The Destruction of the NHS...

[ldopas]

MR. Bloody hell man, my best wishes for your speedy recovery.

Dont go into a rant or get aspirated you need to REST!

The NHS is fantastic, and whatever people think it isn't going anywhere. Unfortunately an ageing population and other issues are going to put pressure on it that no political party or money may be able to solve. IMO that isn't the end for it in 25 years, but a slimming down of services to focus on ones that you experienced. Emergencies. We might not like it but population growth, age profile changes and other issues are going to pressure many of our infrastructure services.

But for now, my advice, don't get het up about ANYTHING. Relax, take the meds, get better! there will be many days ahead to bang desks!!!!! 

[Master Ray]

Cheers, you gorgeous lot (I'll be responding to PMs shortly...) but I'm fine.  Oddly so... I'm back home since last night and, surprisingly, feeling better than I've done in a good long while.  The artery blockage was completely cleared, the drugs are kicking in (granted, I've got so many pills to take that I'm practically rattling...) I've got no pain and more energy than I've had in ages.  My good friend Shush mentioned Nottingham next month... I honestly feel, right now, that I could make it if it was tomorrow!   

No matter how scary it was at the time, I can actually say it might have been the best thing to happen to me all year.  It was a big red STOP sign for certain aspects of my life.  Not that I was Pete Doherty or anything, but a man of my age needs to make lifestyle changes. 

The big message here that I learned is... never never NEVER ignore chest pain. My chest pain never rose above a 4/10 and if it wasn't for my previous NHS background, I'd probably have ignored it and tried to go back to bed... who knows what might have happened a couple of hours later.  You see it on TV or whatever that a heart attack is all agonising and collapsing and dramatic... it ain't always like that at all.  You got a bit of chest pain that doesn't go away, call the fuckin' ambulance.  Best case scenario, you're a bit embarrassed when it turns out to be severe indigestion.  Worst case... you drop down dead.  You choose what's better.

So, again, thank you for your kind words, I'm on my feet and doing OK.  Better than OK, in fact...

[Shush]

Only good thing you get from a serious illness, - you find out who your friends are 

[witch]

Take care Master Ray all the best cheers witch

[Sheena]

Bloody hell Ray!  What a shock; I'm so glad you are ok.  Take good care of yourself xxx

[claireinblack]

Glad to hear of your recovery, and that you had such great service from the NHS

[Johnny Appleseed]

Master Ray,

Only just picked up this thread. I'm very sorry to read of your illness, but delighted to learn you're recovering well.

Got everything crossed that you make a full recovery and very soon.

all the best,
Johnny

[Master Ray]

Cheers Johnny. 

[Bunny]

Bit late of me MR but glad youre on the mend and have come through positively. Good on ya mate.

[Pol]

Ok very trivial and minor considering what a few others have been through recently.

Went for a minor op today on my arm, got a large skin tag removed at my local hospital ( crosshouse nr Kilmarnock) . Basically a local anesthetic tag scalpeled off n two stiches, only took about ten minutes.

Got to say all the staff were extremely nice and couldn't have been more professional

[Wessexy Witch]

Just found this thread.
I hope you are doing ok now Master Ray.

As you all know the NHS has saved my life twice this year with the brain tumour and the cancer.

I just wish the government would pay me enough in my full time job to pay tax to fund this fantastic life saving/changing service.

[Anna Woman von NRW]

Paying for A&E anyone .................................? 

[Master Ray]

Paying for A&E anyone .................................? 

Gotta love The Daily Mash...

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/health/ae-waiting-times-would-improve-if-you-werent-such-idiots-say-experts-2015010694135

[Anna Woman von NRW]

 

[ldopas]

I understand the left of centre view here and the rant at the government. But don't all jump on me, I just wanted to point a couple of things out.

Rather than destroying the NHS facts tell us that spending has nearly doubled in the last decade from £65 billion to £114 billion this year. We can talk about creeping "privatisation", but facts tell us that just 5% is subject to public/private partnerships.

So perhaps we need to extend out horizons a bit?  To look at aging populations, increased population, extra treatment brought under the NHS banner that perhaps should not be there, people who use A&E for none A&E, how we spend and deploy that money ie is it effective?

I suspect any government could put another 50% on top of current funding, with the impact of where that comes from to be discussed and we would still have issues.

I, like you, would fight to keep our NHS. It is one of our crowning glories, but we need surely to look a bit wider than just Tory/Labour bashing?