P&O Cruisers - What are things like where YOU are?

[Harry Peterson]

On a slightly different tack, anyone else fed up to the back teeth with the constant press attacks on GPs, doctors and the NHS generally?

 

Had a prearranged phone call from my specialist yesterday, at my own request to avoid a hospital visit. We discussed a few issues, guy was as always very helpful and attentive, moved on to talking about the currently increased Covid incidence, and it turned out the poor guy was at home, with his third bout of Covid, all contracted in the hospital.  Would have been very easy just to call in sick and ditch the appointment - but he didn’t and was continuing to work, despite feeling absolutely rotten.

 

Likewise my GPs - excellent service throughout the pandemic, and still is. I’m quite happy with phone + email responses, but on the very rare occasion that I’ve needed to be seen, I have been. Usually on the same day. I just don’t recognise all the constant complaints, unless they stem from people unreasonably demanding to see a GP when a different form of consultation would work just as well.

[Adawn47]

52 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

On a slightly different tack, anyone else fed up to the back teeth with the constant press attacks on GPs, doctors and the NHS generally?

 

Had a prearranged phone call from my specialist yesterday, at my own request to avoid a hospital visit. We discussed a few issues, guy was as always very helpful and attentive, moved on to talking about the currently increased Covid incidence, and it turned out the poor guy was at home, with his third bout of Covid, all contracted in the hospital.  Would have been very easy just to call in sick and ditch the appointment - but he didn’t and was continuing to work, despite feeling absolutely rotten.

 

Likewise my GPs - excellent service throughout the pandemic, and still is. I’m quite happy with phone + email responses, but on the very rare occasion that I’ve needed to be seen, I have been. Usually on the same day. I just don’t recognise all the constant complaints, unless they stem from people unreasonably demanding to see a GP when a different form of consultation would work just as well.

I whole-heartedly agree with your post Harry.

We need an 'Agree' button as 'Like' sometimes can't say enough.

Avril

[Harry Peterson]

4 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

I whole-heartedly agree with your post Harry.

We need an 'Agree' button as 'Like' sometimes can't say enough.

Avril

Thanks Avril (hope you and Frank are fully, 100%, recovered soon) - just felt that my personal deep satisfaction with the dedication shown by NHS staff, very much including doctors and GPs, was worth recording.  My wife feels exactly the same way too, and the constant press attacks by certain newspapers make us both furious. They also alienate medical staff and make the retention and recruitment of key staff even more difficult than it already is.

 

On a related issue, I'm having my other cataract sorted tomorrow - just one month from the NHS referral by Specsavers, and in that time I've already had the pre-assessment by the ophthalmologist.  How good is that, particularly given the impact of the pandemic?

 

I know there are some problems - but the positives and the dedication of NHS staff never seem to get the publicity they deserve, because it doesn't fit the agenda.

[davecttr]

My cataract referrals  were quick too but my glaucoma diagnosis took over a year. I have not had a diabetes review for 2 years and was due a prostate review last month. I intend to contact the surgery today and hopefully get a positive response as the first stage is a number of blood tests.

[wowzz]

Bit late to the new car photo fest of a few weeks ago, but here is one of the mighty Percy Puma !

[Ardennais]

5 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

Has anyone ever woken up the day before a cruise and thought "I really wish I hadn't booked this cruise, I don't want to bother packing, getting LFT done, spending over 3 hours in the car " ?

Yes, but it was 2 days before for us and 5 hours in the car! Once the supervised test was done, I was able to relax and start packing, and it was really great to be back onboard. 

[Britboys]

5 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

Has anyone ever woken up the day before a cruise and thought "I really wish I hadn't booked this cruise, I don't want to bother packing, getting LFT done, spending over 3 hours in the car " ?

I hate the build-up to a cruise and to a lesser extent any overseas travel. I hate the packing and am always convinced that I am going to forget something vital. Don't mind the drive as it is no more than a couple of hours for me. Not had the stress of the LFT yet, so have that to come. Once I am on board, I relax pretty quickly normally.

It was fine when Tony was alive as he normally packed both cases, mixing our clothes between the two. I just had to fold all my own stuff. He was also very organised in respect of travel documents etc. Even though I've now had to sort myself out for 10 years, it just seems to get worse every year...

[Ardennais]

2 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

On a slightly different tack, anyone else fed up to the back teeth with the constant press attacks on GPs, doctors and the NHS generally?

