Hypothetically... (cancer related)

[WannaBe_80z]

What exactly is wrong? Your belly button is falling out?!

not to side track this or anything...

[FlashLackey]

Heh. You could say that.

There's just a small hole in the abdomnial wall that allows my guts to poke through a little bit. It just looks like a little bulge, filling up my belly button.

I was told that there was probably a hole there since childhood and something happened (lifting something heavy probably) that caused it to open a little more. They said that they get hernias that are as big as a persons head regularly. I thought they were joking but I guess it happens. So, after they told me that, I felt like I wasn't getting such a bad deal.

[lesli_felix]

Yep our National health service is a brilliant example to the World.
Sounds like ungrateful winging to me, what's the bit about standard of English about?

It's not.

I tried to explain to an NHS dentist that I needed her confirmation that I'd been punched in the face and had my teeth chipped, for police records. She couldn't understand what I was saying and kept insisting that I grind my teeth too much. I gave up in the end and went private just so I could say I'd been assaulted.

Another time a GP refused to help with a very deep cut. Sent me to A&E where I had to have it *stapled* together (they were trying to save money by not using conventional stiches. I still have the scars to prove this)

Thirdly, called another GP a year ago because I'd lost my hearing and could barely speak. I was told to wait at least a week and then call back to make an appointment -- 1.5 hours later I'm in a private consultation being treated and being told that if I had waited, at least one of my eardrums would have burst and that I could have lost my hearing.

One NHS success story I can give you - A Polish girl who worked in a bar near me wanted plastic surgery to correct a slightly asymmetrical nose. She moves to London, fakes an assault the first day she arrives to qualify her for free cosmetic surgery, and has her nose fixed. Sweet.

The NHS is a shining example of how not to do it.


Edit - the first and last story are not connected, I promise.

[Stoke Laurie]

^ I can give you 50,000 examples of how it is how to do it ( the number of ops performed by the NHS in the last 6 months)

Flashlacky - I had exactly the same situation, as you, probably since birth. Doctor told me that it was best to repair it now, while still plenty young and fit to make a quick recovery. I did have the patch put in, to prevent it happening again. Whole thing was over in 30 minutes general anesthetic. Great attitude from all staff concerned. Sent home to rest, and I have had a phone call from the ward each day since.

[lesli_felix]

^ I can give you 50,000 examples of how it is how to do it ( the number of ops performed by the NHS in the last 6 months)

And you aren't going to thank me for helping to pay for these ops, despite the fact that I fund my own healthcare?

This is precisely why the NHS isn't going to last forever, because for every person that can afford healthcare, there are another ten that can't and ignorantly praise the system for giving them more than they put in.

Sorry mate, but I feel very strongly about this. I think its a great idea on paper, but in practice it doesn't work, and because the costs of ops and drugs are hidden from patients, it's left wide open to abuse from those supplying the goods.

[CVO Chris]

In theory the NHS is a great idea but in practice their quality of service varies from location to location and is being constantly abused by health tourists (people from other countries coming over to give birth etc here because it's free).

It's hard to claim our health care is so great and ignore the MRSA infected dirty hospitals but at the same time I've always got a first class service in clean wards although I've never had to have any operations and hopefully never will.

[Stoke Laurie]

And you aren't going to thank me for helping to pay for these ops, despite the fact that I fund my own healthcare?

This is precisely why the NHS isn't going to last forever, because for every person that can afford healthcare, there are another ten that can't and ignorantly praise the system for giving them more than they put in.

Sorry mate, but I feel very strongly about this. I think its a great idea on paper, but in practice it doesn't work, and because the costs of ops and drugs are hidden from patients, it's left wide open to abuse from those supplying the goods.

In 50 years of life, I have only made 2 demands on the NHS, 1 to be born and the help I recieved last week. YOU SEE I WAS BORN LUCKY, HEALTHY. Not because of anything I did, I was just 1 of the lucky ones. I have been fit and healthy all my life and contributed to the health care of those who were not so lucky. Sounds like you have a selfish streak to me, lets hope there is someone there to help you when you need it.

[FlashLackey]

Having a private health care system does not prevent people from helping each other if it's needed.

[lesli_felix]

Sounds like you have a selfish streak to me, lets hope there is someone there to help you when you need it.

I pay for private insurance *and* NHS. How selfish is that?

Yes, I would hope I'll get help if I ever need it, I'm paying for the privilege twice.

[Stoke Laurie]

Were you born in the UK?

[lesli_felix]

Yes, AFAIK.

[Stoke Laurie]

what?

[CVO Chris]

AFAIK = As Far As I Know.

[Stoke Laurie]

You would think he would wouldn't you, however he also seems unclear on simple satements like I feel privilaged in the way that if I had health concerns, I can go and get them checked out for free - seems a no brainer to me.

[lesli_felix]

It's not free. This is where I think you're getting confused. Staff, equipment and medicine cost a lot of money. The fact that people think it's free will be the single most important contributing factor to the NHS's downfall.

[Stoke Laurie]

Confused? not me son, as I said, I had happily contributed all my working life to have it free on demand, plus there is enough to pay for those who have not been as lucky as me, and have not been healthy enough to contribute, where as your private system only pays for you. Got it now? Good, now can we get back to the poor guy who is worried that he may have a life threatening problem.