Starting E M D R

[krystina]

What is NHS?

 

[cherryblossom]

National Health Service - free to all in the UK, but also very frustrating at times (just my opinion)!

Very basically, in the UK we all make tax contributions to the NHS, so we don't have to have private health care. The therory is, that all health care is free to UK citizens, but it doesn't always work out that way.

 

[WonderingWhy]

Very basically, in the UK we all make tax contributions to the NHS, so we don't have to have private health care. The therory is, that all health care is free to UK citizens, but it doesn't always work out that way.

How does it NOT work out? I am curious, because there are many groups here in the US that are trying to get just that passed?

 

[cherryblossom]

The treatment you receive can differ from area to area. Hence my sentence about 'the postcode lottery'. This has been a phrase picked up by newspapers. Postcodes are basically 'zip codes' which identify exaclty where you live. The NHS is broken down into areas, depending on where you live. A prime example is certain, very expensive cancer drugs. One area will say you can have these life-saving, or life-enhancing drugs, for free on the NHS. While another area of the UK will say that the same treatment is not available on the NHS. So sometimes, (?often?), the treatment that you receive for free will depend on where you live...... hence the phrase "post-code lottery".

 

[WonderingWhy]

I gotcha! That doesn't quite seem fair? Why isn't it standardized? I would hate to think I would have to choose between, moving, paying out of pocket, or possibly dying!:(

 

[Lucycat]

Quite! and it is often when people are desperately needing help that they have not got the strength, ability or desire to move. Some have to go and sit in front of a panel of experts to plead their case for a particular drug, which elsewhere is free.

Additionally, despite all being part of the NHS, there are differences in Scotland, such as in prescription charges. In Scotland, for items that are available readily, we now only pay £3 per item, regardless of what it is. I don't know the current rates in England but I believe it to be at least double.

However, despite all the tales of woe, I would still rather have the NHS! ( and yes Cherry Blossom I work for them too lol!)

 

[cherryblossom]

Presciptions are free to all in Wales. I think they are £6.70 for each item in the UK. I'm on 4 different drugs, and on weekly prescrpitons because of my history of OD. This would cost me 4x £6.70 (£26.80) per week. I actually bought a prepaid certificate, which cost around £120 for a year. So all my prescriptions are now free for 12 months.

 

[WonderingWhy]

That sounds good that they have the option. Obviously if you need a lot of medication that can become expensive quickly! Is there any type of assistance for people that might have limited to no income due to age or illness?

 

[WonderingWhy]

I was just thinking how small the internet makes the world! Imagine if all countries spoke a similar language how small it would become!!!

The best part of this forum is the support and feeling of "fitting in and not being judged" but a bonus is all the interesting items I NEVER would even have known about!

Thank you for everyone that has so willing to educate me and others about their "world":)

 

[cherryblossom]

Yes, there are exemptions to the charge such as under 16s, over (I think) 60's, pregnant, students, disabled, unemployed, etc

 

[Crusoe]

As I said before, I know I am very lucky, and just wish the service I have received was available to all. My abuser also abused a number of other girls and we are all in contact. We are scattered across the UK and none of them has had the level of support I have received.

You know what? It truly is lovely to hear that some people do actually get a good service from the NHS Mental Healthcare Teams. Yes, it's sad that many of us don't but I guess, until things are standardised (I'm not holding my breath) then that is just the way things are. Hearing positive stories about the NHS MHT makes me think that I am sometimes wrong to totally rule them out again in the future. Maybe I just got the bad apple and the rest of the batch is actually quite good. Hmmm. I was offered counselling by a Health Visitor (I went to see her (so through my choice) and broke down in front of her because I was exhausted and my daughter is going through the terrible two's very early) but I told her I didn't want it and I was seeing someone through a charity for counselling for "other stuff" anyway. Maybe I shouldn't have been so quick to refuse the NHS counselling but on the other hand I couldn't be happier with my current counsellor anyway. :D

 

[Crusoe]

The treatment you receive can differ from area to area. Hence my sentence about 'the postcode lottery'. This has been a phrase picked up by newspapers. Postcodes are basically 'zip codes' which identify exaclty where you live. The NHS is broken down into areas, depending on where you live. A prime example is certain, very expensive cancer drugs. One area will say you can have these life-saving, or life-enhancing drugs, for free on the NHS. While another area of the UK will say that the same treatment is not available on the NHS. So sometimes, (?often?), the treatment that you receive for free will depend on where you live...... hence the phrase "post-code lottery".

Yup, thank goodness my mum was lucky enough to be living in an area where she was able to get that expensive cancer drug. Had she lived 30 miles down the road, she would have either had to pay tens of thousands of pounds or we would have had to consider doing something drastic like moving her home temporarily. There was more than enough anxiety about her cancer as it was so that would really have been hell for her. She is fine now :D