece and your wife get sorted soon. Could either ask to be referred to the RUH?
I believe patients have a right to go to other hospitals?

 

@lizzie27 I know some GP surgeries are better than others. I've seen that with the treatment a friend of ours gets at her surgery. Appointments often available on the same day, or at least the following day. Generally sees the same GP each time. They moved to where they live now from Somerset where they had very similar experience to that with their new surgery.
The irony is, that as the crow flies we live nearer to their surgery than to ours. Unfortunately we fall outside the catchment area for their surgery.

 

I have to say our local hospital has been excellent over the past 6 months. Well equipped and quick to diagnose. And our GP is always ringing us up to get us in. And you can choose your appointment date and time. No complaints here.

 

@cactus_girl I might have to register at your address :-)

 

On a recent visit I overheard the following conversation between a white haired old lady and a Domestic Services supervisor: "about your menu, when are meals served." "Breakfast at 8 am, lunch midday, and tea at 5 pm" the supervisor then described the sort of things they served at each meal and said they catered for 11 different diets. Back came the response "I'm not on a diet". Supervisor "and we produce a range of ethnic dishes" response "I'm not ethnic. If I ordered tomato soup for tea could I have it at 4 pm" Supervisor "no it wouldn't be ready then".

 

@KT53 we are in the same position. The surgery we are registered at is further from us than the new one they built but the catchment area for the new surgery doesn't cover us but it does cover people from miles away. Our surgery is absolutely hopeless, if you need to see someone then you can't, you just get directed to the local walk in centre, who often tell you to sod off as well.
The new surgery on the other hand has appointments that day and is very helpful.

 

I've just coughed up my tax, the country now can continue to run for a while or my be it may be enough for rachel reeves to spash out her expences

 

@Thevictorian we have a surgery literally at the end of our road, but it has an even worse reputation than the one we are with. Their building is extremely small and the local health authority said they would have a new surgery building about 1/4 mile away ready for occupation in Spring of 2026. There has been no work done on the site apart from putting barriers around it. Just the state of the NHS I guess.

 

Considering the difficulties so many are facing with getting GP appointments, I wonder if that is why many A&E depts. are inundated with people who are neither suffering from an accident nor an emergency ?
I did hear a report recently on our local news which stated that Ambulance services here were one of the poorest in the country - mainly due to the time lag between call out and arrival. The only experience I've encountered was about 3 years ago. An elderly lady walking her dog collapsed just across the road. Managed to get her into my house and called for an ambulance as she couldn't remember her name or where she lived. It took about an hour but that may have simply been that the lady wasn't in immediate danger as far as we could ascertain.

 

I am sure that is the reason why A&E are so crowded. I have just read that the norovirus is spreading rapidly this week and the hospitals are getting fuller as a result.

Somerset is also one of the largest counties in England I believe so distance must also be a consideration.

 

I wouldn't mind betting I've got that Norovirus, had it since Sunday, sure I picked it up at the festering doctors waiting room last week when I went for a blood test and was forced to sit in the place for 15 minutes.