The Health Care Professionals Thread...

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Big :applaud: to everyone. You do what is possibly one of the most selfless and difficult jobs out there so thank you.

Pamelakellett said:
Doesn`t seem to be any British doctors or nures out there! I`ve been a nurse in the good old NHS for 25 years (except for a 2.5 year stint in a private hospital). Specialise in the operating theatre or OR as you yanks call it!

How does the NHS compare with private? Not just in terms of treatment but in your own working conditions, I mean like shift lengths and things? Extra :applaud: for coming back to the NHS! :)
 
Private v NHS is an interesting one. You would think private would be better and it is for some things. Yes we got free meals whilst working, free health insurance and Xmas bonuses but they expect you to work for it. The shifts really were horrendous - at the beck and call of the hospital. If surgeons wanted to do a case at 10pm then we had to stay and do it, or if they wanted to do somethng at 7am before their NHS work, again we were expected to cover it so could end up doing 18 hour days folled by being on call. If the months profits are not very good staff don`t even get paid for their OT either!

As for the care/treatment of patients - yes you get seen quickly, when you want and equipment is usually good, but sometimes stuff has to be borrowed from the NHS! It is very profit orientated. The hospital I worked gave every patient a single en suite room with room service (yes - 24 hr), satelite TV, but there never seemed to be many nurses around. I was a patient twice (good use of my free insurance!) and never saw a nurse during the night on either occasion even after having a GA in the evening. Its OK for fit healthy people having elective minor ops but I don`t think its very safe for other things.

People moan about the NHS but I came back and my life is now my own again. I can do OT if I want, I`m not forced to do it. And of course being staff means you usually get preferential treatment!
 
As a patient I've always thought that the NHS has been very good. Yes, the waiting times ARE horrific but I can always forgive that so long as the treatment I get at the end of it is good and for the most part, it's been excellent. Besides, what do people expect for (almost) free?! :wink:
 
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