Problems within NHS?

Question

Just want to know what you think of this...
I was in hospital the other day and a guy in the bed opposite me had a disease where he had tried many different drugs but all seemed to cause very bad side effects. A consultant doctor came in and told him the the administrators had said no to the doctors giving him another drug, PROVEN not to cause to side affects, because it was too expensive. The administrators had said to give him another cheaper drug that had the side effect of making him infirtile and causing mailignancy!! I couldnt believe my ears. The doctor was absoloutely livid. Can i point out that these administrators are purely accountant people who had nothing to do with the patient but took a pivotal role in his health and future. The doctor said she would appeal and fight to get these drugs for him. She said a year ago they were handing out these drugs daily but the system is bankrupt now! I think that is disgusting! The guy was 25 years old by the way!

Answer 1

That's how they are. Penny pinching, bean counting exchequers, the lot of them!
--CJ

Answer 2

I think it is disgusting. So much money is being wasted that could be spent on patient care. Billions on administrators that are unneccessary. They are losing more having them than before. The 20billion plus being spent on installing the new IT system so complete medical records can be put on. Gps have said this unnecessary and will complicate patient confidentiality. How many millions are they spending on advertising the NHS so you can choose a hospital. They say it works it America, but they have a completely different healthcare system than us. The list of wasted money that could be spent on actually treating patients goes on and on. It's time the Government woke up and realised that the NHS is about saving people's lives and treating people and it is doctors and nurses who are the only ones capable of doing this, not a room filled with fatcats sitting there debating who should live or die depending on what area you live in!

Answer 3

The problem is money, the NHS has to spread it's budget over so many different things. NICE regulates the drugs that doctors can give. Recently they've been forced into accepting new cancer drugs like herceptin. This is stretching the budget even further so cuts have got to made somewhere. I'm not saying it's right, not at all. A similar thing in the news at the moment is NICE's decision to stop certain Alzheimer's drugs for early stage patients, even though it could give them many more months.

Answer 4

Too many levels of management in the NHS. Money being wasted on paying them instead of delivery of services and payments for drugs and medical staff.

Having said that I dunno how popular a 5% income tax rise would be to pay for the increasing costs of drugs etc...

We get free health care up to a point but the pot is not bottomless and when it is as badly managed by central government and their crony pen-pushers in the admin side of the health authorities you will always have problems.

Answer 5

I think this should be taken in a much broader perspective.If the 'cheaper' drug could could cause infertility & malignancy, it shouldn't be in market in the first place.

I don't know much details but 'One size doesn't fit all'.Each & every drug has indications & contraindications.

By the way I am a doc too.

Answer 6

There are FAR too many chiefs and not enough Indians...and all this is under your caring sharing New Labour Party...each and everyone of them should be ashamed of what they have done to that fine institution that was the NHS

Answer 7

money should not come in to health matters.
the persons health should be the priority

Answer 8

money the problem