Re: NHS
 

Yes, thanks. We're aware of all that.

As I said, we'll just have to see. (He's not impoverished I'm glad to say, so anything means tested won't be on the menu).

Re: NHS
 

There are two different sources of care.

The first is NHS continuing health care. Because he has cancer, your FIL is likely to qualify. Very few Alzheimer's sufferers get NHS continuing care (the reasons why that is are complicated). NHS continuing health care is not means tested and there is no financial contribution to pay.

Local government funded Social Care, on the other hand, is means-tested . The contribution that is paid varies according to the recipient's capital and income. With respect to Mummy in the Foothills, I don't think the system in Wales is different to that in England, and there is no set fixed financial contribution.

The assessment which takes place is firstly of needs, then financial. Local authorities have been cutting costs by making the needs assessment tougher, because they cannot alter the means test which is set by central government.

Even if your FIL is not in any financial difficulties, I recommend applying for Attendance Allowance. It is not means tested, and it is his right. His generation were promised cradle to grave care. It is what they paid for, and they ought to b****y well get it. You apply by post and you can download the form online.

Re: NHS
 

Continuing health care is almost impossible to get. My mother has Multiple system atrophy and can now only communicate via a special alphabet board. According to my sister, her hands are now so disabled she will not be able to use that for much longer. Fortunately (or not) there is nothing wrong with her intellect. She is totally reliant on others to do anything for her, feeding and other bodily functions.
We had got her into a home which was too expensive for the local social services to continue funding but if she was assessed for continuing health care, she could stay where she was. She was refused and it was even suggested she be moved into a flat of her own where carers would come in on a regular basis to attend to her. So they would come in, move her from the bed into a chair and leave her there for the day! Fortunately my sister and the manager of the home stood their ground. Then it was suggested that she be moved to a home on the south east coast, hours away from my sister and more importantly, my Dad. Again my sister refused to budge and had the support of the care home manager.
In the end my sister's perseverance paid off as Mum was offered a place in local authority home which is about a 10 min walk from my sister's house. Now my Dad can see his wife everyday. In Nov, all things being good, they will celebrate 59 yrs of marriage. Must admit this time last year we never thought that would happen. :fingerscrossed:
So, we learnt that continuing health care is mainly for people who are in a coma like condition and unlikely to live for more than a couple of months, so even if you have cancer you probably have fight on your hands.

You have to fight for everything due to government policies. This obviously causes a lot of stress,so in my sister's case she has basically given up her job for the time being, as not only she was she fighting for my mother, she is also caring for my Dad.
As for the care my Mother gets, it has been outstanding all the way despite most of the staff being on pretty low wages. I don't think the NHS is the issue, more the government deciding it wants a US system while people still pay their NHS tax.

Re: NHS
 

Quite astounded at the cost of care. Plan wisely.

What's the cost of care in your area? - BBC News

Re: NHS
 

Maybe this is a little off topic, but recently there was a TV documentary showing how overcrowded Emergency hospital facilities are in the U.K. It showed hospital emergency room corridors chocablock with patients on trolleys waiting to get treatment.

Re: NHS
 

That has not been my experience. I will believe my own experience rather than some "documentary" on TV made by someone who has an agenda.

Re: NHS
 

This has been my own experience over the past four and a half years, but not for every hospital visit. It depends on the day, the time of day, and if there has been an unexpected run on ambulance call-outs.

Triage is supposed to prioritise patients according to their severity, but they don't always get it right. However the pressure of work also plays a part.

Re: NHS
 

+1

On Friday, we had our first A&E experience since our return to the UK.

We were out for a walk along the Quayside in Newcastle when my wife tripped on a curb and fell awkwardly on to the pavement, hitting her head and (as it turned out) fracturing both her elbows. I got her home OK (we'd parked the car about a half mile from where this happened) and someone who'd seen the accident offered to look after her while I went to get it. Canny, the Geordies.

I decided to call 999 because she was obviously in great pain and suffering from probable concussion.

Bad news:the ambulance didn't arrive for an hour and a half.

Good news: I followed the ambulance in my car but it was rush hour, so the blue lit ambulance out paced me and then I had to find a parking space. I arrived at A&E probably 25 minutes after the ambulance. When I got there she'd already been triaged through A&E, had X-rays done and read, been admitted and had casts put on both elbows for the night.

Yesterday she spent about 5 hours in the operating theatre/recuperation room and emerged back to the ward, very groggy and sleepy, but fixed up (I hope) with a good number of titanium bits in her elbows.

She'll be released tomorrow afternoon after a care package has been put in place. With luck she'll be fully functional again before Christmas.

Thank you NHS.

Re: NHS
 

Is it normal for ambulances to take that long? That's terrible!

Re: NHS
 

I don't know. I've not needed one in the UK until Friday. Ambulance arrival times are triaged too.

Re: NHS
 

I'm glad to hear she's on the mend. That sounds like a really nasty fall she had. Best wishes for her recovery.

Re: NHS
 

How do you triage an ambulance call? Do they just try to guess how urgent the need is? Yikes.

Re: NHS
 

Well, when you call 999 an operator asks you which service you require. Police, Ambulance and Fire are the alternatives.

If you choose ambulance, another operator/dispatcher comes on the line to inquire about the nature of the emergency. He or she will ask a few questions such as is the patient conscious, is s/he breathing etc. S/he will, if appropriate, ask to speak to the patient if possible and ask questions to ascertain if the situation is life threatening, extremely serious, just rather serious (our case) or if this is merely a prank call.

That's how you triage an ambulance call.

Re: NHS
 

Thanks robin. Much appreciated.

Re: NHS
 

Thanks for that explanation. I must say that given the facts about your wife's condition as you certainly saw it at the time, especially the fact that she hit her head, it sounds very irresponsible for them to take 1.5 HOURS to get to her. You could have driven her to the hospital way faster, I imagine.