Good old NHS - friend had a fall and....

MurphysMinder said:
I have a great deal of respect for those who work in NHS, but have been in a similar situation. When my daughter was 7 she fell off school climbing frame, and complained of a very sore shoulder. Took her to A & E and after a very brief examination (no x ray) they said it was only bruised because "she would be making more fuss if it was broken". To cut a long story short, several days later a nurse friend strongly recommended we take her back to hospital and demand an x ray. She had a badly broken collar bone and still has a lump in her shoulder to this day as her cruel mother told her to stop fussing and use it before we took her back.:o
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Paha- my mum has done the 'man up' thing with my sister before... Turned out she'd sprained her wrist quite badly and needed to wear a support for a few weeks! Mum's a radiographer too. If the collar bone bothers her, worth going back for a second opinion. Al's was left alone at first, but she was saying how much it ached when she rode/ did any lifting/ pulling. Turns out, it had healed far shorter and wasn't sitting in the socket correctly (and looking back, you can see how lopsided she was from compensating).
 
To be honest I am pretty appalled they didn't notice such an injury and that can actually be life threatening as could my broken collarbone have been. I was told by the doctor you could puncture your lung. Therefore, the fact they didn't bother to listen to someone SAYING where they feel the pain is beyond me!

You watch all this medical emergency programmes and it would appear that if the patient is conscious the paramedics always ask where the pain is - am I right?!

I actually have not had any bad experiences with the NHS as suc as (touch wood) have not had many trips to A&E and, as aleady knew I had broken my collarbone (it was pretty obvious) they of course x-rayed it and concluded the same. I was always under the impression that if you CHOOSE a career in medicine and care that you WANT to be helping people? yeah sure, it's hard, they're understaffed (aren't we all in most of our professions) but this shouldn't affect the levels of service and compassion shown. Sorry, if they don't want to be doing the job then they should get out of it and let one of the other hard working nurses who are struggling to find jobs after qualifying, take over!

It is not a FREE health service as such as we all pay for it (well, most of us) and people shouldn't be discriminated against because they take part in a sport. Everyday they see injuries as a result of football, rugby, athletics, gymnastics etc etc. Horse riding is no different in the type of injuries that can be sustained so I think it would be appalling that horse riders would be treated any differently.

I guess maybe a lot depends on which hospital you go to. As said, I have not had any bad experiences myself and live in an area where there are lots of horse riders so i guess it is seen as pretty normal for there to be a room full of injured horseriders at any one time.
 
And have just rembered actually, that when I was younger about 7?I broke my elbow falling out off bed in the middle off the night, I could move it abit but couldn't suck my thumb, parents took me down to AnE were they wouldn't Xray as in middle of night, thought was just badly sprained and bruised, so put a tubigrip bandage on and told parents to come back in am if still worried and could check with an xray! Well luckily my parents are medically trained, so wouldn't let me eat or anything, and when we went back in am they Xrayed and found a very bad brake, if I had off eaten they weren't going to operate that day, still ended up with 3 operations on it, they thought o would t be able to straighten if ever again, but luckily it's ok just slightly sticks put when I'm riding (lots and lots off pain of try to hold it in for exams etc, so I don't) and a scar, am so glad that it was at least operated on that day or else it would off been worse now!
 
Again to people who knock it, what is your solution? Can you please offer me an example of a health care service which does a better job? I'm not saying we shouldn't be critical when the NHS is grossly negligent but I think they're doing the best they can under the constraints they have. People around the world who have lived with other systems think ours is something to aspire to. Can't be that bad can it?
 
I cannot fault my local hospital. When I fell off my horse and broke my back, the ambulance was there in minutes. I was given gas and air as well as painkillers on arrival at a+e. I spent most of the day 11am-7pm in the corridor whilst waiting for a bed in the trauma ward. So what!

I loved most of the nurses on my ward and could see that they were clearly run off their feet. There was 38 beds and on average 8-9 nurses per shift. I couldn't do their job. I was seen by several doctors and physios - I seemed to be one of the first few seen first thing each morning. Can't complain!

As far as I knew, its not the doctors that diagnose broken bones on xrays. I thought it was the xray staff that reviewed it first and pointed out areas of interest to the doctors?

Whilst there will always be a percentage that have had negative experiences, I'd like to think that the majority have had positive experiences. Ultimately I do think any failures are a result of human error and limited budgets.
 
I pay privately for my healthcare and it's a load of crap - In fact they're a lot like Dick Turpin, both steal your money and both wear masks. And just because you pay out of your nose for the healthcare, don't think you get priority, you still have to flippin wait! Long live the NHS!
 
