Alison Young

[maymorganlondon]

For chronic health conditions such as we understand Ali Y has (and Simon and Julia) I can't imagine how they keep tabs on any significant changes in the condition or conditions they have.
It seems to me the NHS is a victim of massive scope creep. No wonder so many health care trusts are permanently teetering on the brink of financial crisis.
There has been a wilful neglect of fundamentals: ensuring a steady stream of new GPs, as the doctors recruited from around the Commonwealth all joined at a similar time so have reached retirement at broadly the same time... similarly there is a problem with pharmacists at a time when one of the tactics to relieve pressure on the NHS is to turn more and more to pharmacists.
Pharmacy staff are increasingly under attack in a similar way to staff in the paramedic, ambulance and A&E services.
More and more new treatments become available each year, often at huge cost.
At some point they need to reassess what is within the "free at the point of delivery" offer, and how the remainder will be funded.
I'd hate to see a full-scale collapse of the NHS, but if successive governments continue to shirk the difficult decisions, I fear that's what's ahead of us. That could open the door for the corporate profiteering which makes US healthcare so horrifying and heartless.
Throwing money at it clearly isn't the simple solution as Tony Blair and Gordon Brown pumped incredible amounts of money into it and didn't turn it around.
As much as we all can, we need to advocate for ourselves. We need to be terrier-like in pursuing tests to get the correct diagnosis and treatment.
And get that treatment before we develop the dreaded co-morbidities that ramp up the cost of treating patients.
Prevention and early intervention could slash the costs, yet nothing is invested in either area.

 

[rubia]

You can ring the surgery at 8 am and are told no appointments and go past later and it's like the Marie Celeste,nobody about.

I really don't understand what is going on!

 

[mina]

You must have been at my surgery. It's like that there.

My last asthma check up was the in surgery pharmacist, sp, phoning and chatting with me. She suggested I only take one puff of the inhaler twice a day. I told her I did on advice some years back and the next time I saw the doctor was told no 2 puffs twice a day if I don't get a chest infection. If chest infection, increase to 6 puffs 4 times a day plus the grey inhaler on top. I still do the two puffs twice a day.

At my last appointment with the asthma nurse a few years ago (where is she now and what is she doing?) I was told to change from using an inhaler as and when to using a steroid inhaler. I stopped using all inhalers as I don't like taking steroids and haven't felt as good or breathed as freely in years. I haven't had a flu jab since I landed in hospital as a result of allergic reaction ten plus years ago. I'm not saying everyone should stop all medication immediately - obviously that's dangerous and unsafe for a lot of conditions - just that my body seemed to need a rest and is healing itself better. Long may it last.

 

[Grizelda]

Mine are Clenil Modulite 100 which I use daily. The grey one is Salbutamol 100 this one I only use when needed. I had to start using it just before Xmas as I seemed to develop a bit of a rattle first thing in the morning and a heavy feeling, which has now settled down again.

I also have to use a nasal inhaler, Avmys 27.3 every day.

Are these Cortisone sprays?

 

[Totally Loopy Lou]

A few months ago I had to attend the asthma clinic at my GPs surgery. 2pm appointment. 3 people in waiting room (seats for around 40 people). During the 15 minutes I had to wait, I saw at least 6 of the 10 GPs in this practice, wandering around with cups of tea i n their hands.

Our GP surgery, which used to have chairs going around the whole outline of the waiting room (4 sides), now has… wait for it!… FOUR single chairs in a row!

Mum told me after visiting the surgery in desperation last week. They were all empty too, despite there being no appointments.

That says it all (see below!)

 

[Totally Loopy Lou]

I get SO cross about the GP issue!

Recently a lot of people have finally decided to abandon our surgery - which is now part of a group of about 10 widely-distributed surgeries - to a small single one bc they’re just fed up.

I haven’t SEEN a GP since spring 2019 (or any doctor at all come to that).

I’m literally housebound - more recently bedbound - and used to get home visits (I did not abuse that and only had appointments when *they* insisted I did, about twice a year max).

Since then I’ve had about 3 phone consultations - all with different doctors bc they keep leaving! - and only for drug reviews.

I’m on a LOT of medication all of which is Consultant-prescribed and supposed to be managed by one.
I’m also supposed to have 6 monthly bloods - haha, last had those in ?2020 I think.

“Luckily” I am under another a consultant at a specialist hospital for an unrelated condition so I do get occasional phone appt there?

But my poor mum can’t get an appointment either.
She called GP couple years back in absolute agony with her back.
They told her to go to A&E.

8 hours later with no water (she has a condition which means she needs fluids), they saw her and told it was sciatica. She knew it wasn’t!

Never did get to see GP.

When she had an MRI at hospital last year for something else, they found that she’s had/got spinal fracture!!
That was what caused the “sciatica”..
Still no appointment at GP!

Then since before Christmas she’s had a nasty cough and ear/headache.

