The true size of NHS waiting lists stands at almost 20 million, thanks to a “hidden waitlist” that means they far exceed official figures, Freedom of Information disclosures suggest.
But perhaps we should aspire to better than that. By, say, not using a Soviet management and provision method?
WTF’s a “wait list”? Do they mean waitING list? Yknow, you form an adjective from a verb using the -ing form because it is describING something, it is something actING on the noun.
Dunno Jgh. “Waiting list” implies there are people doing the waiting. Do people still wait to be treated by the NHS or have they given up all expectations?
Heresy!!
How dare you impugn on the greatest health service system in the world! ™ Praise be upon it!
The US Veterans Administration (which provides free healthcare to military veterans) pulled almost-exactly the same trick in response to Congressional pressures to reduce waiting lists. Must be something about state-run healthcare, that the immediate response to vast numbers of patients effectively denied healthcare is to find a way to fudge the numbers rather than treating the patients.
I’m in the US. I have had some vision problems the last few weeks. My optometrist told me to see an opthalmologist, an actual eye doctor. Appointment in 3 days, my OOP cost $85. How’s the NHS doing, again?
llater,
llamas
The NHS gave me an audiology assessment about six weeks ago. The results were clear: “I’ll send them to your GP”. Naturally I’ve heard nothing since.
Let me rephrase that: naturally the GP has not been in touch.
@llamas
Much the same in UK if you go private for eyes or teeth. The NHS waiting list understates the problem, because many people needing hip/knee replacements (waiting list currently ~2 years and increasing – which is a long time to be in growing pain) are choosing the private healthcare option, if they can afford the £20k bill.
But everybody irrespective of means has access to the waiting list which is free at the point of delivery – banging of pots and pans required.
I feel the need to defend the honour of the NHS. A few weeks ago, we noticed a problem with my daughter’s knees. We spent half an hour on the phone waiting to speak to the GPs receptionist and were actually given an appointment with the GP for about a week later.
After our GPs appointment, our GP wrote a letter that was posted to the hospital, referring us to the relevant specialist. We saw the specialist around two weeks after seeing our GP. The appropriate surgery took place ten days later.
So, from phoning our GP to post-surgical discharge took around 5 weeks. This wasn’t for anything life-critical either.
When the NHS gets its arse in gear, it can be remarkable. I wouldn’t have expected much faster treatment had we gone private. Sure, there are massive problems with the system, but it is better than nothing.
Windy Pants
I feel the need to defend the honour of the NHS … it is better than nothing
🙂