Not making a judgement either way but my sharer who fell off Ed went off to A&E, they sent her home as a sprain victim.

Turned out she'd fractured the joint cover, broken her acl ligament and the cartiliage. Which they would have seen, had they x-rayed.

My stable mate, a successful radiologist (i think thats her title) was astounded she wasn't xrayed upon arrival with a horse riding injury.
 
We also have publicly funded healthcare, which I think is great and wouldn't want to live without.

I've never noticed any kind of poor treatment in our Emergency Ward though for how you injured yourself. Whenever I've had the misfortune to visit the hospital, it's the drunks with broken hands from fighting that are treated the worst. If you've done something that's your own fault, you might get a talking to from the nurses and doctors, but that's about it. There's no "oh, you're an equestrian, serves you right" attitude at all.
 
Ive had excellent treatment from the NHS, and equally disgusting treatment.

The aneasthetist that did my hand was so bad in the end the attending nurses went ballistic at him (one even said if i were you the next time it hurts punch him on the nose). The doctor that informed us we had lost our baby needed 100cc's of sympathy STAT, and even the nurse gave him a look of pure distate at the way he behaved.

BUT they are human and not robots and make mistakes. The nurses that helped us after our MC, and the midwife who saved my life in labour massively outweighed the bad experiences. its just unfortunate that the bad things stick in our memory.
 
I am not saying your friend is at fault because of the sport however we all have chosen to be around and ride horses and i dont care how 'bombproof' a horse is, it is still a horse with its own mind and is therefore unpredictable. Therefore we all must take responsibilty for when things go wrong and we get hurt.

I'm sorry to hear that your friends injuries were not picked up straight away however she is now going to be sorted and life can continue on. It could have been a lot worse than what she has actually ended up with.

People are quick to moan about the NHS when things dont go quite right however its rare to hear people actually sit up and praise them. They are over worked and underpaid and actually have quite a lot of stress and responsibilty and at the end of the day they are just humans who can (and do) make the odd mistake. Its easy for people to say 'oh get another job if your not happy' however in the current climate things are not that easy. I'm not saying its right but are you seriously telling me that you guys dont sometimes make mistakes or have off days at work?

As for moaning about the ambulance arriving after you, well why did you not just take her to hospital? The vehicle was probably delayed as crews were attending other non life threatening so called emergencies!

I truely hope your friend is ok but until you work in an emergency setting I dont think you can comment!

Rant over now, sorry!
 
I say long live the NHS, yes our family have also experienced the bad side of things (undiagnosed bowel cancer, me wandering round on a fractured ankle etc), but when my little sister had appendicitis there was no messing around - she was operated on within hours and received good aftercare, the same went for my Grandad with each of his two heart attacks.

At least people aren't in the position of having to sell their homes to fund medical expenses here in the UK!!
 
I have my own saga with the NHS, being told nothings wrong, instead off being referred to a new department I get kicked off my surgery list and so on... but I'd still far rather have the NHS than pay through the nose for Insurance, with all the exlusions and high premiums that will come with my previous injuries and hobbies...

I'd also like to think I'd kick up more of a fuss in A&E if I genuinely thought something was broken and they were trying to send me home.
 
I'm sorry to hear all the bad tales about the NHS....but I can tell you a happy one or two..

Due to having a birthmark on my face, I have undergone endless operations for plastic surgery, eye correction etc etc etc....

Maybe not emergency, but they also paid for the expensive make-up I used to have to cover it up...

And my mother had a blood disorder called severe aplastic anaemia (spelling...??) which involved in the end, chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant...

God knows how many stays in hospital followed, and 36 pills a day she was on......

They were brilliant when I had my son, and brilliant when I popped my ligament 20 minutes after my husband was admitted with suspected appendicitis!

He actually had a kidney stone, but whilst he was a patient, they did a full MRI scan on him as he is getting on a bit to 'make sure everything is fine in there whilst we are checking your innards out!'...

Fabulous service.
 
I have so much respect for the people who work for the NHS and I really appreciate how long and horrible the hours can be.

However, the last two times I have been to A&E (I'm very accident prone, but everytime I been, something has been wrong before you go thinking I'm a hypochondriac ;) ) the doctors just haven't listened. You have to be very firm with them. I have broken my arm three times - I know what it feels like and yet I had a doctor telling me it's just sprained (impossible from the way I fell) and that my pain threshold is clearly low! :angry: I very nearly gave him an earful at that point! For some reason, unless you are screaming or unconscious they seem to think that you're ok.