Didn’t even bother to try GP bc she knows what it’s like and as an ex ICU sister, hates to make a fuss.

Finally my brother made her go as no better.
She went IN to surgery after failing on phone so many times - hence she spotted the 3 chairs above! - and they said no appointments.

They said she could look for cancellations later in the week.

She kept searching online and found an appt, but at a surgery in the group but 10 miles away and in 3 weeks!

So sorry for this rant but had to get this off my chest as it infuriates me!

I’m scared what they’re missing by not actually seeing patients - although I still know people who somehow manage to get appointments for every little sniffle!

I always used to defend the NHS - both parents did 44 years for and some relatives still work there - but I no longer can.
It and the staff are on their KNEES.

Something has got to give.
Not sure what exactly, but it just cannot carry on as it is..

 

[donna255]

Are these Cortisone sprays?

Actually no idea. Had a Google and yes.

 

[donna255]

At my last appointment with the asthma nurse a few years ago (where is she now and what is she doing?) I was told to change from using an inhaler as and when to using a steroid inhaler. I stopped using all inhalers as I don't like taking steroids and haven't felt as good or breathed as freely in years. I haven't had a flu jab since I landed in hospital as a result of allergic reaction ten plus years ago. I'm not saying everyone should stop all medication immediately - obviously that's dangerous and unsafe for a lot of conditions - just that my body seemed to need a rest and is healing itself better. Long may it last.

Sorry, not happening for me. I forget to take the inhaler and I get the wheeze and chest will get very tight. It has happened.

Actually, I have bronchial asthma. I was always getting chest infections as a child and having to take antibiotics, I remember having to take them when in primary school. Once told by GP long ago my bronchial tubes are all pitted and hence I get build up of mucus of the inhalers open up my tubes. Back in the 79s as a teen no inhalers then, but you had to take tablets instead, then it took 30 minutes for them to kick in.

I once had a massive asthma attack out walking the dog back in the 80s, I just kept walking slowly until I got home, then nearly fainted. A neighbour noticed my front door wide open, rushed over, and then phoned the doctor. Who in those days came straight out and have me an injection. I was hospitalized at 15 with bronchial pnemonal sorry can't spell.

Unless you have had an asthmas attack, people do not realize it is not trying to breathe, but you feel your airway is blocked, and you cannot get the air out.

I am very happy for you that what you decided has worked.

 

[rubia]

I get SO cross about the GP issue!

Recently a lot of people have finally decided to abandon our surgery - which is now part of a group of about 10 widely-distributed surgeries - to a small single one bc they’re just fed up.

I haven’t SEEN a GP since spring 2019 (or any doctor at all come to that).

I’m literally housebound - more recently bedbound - and used to get home visits (I did not abuse that and only had appointments when *they* insisted I did, about twice a year max).

Since then I’ve had about 3 phone consultations - all with different doctors bc they keep leaving! - and only for drug reviews.

I’m on a LOT of medication all of which is Consultant-prescribed and supposed to be managed by one.
I’m also supposed to have 6 monthly bloods - haha, last had those in ?2020 I think.

“Luckily” I am under another a consultant at a specialist hospital for an unrelated condition so I do get occasional phone appt there?

But my poor mum can’t get an appointment either.
She called GP couple years back in absolute agony with her back.
They told her to go to A&E.

8 hours later with no water (she has a condition which means she needs fluids), they saw her and told it was sciatica. She knew it wasn’t!

Never did get to see GP.

When she had an MRI at hospital last year for something else, they found that she’s had/got spinal fracture!!
That was what caused the “sciatica”..
Still no appointment at GP!

Then since before Christmas she’s had a nasty cough and ear/headache.

Didn’t even bother to try GP bc she knows what it’s like and as an ex ICU sister, hates to make a fuss.

Finally my brother made her go as no better.
She went IN to surgery after failing on phone so many times - hence she spotted the 3 chairs above! - and they said no appointments.

They said she could look for cancellations later in the week.

She kept searching online and found an appt, but at a surgery in the group but 10 miles away and in 3 weeks!

So sorry for this rant but had to get this off my chest as it infuriates me!

I’m scared what they’re missing by not actually seeing patients - although I still know people who somehow manage to get appointments for every little sniffle!

I always used to defend the NHS - both parents did 44 years for and some relatives still work there - but I no longer can.
It and the staff are on their KNEES.

Something has got to give.
Not sure what exactly, but it just cannot carry on as it is..

It's really horrific

 

[mina]

Sorry, not happening for me. I forget to take the inhaler and I get the wheeze and chest will get very tight. It has happened.

Actually, I have bronchial asthma. I was always getting chest infections as a child and having to take antibiotics, I remember having to take them when in primary school. Once told by GP long ago my bronchial tubes are all pitted and hence I get build up of mucus of the inhalers open up my tubes. Back in the 79s as a teen no inhalers then, but you had to take tablets instead, then it took 30 minutes for them to kick in.

