Here in the UK we are
blessed to have the NHS.
Personally I am
extremely grateful and proud of the NHS. I take my hat off to NHS
workers whose hard work and care in stretched circumstances make the
NHS amazing.
I fear for the future
for myself, my children and future generations if the NHS crumbles.
Without it health issues
of my loved ones may have ended in a different story.
The worry of paying for
medical care and treatment when ill or having experienced an accident
is a daunting thought.
Thankfully apart from
routine health issues and non-fatal conditions such as PCOS, my
personal experience of NHS care is limited to the GP and the odd
consultant appointment. “Touch wood” so far I have not had any
serious accidents, injuries or sudden illnesses where I have needed
immediate, serious health care. My only hospital stays have been the
2 nights when my children were born - 1 night each a few years apart.
Those brief stays in
hospital when I was giving birth to my beautiful boys were for me a
positive experience. I received great health care and both myself and
my baby were well cared for by busy midwives and other hospital
staff.
My positive view of the
NHS was further validated when Jelly Bean needed medical care when he
was a mere few weeks old. GP’s, the Paediatric day ward at our
local hospital, ambulance workers and the staff, nurses, consultant
doctors and surgeons at Noah’s Ark Hospital at the University of
Wales Cardiff all provided great care and helped get my boy better
and fighting fit once again.
Whilst the care Jelly
Bean received when unwell and in need of surgery was great, during
our time at the Noah’s Ark Hospital I saw how busy, stretched and
understaffed the ward was.
Even though the ward was
exceptionally busy yet devastatingly understaffed the care Jelly Bean
received was high quality, through and attentive. The nurses caring
for him were diligent, friendly, caring and skilled. From the nurses
to the anaesthetist to the consultants to the surgeons, all were more
than happy to take the time to talk in detail about Jelly Bean and
his care plan as well as answer any queries I had.
Being over 100 miles
away from home alone with Jelly Bean and away from Lee and my other
boy Bug with a newborn baby who was unwell and needing emergency
surgery was a frightening and daunting experience. If the care from
the hospital had been lacking it would have made the experience a lot
worse, affecting not only Jelly Bean’s level of care and medical
attention but also my confidence in the hospital and his care along
with my own emotions surrounding the experience. Thankfully though
due to the level of quality care given to Jelly Bean and the skilled
staff looking after him I felt reassured that he was in safe hands -
which thankfully he was!
My experience as a
parent with a child in hospital has taught me that you should witness
medical staff showing quality, skilled care and be able to ask for
information and explanations about treatments and care plans so that
you feel happy with a good understanding of the care being provided.
Even though we as a
family have had no issues with any medical care we have received from
the NHS, as I have personally witnessed how strained and overextended
the NHS and its staff are it is sadly no surprise that sometimes care
standards may slip or oversights may happen which result in medical
negligence.
For example whilst I
have personally received good care during labour my sister was not so
fortunate. During the birth of her first born due to poor health care
provided at the hospital she suffered from personal injuries which
not only caused physical issues but has left her with mental issues
and anxiety from the experience. Whilst she is relieved that her son
was born healthy, the injuries caused to her during labour have
caused her long term problems.
Unfortunately my sister
is not alone in having received poor care whilst in hospital and
suffering the long term affects that medical negligence can cause. In
2015/16 there were 1,811,175 patient safety incidents (an incident
that has potential to jeopardise a patient’s safety, care or
treatment), 5,569 of which resulted in severe harm and unfortunately
4,371 of which resulted in death.
For patients who has
suffered medical negligence and poor health care they can complain to
the NHS as well as claim compensation for their ordeal. In
2015/16 the NHS paid £1,488.5 million in clinical negligence
compensation. If you have experienced poor medical treatment and care and need help and advice to make a claim for medical negligence take a look at www.yourlegalfriend.com who are experts in medical negligence claims.
Have you experienced
medical negligence?
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