Check you local NHS performance.

[Dustydog]

An interesting link

NHS Tracker: Find out about hospital waiting times in your area this winter

As the NHS enters 2024 and a difficult winter period, find out what's happening in your area.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Buckman]

An interesting link

NHS Tracker: Find out about hospital waiting times in your area this winter

As the NHS enters 2024 and a difficult winter period, find out what's happening in your area.

www.bbc.co.uk

Not good for our trust however it seems to have improved a fraction, but ambulance queuing is still bad despite them spending millions upgrading A&E.

In 2022 OH was kept in the ambulance for nearly 8 hours before being transferred into A&E. Then another wait for well over 4 hours before seen by a doctor. Apparently they thought she was going to pass on, so shoved OH in a corner and forgot about her. Disgusting!

By the same token when I was diagnosed with the big C a year earlier in '20, I could not fault them as service was very prompt and this was during the first Covid lockdown.

 

[Raywood]

Ours is rubbish so I would rather not know just how bad.

 

[Jaydug]

Ours is rubbish

And how accurate is the report? According to "waiting times at A&E", my trust gives a percentage of 26%. Nevertheless, two weeks ago I trapped my little finger in my recliner armchair, and being on Apixaban, the wound bled profusely. I bandaged it and by holding it high, eventually stopped the bleeding... On the Friday evening, I decided to change the congealed bandage, but only to start the bleeding again. I got my daughter to take me to A&E. We arrived at 7.45 pm., were quickly seen by a nurse, and then sent to the waiting area. As we collected our car from the hospital carpark, the time was coming up to 2.45am. Then there was the charge of £17 to pay.

 

[otherclive]

Not relating to A&E our daughter had a referral for diagnosis in October, and she had her operation two days ago, and is recovering at our house as she has to sleep upright for six days. I had a referral by my GP in December for a Royal symptom and I see a specialist at a private hospital (NHS funded) next Thursday. So it’s not all bad news.

 

[Dustydog]

I understand the BBC Journalist got the details from NHS Freedom of Information

 

[Buckman]

The waiting list at our local hospital is ridiculously long. OH has been waiting for an appointment for over a year and it is not for surgery.

In a nearby town which is also in the same trust there is a perfectly good large hospital that was built to serve local community of the town so not a cottage hospital. The trust in their infinite wisdom downgraded the hospital to basically a day walk in A&E as no ambulances. If you lived in that town and need urgent A&E treatment the ambulance has to come from Worcester and you are taken to Worcester A&E! The town is a 40 minute drive from Worcester.

They do have week day consultations at the hospital, but as far as I am aware no over nights. The wards are empty, the surgery theatres have not been used in years. I am not sure if the equipment is still in those theaters. When we were living in the area, there was a community drive to raise money for an MRI machine. The machine was bought and when the hospital was downgraded the machine was transferred to Worcester!

 

[RogerL]

Given the accumulated effect of Brexit, which makes it more difficult to get overseas staff, Covid, which totally exhausted staff and then strikes, which took staff away from their work, it's a miracle that the NHS still exists at all.

 

[otherclive]

When we moved home in 2019 one of our decions was to only look at areas that would provide for our needs as we got older. Much as we loved living in rural areas it was quite clear that living in a rural location would present difficulties and potentially impose on our daughter and grandchildren. So we now live on the edge of a town with country walks just a short step away. We are well served by health services and pretty well everything we need is within 20-25 minutes walk, there are regular bus services into town, and to Bath, Swindon, Devizes and Frome, plus main line rail links. And between us and food shops every pavement is dropped so a EV would have no problems getting us to our food or health outlets. Scooter EV that is. 😂

 

[Hutch]

I fully agree, deciding to where you live in later years, makes you think about many things. Being near to family is important , but near to Hospital facilities, to us is more important.
The kids can move at any moment due to work. So no point to our thoughts, of moving near the grand children, they move.

Anyway getting back to the NHS, very recently, two weeks ago, in Milton Keynes, I went to local Optician, Mr Khan, who needs a thank you, diagnosed a detached retina, This was Tuesday, referred to MK hospital, who that night could not do the operation. Short story Operation done at St Thomas's in London Friday lunchtime. ,
But and a big But, I could afford to get there, £45 train and taxi. Three days. What if you cannot afford that.
I think our NHS services, need more funding, Student Staff at all levels need funding.

 

[otherclive]

I fully agree, deciding to where you live in later years, makes you think about many things. Being near to family is important , but near to Hospital facilities, to us is more important.
The kids can move at any moment due to work. So no point to our thoughts, of moving near the grand children, they move.

Anyway getting back to the NHS, very recently, two weeks ago, in Milton Keynes, I went to local Optician, Mr Khan, who needs a thank you, diagnosed a detached retina, This was Tuesday, referred to MK hospital, who that night could not do the operation. Short story Operation done at St Thomas's in London Friday lunchtime. ,
But and a big But, I could afford to get there, £45 train and taxi. Three days. What if you cannot afford that.
I think our NHS services, need more funding, Student Staff at all levels need funding.

