new labour wont save the nhs.

And the mess the Tories made of the NHS beginning with the madness of Mrs. Thatcher who encouraged people to go private, and the handing over to NL of an excessively long waiting list for hospital appointments, and waiting times of 12 months for non-urgent operations to NL in 1997, was certainly one of those times.

We are talking about life under New Labour when Zany believed the NHS was so good that nobody needed to go private...

Well I'll give you a real case - mine. 


I was having increasing trouble walking (getting worse by the day) and long term back pain. I went and saw my GP who advised that I needed an MRI and that he would put me on an urgent waiting list. The urgent waiting list was about 12 weeks!. So that was 12 weeks for an MRI - not for any treatment.

Given my deteriorating condition I contacted my local BUPA hospital and made an appointment the following day for the MRI. I had the MRI and the technician said that he had seen something on the scan and I needed to get the results to my doctor that day - I dropped off the scan at the surgery and waited and the following day I had a call from the GP. Apparently I had a spinal cord tumour that needed immediate removal and he had arranged that I should see a surgeon in 3 days. I went to the hospital to see the surgeon and he had nowhere to do the examination so we ended up in the store cupboard - he confirmed the diagnosis and said that the tumour needed immediate removal as any damaged to the spinal chord was irreversable. He said he had a cancellation and could fit me in in 2 days time - but it wasn't certain they had a bed and wouldn't know that until the day. Anyway the day arrived and they phoned and had a bed available and to get in as soon as possible - that afternoon I had an 8 hour surgery on my back.

During the operation they had only 1 pint of blood - the other 8 pints had to be plasma. There was no room in the ICU so I was left to recover on a trolley in the corridor for 2 days and then was transferred to a ward. Of course there was no space in the mens ward so they put me in the bedding store at the end of the womens ward. 

The operation meant that I needed specialist physiotherapy to walk again, which the hospital provided - then after about 10 days I was released home to complete the physio at home. But my NHS area didnt provide specialist physiotherapy and I couldn't go back to the hospital  to complete it as it was a different NHS area and I was from 'out of area'.

So I ended up paying for the hospital physio to come to my home and do some private treatment.


So pardon me if I treat your claims that the NHS was so great under Blair that nobody needed private insurance as the rantings of a deluded fool.

Well we may be in opposing political camps but I am glad they were able to sort you out quickly (private, not NHS I mean)

Of course there remains the obvious point that you were fortunate enough to be able to afford the private MRI scan. Millions of others in the same boat would not be and would presumably end up being paralysed from the waist down.

Your tale of course exposes the lie that the NHS was perfect under New Labour. It probably never could be under any government.

But it is undoubtedly in a far worse state now

His claim that the NHS was so improved could be his opinion based upon his experience. Just as your opinion is based upon your experience.

That the private sector was also overrun at that time is an indication that the state of medical treatment across the board was in a bad way.

Incidentally I don't want to upset you but you may well have had plasma donated by me put into your system. I've heard the Doctor say Plasma to the nurse as I was taken to donate blood. The reason no doubt for that is the Plasma from my blood group, AB positive, can be used for propping up any blood group. 

No thanks necessary  I gave my Plasma freely knowing that it could be used for anyone of any race, religion, sexual orientation, or politics. Hoping you have fully recovered from your bad experience. 

I have had experience of the pain caused by nerve damage, I believe it could wear even the sturdiest of men down.
The second time I had nerve damage was in 2016 following an argument with a grass verge. With my foot on the brake the damage shot up my leg and damaged the Sacroiliac joint. Couldn't walk properly for two years. In absolute honesty I did not seek medical treatment from the NHS, I self treated via advice on the internet plus a belief that my body would sort itself out. As it did eventually.

My wife was a part of a specialist neurological team from 1984 to 2009  and I have to say there are parts of your story which you've misunderstood. There was always room to bump routine cases for urgent ones. Loads of times she worked till the early hours for cases you describe. 
Blame your doctor for missing the cancer by all means, it does happen, a fast growing cancer can go from almost undetectable to dangerous in 10 days, so if you presented no other symptoms of cancer they might miss it.  The shortage of blood would be the same public or private both share the same source.

My wife says the whole physio story is nonsense considering what you had. 
Just saying. 

Your shitty mouth would tell me I'm talking out of my arse whatever I said. Which is why I don't value your opinion.