I once had a massive asthma attack out walking the dog back in the 80s, I just kept walking slowly until I got home, then nearly fainted. A neighbour noticed my front door wide open, rushed over, and then phoned the doctor. Who in those days came straight out and have me an injection. I was hospitalized at 15 with bronchial pnemonal sorry can't spell.

Unless you have had an asthmas attack, people do not realize it is not trying to breathe, but you feel your airway is blocked, and you cannot get the air out.

I am very happy for you that what you decided has worked.

Thank you, Donna. Asthma runs in our family and I remember being woken up several times when I was a child because one or other of us had to be rushed to hospital, so I know I took a risk but so far it has paid off for me.

 

[Peppermint Patti]

Sorry, not happening for me. I forget to take the inhaler and I get the wheeze and chest will get very tight. It has happened.

Actually, I have bronchial asthma. I was always getting chest infections as a child and having to take antibiotics, I remember having to take them when in primary school. Once told by GP long ago my bronchial tubes are all pitted and hence I get build up of mucus of the inhalers open up my tubes. Back in the 79s as a teen no inhalers then, but you had to take tablets instead, then it took 30 minutes for them to kick in.

I once had a massive asthma attack out walking the dog back in the 80s, I just kept walking slowly until I got home, then nearly fainted. A neighbour noticed my front door wide open, rushed over, and then phoned the doctor. Who in those days came straight out and have me an injection. I was hospitalized at 15 with bronchial pnemonal sorry can't spell.

Unless you have had an asthmas attack, people do not realize it is not trying to breathe, but you feel your airway is blocked, and you cannot get the air out.

I am very happy for you that what you decided has worked.

Same with me Donna. Any cold goes straight to my chest.

 

[Peppermint Patti]

For chronic health conditions such as we understand Ali Y has (and Simon and Julia) I can't imagine how they keep tabs on any significant changes in the condition or conditions they have.
It seems to me the NHS is a victim of massive scope creep. No wonder so many health care trusts are permanently teetering on the brink of financial crisis.
There has been a wilful neglect of fundamentals: ensuring a steady stream of new GPs, as the doctors recruited from around the Commonwealth all joined at a similar time so have reached retirement at broadly the same time... similarly there is a problem with pharmacists at a time when one of the tactics to relieve pressure on the NHS is to turn more and more to pharmacists.
Pharmacy staff are increasingly under attack in a similar way to staff in the paramedic, ambulance and A&E services.
More and more new treatments become available each year, often at huge cost.
At some point they need to reassess what is within the "free at the point of delivery" offer, and how the remainder will be funded.
I'd hate to see a full-scale collapse of the NHS, but if successive governments continue to shirk the difficult decisions, I fear that's what's ahead of us. That could open the door for the corporate profiteering which makes US healthcare so horrifying and heartless.
Throwing money at it clearly isn't the simple solution as Tony Blair and Gordon Brown pumped incredible amounts of money into it and didn't turn it around.
As much as we all can, we need to advocate for ourselves. We need to be terrier-like in pursuing tests to get the correct diagnosis and treatment.
And get that treatment before we develop the dreaded co-morbidities that ramp up the cost of treating patients.
Prevention and early intervention could slash the costs, yet nothing is invested in either area.

Prescribing paracetamol,antihistamine,gaviscon etc on prescription is wrong.
Went into our local pharmacy a couple of years ago and the piles of uncollected medication was horrendous,some must have had 10 or more lots of medication in. There is now a notice stating if medication isn't collected within 4 weeks a new prescription must be got from the GP,to be honest I would give 2 weeks.
A lot complain about it but they have stopped printing prescriptions until you go to collect your medication,and I don't blame them.

 

[maymorganlondon]

Prescribing paracetamol,antihistamine,gaviscon etc on prescription is wrong.
Went into our local pharmacy a couple of years ago and the piles of uncollected medication was horrendous,some must have had 10 or more lots of medication in. There is now a notice stating if medication isn't collected within 4 weeks a new prescription must be got from the GP,to be honest I would give 2 weeks.
A lot complain about it but they have stopped printing prescriptions until you go to collect your medication,and I don't blame them.

Especially wrong that over the counter costs for most of these are hugely cheaper than what the NHS pays.
Scripts should be used for medication which has to be closely monitored by the medics.
I suspect the outrageous prices the NHS is charged for generic, cheap-as-chips products subsidises the cheaper costs they get for much more expensive drugs. At the end of the day, the pharmaceutical companies don't lose out.
As someone who has to pay, my GP recommended products I could buy over the counter, as the scripts would have cost far more.

 

[donna255]

I always ask for generic buying over the counter tablets etc.

 

[Battiola73]

There’s a documentary on Channel 4 on 4th March. “Skinny jab scandal”.