Our daughter lives close by and we own the house so she’s not that likely to move, but if she were to move we still have better access to services and facilities where we now live than we did in our previous house. We put quite a bit of research on what best met our foreseeable needs when we moved and one criteria was to cut down on the commuting in providing support to the family. And we’ve achieved that in no small measure. 😊

 

[Buckman]

I fully agree, deciding to where you live in later years, makes you think about many things. Being near to family is important , but near to Hospital facilities, to us is more important.
The kids can move at any moment due to work. So no point to our thoughts, of moving near the grand children, they move.

Anyway getting back to the NHS, very recently, two weeks ago, in Milton Keynes, I went to local Optician, Mr Khan, who needs a thank you, diagnosed a detached retina, This was Tuesday, referred to MK hospital, who that night could not do the operation. Short story Operation done at St Thomas's in London Friday lunchtime. ,
But and a big But, I could afford to get there, £45 train and taxi. Three days. What if you cannot afford that.
I think our NHS services, need more funding, Student Staff at all levels need funding.

You were very lucky as here we have a very long list for people waiting to have cataracts removed. Going private the cost is over £2000. However I am aware that a detached retina is lot more serious than cataracts and pleased it was done for you so quickly.

Also it doesn't help when the student doctors etc go on strike for more wages even though it is probably the taxpayer funding their education.

 

[RogerL]

You were very lucky as here we have a very long list for people waiting to have cataracts removed. Going private the cost is over £2000. However I am aware that a detached retina is lot more serious than cataracts and pleased it was done for you so quickly.

In some areas, simple cataracts are funded by the NHS but done by private clinics - generally no waiting lists in these areas - but even in these areas, complex cataracts have a long wait.

 

[otherclive]

You were very lucky as here we have a very long list for people waiting to have cataracts removed. Going private the cost is over £2000. However I am aware that a detached retina is lot more serious than cataracts and pleased it was done for you so quickly.

Also it doesn't help when the student doctors etc go on strike for more wages even though it is probably the taxpayer funding their education.

A friend who has glaucoma and precious little vision left has recently paid £3000 for a cataract removal at Sulis Hospital Bath which is owned by the RUH Bath NHS trust. All medical students whether nurses or doctors have to fund their courses and costs using student loans which on graduation are repayable if earning above a threshold. Our daughter has been quite fortunate as she qualified for a nursing apprenticeship but that required her to work icw study, and was only available to her as she worked in the NHS and had completed a foundation degree.

 

[Buckman]

A friend who has glaucoma and precious little vision left has recently paid £3000 for a cataract removal at Sulis Hospital Bath which is owned by the RUH Bath NHS trust. All medical students whether nurses or doctors have to fund their courses and costs using student loans which on graduation are repayable if earning above a threshold. Our daughter has been quite fortunate as she qualified for a nursing apprenticeship but that required her to work icw study, and was only available to her as she worked in the NHS and had completed a foundation degree.

I was checking yesterday regarding cataracts and don't ask why and price seem to vary between £2000 and £5000. My brother in South Africa had his done in 2022 and it cost under £1000 and this was at a private clinic.

 

[RogerL]

A friend who has glaucoma and precious little vision left has recently paid £3000 for a cataract removal at Sulis Hospital Bath which is owned by the RUH Bath NHS trust. All medical students whether nurses or doctors have to fund their courses and costs using student loans which on graduation are repayable if earning above a threshold. Our daughter has been quite fortunate as she qualified for a nursing apprenticeship but that required her to work icw study, and was only available to her as she worked in the NHS and had completed a foundation degree.

There is a point of view that the student loan isn't a conventional debt, it's a graduate tax - the debt is wiped out after 30 years.

 

[otherclive]

There is a point of view that the student loan isn't a conventional debt, it's a graduate tax - the debt is wiped out after 30 years.

Yes it is a tax by any other name. And dear old HMG use RPI to calculate interest rates which is higher than CPI that HMG use when calculating payments such as pensions. Although given the very high inflation a cap system has been introduced. But according to IFS the wave of unfinished student loans is building up a significant financial bow wave of Government debt. It will require some creative accounting to lose it 😂

Student Loans Interest Rates and Repayment Threshold Announcement

The Department for Education (DfE) today (23 August 2023) confirmed annual updates to interest rates and repayment thresholds for undergraduate Income Contingent Student Loans, interest rates for postgraduate loans, and the interest rates and deferment threshold for Mortgage Style Student Loans.

www.gov.uk

 

[RogerL]

Yes it is a tax by any other name. And dear old HMG use RPI to calculate interest rates which is higher than CPI that HMG use when calculating payments such as pensions. Although given the very high inflation a cap system has been introduced. But according to IFS the wave of unfinished student loans is building up a significant financial bow wave of Government debt. It will require some creative accounting to lose it 😂

Student Loans Interest Rates and Repayment Threshold Announcement

The Department for Education (DfE) today (23 August 2023) confirmed annual updates to interest rates and repayment thresholds for undergraduate Income Contingent Student Loans, interest rates for postgraduate loans, and the interest rates and deferment threshold for Mortgage Style Student Loans.

www.gov.uk

It's alright - they can use the extra tax they're getting by freezing the income tax thresholds - with no corresponding drop in NI for pensioners.