 

Had a prearranged phone call from my specialist yesterday, at my own request to avoid a hospital visit. We discussed a few issues, guy was as always very helpful and attentive, moved on to talking about the currently increased Covid incidence, and it turned out the poor guy was at home, with his third bout of Covid, all contracted in the hospital.  Would have been very easy just to call in sick and ditch the appointment - but he didn’t and was continuing to work, despite feeling absolutely rotten.

 

Likewise my GPs - excellent service throughout the pandemic, and still is. I’m quite happy with phone + email responses, but on the very rare occasion that I’ve needed to be seen, I have been. Usually on the same day. I just don’t recognise all the constant complaints, unless they stem from people unreasonably demanding to see a GP when a different form of consultation would work just as well.

I don’t like the press attacks (we had it all the time as teachers), but it’s really difficult to see a doctor around here. Physio services are almost non-existent and waiting lists are horrendous. And it’s affecting all age groups. It’s distressing for older folk and the same for young parents who just can’t seem to access appointments for their children without being made to feel that they’re making a fuss. The receptionists are like a barricade! So unfortunately, I do recognise the complaints and sympathise. 

[Harry Peterson]

32 minutes ago, Ardennais said:

I don’t like the press attacks (we had it all the time as teachers), but it’s really difficult to see a doctor around here. Physio services are almost non-existent and waiting lists are horrendous. And it’s affecting all age groups. It’s distressing for older folk and the same for young parents who just can’t seem to access appointments for their children without being made to feel that they’re making a fuss. The receptionists are like a barricade! So unfortunately, I do recognise the complaints and sympathise. 

I take your point entirely about the situation in Wales. By all accounts it’s not good. Free prescriptions don’t make up for other inadequacies, but the cost might be relevant. I imagine there might be a problem getting staff into remoter areas too, but you’d think that would apply to Scotland too.

 

I’m surprised this issue hasn’t been tackled (it applies across the UK) by means of remuneration packages. It seems senseless to allow GPs, for example, to congregate in leafy suburban southern areas (sunlit uplands?) when the need’s far greater elsewhere. Revised differential per capita remuneration ought to be capable of resolving that.

[terrierjohn]

2 hours ago, Adawn47 said:

I whole-heartedly agree with your post Harry.

We need an 'Agree' button as 'Like' sometimes can't say enough.

Avril

I also agree with Harry about how well the NHS generally performs. But, just like any news, the low key,  monotonous, acceptable service is not news.

The media only seem to want ambulances queuing to drop off patients, trolley loads of potential patients in corridors, beds blocked with patients needing social care and GP  surgeries not providing face to face appointments.

Anything normal is not newsworthy.

[zap99]

15 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

I take your point entirely about the situation in Wales. By all accounts it’s not good. Free prescriptions don’t make up for other inadequacies, but the cost might be relevant. I imagine there might be a problem getting staff into remoter areas too, but you’d think that would apply to Scotland too.

 

I’m surprised this issue hasn’t been tackled (it applies across the UK) by means of remuneration packages. It seems senseless to allow GPs, for example, to congregate in leafy suburban southern areas (sunlit uplands?) when the need’s far greater elsewhere. Revised differential per capita remuneration ought to be capable of resolving that.

Harry. I don't have a problem with the NHS, but getting past the barrier at the reception desk can be a pain. If folk want to live in the leafy suburbs, isn't that their choice?. Paying folk to move somewhere else may be considered insulting to the somewhere else.

[Harry Peterson]

2 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

I also agree with Harry….

John!!!  This is not good!  Please take another tablet, my friend!  😉

[Ardennais]

There was a problem with recruitment well before Covid which meant that locums were filling in. The NHS in Wales is in a sorry state. Things will only get worse. The initial census information shows an increase the percentage of over 65s in many rural areas. 

[AndyMichelle]

[grapau27]

11 hours ago, zap99 said:

Sorry Josy, not here. Look forward to every holiday, but wish they would do away with the testing requirement.

I'm the same as you Zapp.

I look forward to the 6 hour drive to Southampton as I love driving.

[grapau27]

8 hours ago, wowzz said:

Bit late to the new car photo fest of a few weeks ago, but here is one of the mighty Percy Puma !

Nice car Wowzz.

