Letter: NHS is taken for granted by those who abuse the system
A relative of mine was admitted to hospital recently experiencing abdominal pain. Little did he know that he would have to wait almost seven hours until a bed was made available for him.
In the meantime, he was asked to wait on a trolley in the foyer of the hospital where patients were coming in and going out. My relative was hooked up to a drip which at times did not work properly, he found the whole process very stressful indeed.
I realise that the NHS is struggling to cope under difficult circumstances and the hospital staff are under pressure to meet targets, the four-hour wait is unrealistic given that every person that enters the A&E department has different needs and timescales, some cases are urgent and need immediate attention. In most cases a pharmacist or health practice nurse can give good advice saving the need to visit the hospital.
The crisis in the NHS will continue unless we all take some control over our lifestyle and wellbeing.
When the NHS was set up in 1948 it worked very well and was there to help all people after the war, it was free at the point of service. Now it is taken for granted by people that abuse the system, such as allowing people from overseas to take advantage of our free health service without paying a penny, when most of those people can afford to pay. Drunken people who are admitted to A&E most Friday and Saturday nights, again putting great strain on the NHS.
We are living longer than previous generations and although this is something to be celebrated, living longer does not necessarily mean we are going to be in the best of health long term and this again creates pressure on local authorities to provide social care.
Carers are one of the lowest paid workers, I should know because I was one, the job can be stressful and the role of a carer is multiple and demanding.
The Government and local authorities need to put more money into not just social care but also children and young people's services. It's about the future generation who are going to be the ones who we will rely on to look after us for years to come.
Pearl Dunbar, Shrewsbury