 

[otherclive]

It's alright - they can use the extra tax they're getting by freezing the income tax thresholds - with no corresponding drop in NI for pensioners.

Whilst they don’t advertise it there’s a large extra tax take due to inflation., house price increases, fuel increases etc. But pensioners haven’t done too badly through the Triple Lock this last two years.

 

[Jcloughie]

How much do waiting times truly reflect the state of the health service though it is most easily measured and very important to those on a list or attending A&E.

For more than the last 7 years, I have been playing hospital tennis. A term given to me by one of the consultants.

I first went to the Muscularscelital Department who referred me to Osteopathy. Both are excellent and with reasonable waiting. My problem was thought to be Vascular. A long wait only to be dismissed. Then the tennis began. They passed me to:
Respiratory
Cardiology
Neurology
Neurophysiology
Numerology
Back to Oestopathy, (private, but got things moving)
(Still waiting for Gynaecology)

Each referred me back to Vascular, who eventually operated on me last August. Overnight I improved from needing a mobility scooter to walking for a mile unaided.

All the disciplines I attended were first-class, with the exception of Vascular.

The cost to me was 7 years and a total change of lifestyle, hence no caravan now. The cost to the NHS and the taxpayer has to be many thousands. Also the wasted time of busy consultants who could have been seeing their own patients.

While being put through the above I suffered an enlarged prostrate involving two trips to the A&E. The first meant a very long wait and amateur treatment resulting in a nurse receiving the contents of my engorged bladder. And them forgeting to administer anti-biotics. Therefore a futher trip to A&E with sepsis and a 5 day stay. Urology dealt with the prostrate with proffesionalism. (Bit like Charles, except l went home the same day).

But good news, I also had a hernia treated and operated on without a hitch.

A busy 7 years.

So I am not a fan of oversimplified performance stats.

John

 

[otherclive]

How much do waiting times truly reflect the state of the health service though it is most easily measured and very important to those on a list or attending A&E.

For more than the last 7 years, I have been playing hospital tennis. A term given to me by one of the consultants.

I first went to the Muscularscelital Department who referred me to Osteopathy. Both are excellent and with reasonable waiting. My problem was thought to be Vascular. A long wait only to be dismissed. Then the tennis began. They passed me to:
Respiratory
Cardiology
Neurology
Neurophysiology
Numerology
Back to Oestopathy, (private, but got things moving)
(Still waiting for Gynaecology)

Each referred me back to Vascular, who eventually operated on me last August. Overnight I improved from needing a mobility scooter to walking for a mile unaided.

All the disciplines I attended were first-class, with the exception of Vascular.

The cost to me was 7 years and a total change of lifestyle, hence no caravan now. The cost to the NHS and the taxpayer has to be many thousands. Also the wasted time of busy consultants who could have been seeing their own patients.

While being put through the above I suffered an enlarged prostrate involving two trips to the A&E. The first meant a very long wait and amateur treatment resulting in a nurse receiving the contents of my engorged bladder. And them forgeting to administer anti-biotics. Therefore a futher trip to A&E with sepsis and a 5 day stay. Urology dealt with the prostrate with proffesionalism. (Bit like Charles, except l went home the same day).

But good news, I also had a hernia treated and operated on without a hitch.

A busy 7 years.

So I am not a fan of oversimplified performance stats.

John

Given such a roundabout I can see why you might be so cynical. It doesn’t say much for the diagnostic capability as a means of targeting the problem. Glad the outcome has at last worked for you.

 

[Jcloughie]

I agree, my crib is wholly with vascular. They refused to accept my arteries were blocked despite CT and Ultrasound scans telling them 90% But I was not in pain. I found a published paper from Sheffield University Hospital saying ‘pain is not necessarily a symptom’. But they would not accept it. My GP wants me to complain. And I think it's the right thing to do. But I worry because I may need more surgery in the future.

John

 

[Sam Vimes]

Whilst they don’t advertise it there’s a large extra tax take due to inflation., house price increases, fuel increases etc. But pensioners haven’t done too badly through the Triple Lock this last two years.

Triple lock was suspended for April 2022 and we wont ever catch up for the short fall that year. The rumour mill is already grinding away with the prospect of only a 'double lock' this year.

 

[otherclive]

Triple lock was suspended for April 2022 and we wont ever catch up for the short fall that year. The rumour mill is already grinding away with the prospect of only a 'double lock' this year.

Apologies I was counting 2023 and 2024 which were favourable increases based on high inflation levels. But it was only the average earnings but that was suspended post pandemic for fear of high average earnings figure.

 

[Sam Vimes]

No Problem.....

These are the rates from 'Which'.......