[Britboys]

8 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

I take your point entirely about the situation in Wales. By all accounts it’s not good. Free prescriptions don’t make up for other inadequacies, but the cost might be relevant. I imagine there might be a problem getting staff into remoter areas too, but you’d think that would apply to Scotland too.

 

I’m surprised this issue hasn’t been tackled (it applies across the UK) by means of remuneration packages. It seems senseless to allow GPs, for example, to congregate in leafy suburban southern areas (sunlit uplands?) when the need’s far greater elsewhere. Revised differential per capita remuneration ought to be capable of resolving that.

I think you'll find there are plenty of 'leafy suburbs' down here in the south where people are waiting weeks to see a GP and months/years for surgery.

Unfortunately, successive governments of all colours have failed to train and recruit enough medical/clinical staff over many years.

Many european countries have a far better doctor/patient ratio than we do here.

[wowzz]

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

Nice car Wowzz.

Thank you.  The colour, solar silver,  looks great  in the sunshine,  but, unfortunately we have not had much of that recently. 

After driving for over 50 years, this is only the second car that I have personally owned from new.

My DW tells me that this  is  the last car I will ever buy, so I need to look after it !

[brian1]

9 hours ago, grapau27 said:

I'm the same as you Zapp.

I look forward to the 6 hour drive to Southampton as I love driving.

You can be my chauffeur in October Graham when we drive back.6hrs x 4 ☺️.

[Eglesbrech]

9 hours ago, Britboys said:

I think you'll find there are plenty of 'leafy suburbs' down here in the south where people are waiting weeks to see a GP and months/years for surgery.

Unfortunately, successive governments of all colours have failed to train and recruit enough medical/clinical staff over many years.

Many european countries have a far better doctor/patient ratio than we do here.

We train plenty up here but then they go elsewhere, usually Canada or Australia where they are paid more and work fewer hours.

Personally  I think that there should be some sort of target for how long people must work in the NHS before they can go elsewhere or into the private sector or alternatively they payback their full tuition (which is free at point of use for students but paid for by the extra taxes up here).

 

We have a real brain drain. In my circle of friends more than half of their offspring moved abroad, all have professions or trades which we need here. 

[gsmt47471015]

11 hours ago, grapau27 said:

I'm the same as you Zapp.

I look forward to the 6 hour drive to Southampton as I love driving.

I admire you for enjoying the six hour drive, with so many ,how shall we say , different drivers? On the road nowadays the pleasure I used to have is greatly diminished and my main objective is to get to and from my destination in one piece with my car intact

[grapau27]

4 minutes ago, gsmt47471015 said:

I admire you for enjoying the six hour drive, with so many ,how shall we say , different drivers? On the road nowadays the pleasure I used to have is greatly diminished and my main objective is to get to and from my destination in one piece with my car intact

I do all the driving usually non stop.

I have been a sales representative for 40 year's and used to driving 200+ miles every day.

[Eglesbrech]

2 minutes ago, gsmt47471015 said:

I admire you for enjoying the six hour drive, with so many ,how shall we say , different drivers? On the road nowadays the pleasure I used to have is greatly diminished and my main objective is to get to and from my destination in one piece with my car intact

I hate the drive and like you just want to get there in one piece. I prefer the nice quiet roads at home (except the tractors!).

 

There are so many idiots on the road now. They weave in and out, go too fast, cut you up, don’t leave braking distance etc. 

 

We used to fly down when there was competition and the prices were not too bad, now the flights are eyewateringly high. The trains are even worse price wise.

 

 

[Eglesbrech]

Just now, grapau27 said:

I do all the driving usually non stop.

I have been a sales representative for 40 year's and used to driving 200+ miles every day.

You must have nerves of steel Graham!

[twotravellersLondon]

10 hours ago, Britboys said:

I think you'll find there are plenty of 'leafy suburbs' down here in the south where people are waiting weeks to see a GP and months/years for surgery.

Unfortunately, successive governments of all colours have failed to train and recruit enough medical/clinical staff over many years.

Many european countries have a far better doctor/patient ratio than we do here.

 Would be interested to know where your ideas come from. According to the authoritative World Bank database, the UK has a much better doctor/patient ratio than most European countries... better in fact than Portugal, Austria, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Ireland and Luxembourg... to name but a few. On the global scale, the UK also has a better doctor/patient ratio than the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada and many other countries.