NHS.

I was just wondering if any of you have any tales to tell of your experiences with hospital appointments and the treatment you have had at the hands of Wigan Infirmary. Good or bad. Seeing that we are about to undergo big changes in the near future.

I have never been an in patient at Wigan Infirmary, thankfully. So, I can't really pass judgement on that.

But I do believe that the A&E department waiting times need a substantial improvement to reduce the congestion?

After a nasty accident in Spain resulting in hospital treatment there. On return to England I had to go to Leigh hospital where they gave me the wrong medication, different to what the Spanish doctor had prescribed, which made me very ill.
So I got sent to Wigan hospital where they gave me two different medications which were not to be taken together as this could cause heart failure.

Hell Fire! I felt pot!! Burram all raaaaight nouw, laaaaike!!!

I've been in Wigan Infirmary a few times in my life, the latest being during Christmas 2023.

This was on a Thursday evening and, on arrival, I was on a trolley in a corridor for no more than 5 minutes before being taken into A&E where I was treated immediately. From that moment to being discharged on Boxing Day I can only say that my treatment was of the highest standard, both day and night by the nurses which were second to none.

Obviously, they are at their busiest times over the weekends when they have to ferry in drunks etc and, for their kindness, the staff are abused, both physically and verbally, and they are the ones who take up necessary bed space, time and energy when they could be helping sick babies, old people who have fallen and broken bones, people having heart attacks and so on, so they have to prioritise, which can cause the less ill to become aggressive.

When Yvonne was is Wigan she was on a Trolley in the corridor for two days twice. From the middle of March to June she was in and out of hospital 6 times. On her last time she was admitted on a Mon evening to A+E and on the Thurs I received a phone call to say they were discharging her has they deemed her FIT to come home. I refused to have her home as even I knew she was unwell.That evening they did further tests and booked her for x-rays for Friday. On the Monday I attended a meeting and was told Yvonne was as they class it "Now on end of life" she came home the next day and lasted for 19 days before she passed away. I have on hold through "PALS" a list of complaints before this last visit were I would have been before a panel and verbally explain my complaints.Some standards of care for Yvonne the staff went over and beyond their job but on other occasions Yvonne was neglected .So now time has passed should I reopen the complaints and add to them or leave them alone and and let sleeping dogs lie .Nothing will bring Yvonne back but do I try to help others

CC

Chorley and Ormskirk hospitals A and E departments are open from 8 am to 8 pm. A significant number of people from both areas present at Wigan when the other two A and E departments are closed.
The now closed Bellingham hotel, owned by the Council, would be an ideal place to house a walk in centre that would ease the pressure on the A and E department.

Went in A & E at 8.00pm and kept waiting until 11.30 pm to see a Doctor and by the time I received treatment finally left the hospital at 1.00am

And I was a lucky one, as those after me were told to come back the following day as the Doctor had to go to a emergency in another part of the hospital,.

In no way do I blame the staff at the hospital, only the politicians of successive governments in Parliament who keep allowing people into the country where its free medical service among many other things is not coping pro rata with the increase in population both by immigration and berth.

No wonder, private sector hospitals and clinics and memberships of a private health insurance schemes are on the increase and many NHS GP'S are doing increased private treatment which is affecting people who cannot afford private treatment now finding difficulties getting an appointment to see a Doctor for NHS treatment which is now beginning to happen at our Surgery now!

Like many other things in the country, now all about making money at the expense of providing proper services!

p.s. and Gaffer is right about there not being a walk in centre in Wigan when only last week a relative of mine went all the way to the one Leigh, only to be told that due to the number of people waiting and it being due to closing time, told to come back the following day as early as possible!

p.p.s. Why is is that some departments in our NHS and also pharmacies not operating on a 24/7 basis to cope with the problem like in many other countries of Europe affected by the invasion?

Gaffer.
Re the Bellingham. That would be a great idea but I suppose it comes down to cost and staffing levels.

I thought Wigan already had a walk in center in the town?

"Centre"!

Re the Bellingham. That would be a great idea but I suppose it comes down to cost and staffing levels.

I thought Wigan already had a walk in center in the town?
Cheshirecat.
There is a walk in centre on the hospital grounds at Wigan infirmary.

Everywhere is a walk in centre. I wonder how long it will be before they come up with a "drive-through centre"? (for electric vehicles only, of course!)

Posted by: tonker (29307) [View tonker's page]
"Centre"!

I blame Americana for my spelling mistake.

I have had mixed experiences of the NHS.
The treatment of my late husband was appalling. I won't go into details about it though.
On the other hand, I was unlucky enough to get breast cancer, shortly after his death.
The treatment I received was second to none, for which I will be eternally grateful. This is almost seven years ago now.
Since then I have needed treatment for other, mostly age related health problems. Last one being a minor operation only last week.
Just to say that, overall, I for one, think we are an extremely lucky country to have the NHS.

Jathbee: I'm so sorry to hear that your husband's treatment was appalling. He was a lovely man, and I'm also sorry to hear of your cancer scare shortly after.

I agree that we are extremely lucky in this country to have a free health service. If any of us had been living in America, many of us would have died because we couldn't afford treatment unless we were highly insured.

mollie m

I do not believe for on minute that America can be so callous as to let people die if they are only on social security and do not have private health insurance if they are rushed into a hospital with life threatening injuries or illnesses!

OC if you visited America and you were taken ill you would be treated but could end up with a bill for thousands of pounds if you did not have health insurance

Yo would have to be stupid to visit any country without travel insurance where there isn’t a reciprocal health arrangement with the UK.

I wouldnt let Wigan infirmary put a plaster on my big toe.

so you wouldn't go there if you were poorly?

Posted by: gaffer (8331) View gaffer's page
Yo would have to be stupid to visit any country without travel insurance where there isn’t a reciprocal health arrangement with the UK.

Indeed you would, Gaffer, but I was talking about people who were born and live there. As Peter said, if they can't afford insurance, some have been known to either sell or re-mortgage their homes to pay for medical treatment.

As to the poorer end of the community, they would get basic treatment. Some are even terrified of getting sick for fear of not being able to pay. They even have to pay for the privilege of being taken to the ER in an ambulance. Hospitals in America are money-making businesses, medical treatment comes second, and that's why we should be grateful for the NHS, despite having some flaws.

Baz, he'd go there if he had to and he'd be grateful. However, if he ever needed a plaster on his big toe, he'd give it a miss. Raaaaight?

PeterP

Maybe so, but they would still do their best to keep the person alive!

OC they would keep them alive but some of their hospitals only have the basic equipment

Peter P

I was not the one who made a comment about being left to die in America if not having high cost health insurance!

Thank you for confirming that all would be kept alive, health insurance or otherwise!

Never had any real problems myself.