MEDICAL MATTERS

[Stanley]

Good luck with the X Ray......

[Stanley]

I shall talk to the appointments clerk in the Urology department at Airedale. As I have 6 weekly appointments coming and they are all nurse led procedures I want to see if they can give me a regular day each week as this will make arranging transport much easier! Wish me luck!

[Big Kev]

Impressive set up at Airedale. In and out within the 20 minute free parking window.

[Marilyn]

So no need for a restaurant then ?

[PanBiker]

That was my experience too Kev when I went for my x-ray on my hips a couple of years ago.

[Big Kev]

So no need for a restaurant then ?

No, acting on information received there was no need to arrive early.

[Stanley]

That sums up my experience with Airedale as well Kev. Minimal waiting, efficient procedures and overall a good experience. I spoke to the admissions clerk in Urology yesterday and asked her if my six appointments could be scheduled for the same time each week as it would help with planning transport. She said that whilst she couldn't confirm it she thought it was possible and has put a note on my file. At the same time she confirmed that I was on the January list. That's helpful and as good as I could hope for.
When you consider that it is only 2 months since the suspicion was raised by Hassan, I don't see how I could have been dealt with any faster especially when you remember that there has to be a recovery phase between each incursion into my bladder! (And no pain at any time!)

[PanBiker]

Well, that was OK. Just managed to walk to the Coop and back and then down to Aldi and back to secure all the relevant bits for tea. Having a sit down now before making a bit of dinner, then it will be exercise time. 7000 steps in today so far.

[Big Kev]

Well, that was OK. Just managed to walk to the Coop and back and then down to Aldi and back to secure all the relevant bits for tea. Having a sit down now before making a bit of dinner, then it will be exercise time. 7000 steps in today so far.

Good stuff Ian, I hear Weets calling you

[Stanley]

Well done Ian, and no accident. You have worked hard and now you are getting pay-back. The days are lengthening and you have all summer to get back on to peak form. Keep doing what you have done so far!

[Tizer]

Good news...
`Hospitals 'coping better with winter'' LINK
`Hospitals seem to be coping better with winter, NHS England figures suggest. Data released for the festive period showed fewer A&E closures and ambulance delays than the same period last year. Levels of flu and vomiting bug Norovirus also remain low. NHS England said the improvement was a result of good planning and hard work by staff...'

[Marilyn]

Rubbish. It's just a late season for the worst of the bugs! They will regret boasting...

[Stanley]

Not rubbish but fact Maz. They know there is a long way to go yet. Give them a break....

[Marilyn]

It's a well known fact that seasonal health issues present in peaks and troughs.
What I was saying "rubbish" to is that it is accredited to "NHS's good planning and hard work". Less presentations for these winter bugs doesn't translate to them planning better or working harder! They had less presentations. End of story!

[Tizer]

They are trying to improve things Maz and we're thankful for it, especially when they're so short of funding and have an increasing burden of obesity and longer-living oldies with health problems. We all know it can get worse in coming months - we've got the Daily Star warning us of another `Beast from the East' bout of bad weather and as everyone knows the Daily Star is a fountain of truth, haha!

[PanBiker]

You do seem to have a massive downer on our NHS Maz and I can't see why, you seem to be perfectly happy with your lot in having to pay for your medical treatments. So why the negativity when something goes right over here, I just don't get it, we are both in a win win either side of the pond.

[plaques]

My pal in Canada had the same negative outlook on the NHS. Total rubbish when compared to the private sector. For years his Doctor treated him for high blood pressure when in every other respect he was a fit as a butcher's dog. No excesses and a regular gym user. I used to ask him "have they checked your kidney function"? No, its my blood pressure. He died two years ago from kidney cancer, They only found out when it was at stage four with three months to live.

[PanBiker]

I can't even comprehend how much my recent treatment would have cost in the private sector. Diagnosis in a state of the art facility, six hour operation by a top neurosurgeon followed by three weeks in an acute care bed and environment. Ongoing neuro physiotherapy care (3 months so far) and free orthotics as required to help my recovery. I consider myself very fortunate that I have only ever been hospitalised twice in my entire life, both were acute situations and in both cases expertly treated by our NHS. It's a jewel worth fighting for.

[chinatyke]

I can't even comprehend how much my recent treatment would have cost in the private sector. Diagnosis in a state of the art facility, six hour operation by a top neurosurgeon followed by three weeks in an acute care bed and environment. Ongoing neuro physiotherapy care (3 months so far) and free orthotics as required to help my recovery. I consider myself very fortunate that I have only ever been hospitalised twice in my entire life, both were acute situations and in both cases expertly treated by our NHS. It's a jewel worth fighting for.

You would have probably died if you lived here and had no medical insurance. Unfortunately, that is what happens to people here that are faced with these scenarios. I'd hate to be a doctor giving bad news to people who have no chance of finding the required funds. I have known several ex-pats who died early simply because of a lack of funds. But I guess if you didn't have NHS you would have insurance cover. Don't forget the NHS is not free, you are taxed in various ways to pay for it.

[Tizer]

Yes, but free at the point of use is the critical thing. You can walk in off the street with an injury and will get treatment without having to prove you can pay. It's strange to think how we in the capitalist UK have the NHS when people in China have to pay for their own insurance or treatment.

[PanBiker]

Capitalist now Tiz but not when the NHS was formed, that took a socialist government to bring it into reality. Subsequent capitalists regimes have been trying to privatise it ever since. We are well overdue for another truly socialist government to put some sense back into where the money should be invested.

[Marilyn]

I wasn't dissing the NHS. I was dissing the statement that their hard work and planning was putting them in a better position this year, when in fact, up to this point, they had experienced fewer presentations of the seasonal health issues that tend to stretch their services. It could just be the worst is yet to come in regard to the winter illnesses this season.
( I fail to see how you interpreted that I was dissing the NHS).

[Stanley]

"I fail to see how you interpreted that I was dissing the NHS"
Because you started by saying rubbish and ended by accusing them of boasting when all they did was report their view of the situation.
The security we have of knowing we can be ill and treatment is free is a pearl beyond price.
Insurance isn't all it's cracked up to be. My mate David Moore had private medical insurance and as soon as it became obvious his condition was long term and needed multiple interventions his insurance stopped funding treatment and he had to go to the NHS.

[Marilyn]

Aye...well...you get served quicker at the Chippie too, when you are not on the end of a long line of folk all wanting Fish and Chips.

[chinatyke]