So a lesson for all of us: be very very firm with them make sure that you get an X-Ray - even if they don't want to give you one. And remember how lucky we are to not have to pay.
 
dapplepink said:
As for moaning about the ambulance arriving after you, well why did you not just take her to hospital?

I truely hope your friend is ok but until you work in an emergency setting I dont think you can comment!

Rant over now, sorry!
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I was in a 7.5 tonne lorry to pick her horse up - that is why I didn't take her to hospital, she had already phoned an ambulance.

You miss the point I was making - the A+E didn't listen to her.
 
yeah i fractured a bone in my foot and it wasnt spotted and i wondered around for a few weeks in pain but they are run off their feet and make mistakes like everyone. i do feel for your friend though, it sucks but its life :(
 
And what if Perissa had done more damage by taking her friend to hospital instead of waiting for the ambulance?

I have suffered from doctors not actually listening to me and making their own incorrect assumptions but hey ho what can you do?

As for feeling sorry for NHS staff... why? Your career is your choice and lets face it we all know that working for the NHS isn't brilliant so people who choose to work there already know it's not going to be an easy ride. I just don't get why we should feel sorry for them.
 
My local hospital doesn't like horse riders, i went in with a broken collar bone and the doctor couldn't put the sling on as it was so long after the accident he said i needed pain killers but the nurses wouldn't let me have them as i didn't have any money on me!
 
Hedgewitch13 said:
As for feeling sorry for NHS staff... why? Your career is your choice and lets face it we all know that working for the NHS isn't brilliant so people who choose to work there already know it's not going to be an easy ride. I just don't get why we should feel sorry for them.
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I don't feel sorry for them. I appreciate them though. Most of them chose to do it because they care. I wouldn't want to do their jobs and am jolly glad that someone else does! They work harder than me for less money than me (nurses at least, not doctors probably they work harder but probably get paid slightly better)

They are only human, just like we all are. I make mistakes at work from time to time myself. It can't be helped. I think most of the time they do a very good job and all they get in return is people moaning on about them.
 
Good point Jesstickle - it's not the nurses I have had issues with, although I did encounter an extremely rude one in A&E once - talk about attitude problem! But I do still feel that if you choose to do that job then you have to take the rough with the smooth.

I love all things medical but wasn't bright enough to be a doctor and didn't have the caring factor\attitude to be a nurse ;-)
 
Lolo said:
You know what- if you have a car crash, drive dangerously, have a fight or do something astoundingly stupid you will also get fairly low sympathy. My mum x-rays people and has always warned us of doing such stupid things because you won't be told "there there"- certainly not by her anyway! Nothing to do with snobbery, but to do with willingly participating in a high-risk sport without wearing all the gear. People without hats are the lowest of the low...
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She is just the type of person who should get the sack if that is her attitude. What does she do it for? Sounds like she is one of those nasty people with low self-esteem that likes to use what little power they have to wield it over those who are in a vulnerable state.

Unfortunately the caring professions attract this type of person as much as it attracts those that truely do care.
 
sussexbythesea said:
She is just the type of person who should get the sack if that is her attitude. What does she do it for? Sounds like she is one of those nasty people with low self-esteem that likes to use what little power they have to wield it over those who are in a vulnerable state.

Unfortunately the caring professions attract this type of person as much as it attracts those that truely do care.
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My word. Do you really think people who get into drunken brawls on a Saturday night and end up in A&E deserve sympathy? I doubt very much she is openly harsh with them and I'm sure she does truly care. Some people are more deserving of the nicey nice approach than other though. It's perfectly possible to be polite without genuinely feeling sorry for someone.

When I end up in casualty from horse riding incidents I always apologise for taking up their time because I'm aware that it's my own silly fault and that I'm taking resource from people who have been hit by cars, had heart attacks or just fallen down!
 
dapplepink said:
I am not saying your friend is at fault because of the sport however we all have chosen to be around and ride horses and i dont care how 'bombproof' a horse is, it is still a horse with its own mind and is therefore unpredictable. Therefore we all must take responsibilty for when things go wrong and we get hurt.

I'm sorry to hear that your friends injuries were not picked up straight away however she is now going to be sorted and life can continue on. It could have been a lot worse than what she has actually ended up with.

People are quick to moan about the NHS when things dont go quite right however its rare to hear people actually sit up and praise them. They are over worked and underpaid and actually have quite a lot of stress and responsibilty and at the end of the day they are just humans who can (and do) make the odd mistake. Its easy for people to say 'oh get another job if your not happy' however in the current climate things are not that easy. I'm not saying its right but are you seriously telling me that you guys dont sometimes make mistakes or have off days at work?

As for moaning about the ambulance arriving after you, well why did you not just take her to hospital? The vehicle was probably delayed as crews were attending other non life threatening so called emergencies!

I truely hope your friend is ok but until you work in an emergency setting I dont think you can comment!

Rant over now, sorry!
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You can rant as much as you like but perhaps you shouldn't work in the caring professions?

A shattered shoulder isn't an emergency?

I think we can comment as much as we like. I'm sure you deal with horrible people all the time - this does not mean you should take it out on other people. So if I fall off my horse and hurt myself it's my fault so I should be treated like S**T! So if a kid runs out in front of a car and gets hit do you say to the parents oh well its his fault so don't expect any sympathy from me - it's only Darwinism at work after all.
 
sussexbythesea said:
She is just the type of person who should get the sack if that is her attitude. What does she do it for? Sounds like she is one of those nasty people with low self-esteem that likes to use what little power they have to wield it over those who are in a vulnerable state.

Unfortunately the caring professions attract this type of person as much as it attracts those that truely do care.
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My mum has worked tirelessly night after night (she only works night btw, so does get the brunt of drunken fools and nasty accidents)with rude people who seem to genuinely believe she is there to serve them. She is truly outstanding at her work, and has the respect of many and always has a kind word for people.

However, don't tell me that if someone came in roaring drunk who'd had a punch up because of their inebriation, you wouldn't feel slightly aggrieved at treating them? She does, and with a smile and a pleasant attitude. So please, get a grip and walk away now. Honestly- who do you think you are telling me my amazing mother who has worked her entire life in this profession to help and care for injured, vulnerable people is some power crazed maniac? Fuming right now.
 
Lolo said:
Good old NHS, underfunded, understaffed and trying to treat people with (sorry to say this) far more serious injuries. There isn't a lot of sympathy going for horse riders either. I'm sorry she's going to have the (free at the point of administration) major surgery but she'll recover well in a clean hospital ward with top class care...

Sometimes, people get things wrong. My sister is now the bionic woman- massive etal plate in her collar bone, put in a year after her injury. She was in pain for nearly an entire year before the op was done. No point complaining- they did it, and did it well.

Sorry, but think the NHS gets very short shrift from people when it does serve 99% of people very well indeed...
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Fantastically put. There's always horror stories but I'd rather that then the insurance abomination in the States. Anyone seen the film Sicko?
 
sussexbythesea said:
You can rant as much as you like but perhaps you shouldn't work in the caring professions?

A shattered shoulder isn't an emergency?

I think we can comment as much as we like. I'm sure you deal with horrible people all the time - this does not mean you should take it out on other people. So if I fall off my horse and hurt myself it's my fault so I should be treated like S**T! So if a kid runs out in front of a car and gets hit do you say to the parents oh well its his fault so don't expect any sympathy from me - it's only Darwinism at work after all.
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No- that is an accident. And accident. And yes they would be hugely sympathetic. Please don't take my points and twist them to suit your own petty agenda.
 
sussexbythesea said:
A shattered shoulder isn't an emergency?
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No it isn't. As someone who works for the emrgency services an emergency is life or limb threatening - a shoulder is neither of those.

Sadly neither is not being able to hold your alcohol....and those people happen to be a large part of my job :mad:
 
Lolo said:
My mum has worked tirelessly night after night (she only works night btw, so does get the brunt of drunken fools and nasty accidents)with rude people who seem to genuinely believe she is there to serve them. She is truly outstanding at her work, and has the respect of many and always has a kind word for people.

However, don't tell me that if someone came in roaring drunk who'd had a punch up because of their inebriation, you wouldn't feel slightly aggrieved at treating them? She does, and with a smile and a pleasant attitude. So please, get a grip and walk away now. Honestly- who do you think you are telling me my amazing mother who has worked her entire life in this profession to help and care for injured, vulnerable people is some power crazed maniac? Fuming right now.
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Yes I do have every sympathy for this. I'm not saying it's not difficult but what's that got to do with me falling off my horse? I'm not being abusive to you like a drunk.

If a pregnant woman needs emergency surgery becasue of complications is it her fault because she took the risk of getting pregnant?

My view is somewhat coloured after spending 2 years dealing with the NHS over the care of my terminally ill mother and although some was excellent a lot was appalling. This is why such statements annoy me so much - you are not meant to judge people you are meant to treat them.
 
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