Ill thought out cuts to the NHS that could cost more in the long run! See how I was snoring patient, sleep apnoeas patient and breast reduction out of necessity read on....
Penny wise pound foolish! or push towards privatisation?
I had to have a breast reduction as it was an abnormality at the menopause my boobs kept getting bigger..... to be a L and M cup given my small statue it was causing a lot of problems ... from feeling like my back muscle and skin going to tear open..... and arm ataxia from the weight of my bra strap on my shoulders......BUT the most important was that I was snoring and having sleep apnoeas....with increasing fatigue through day. The ENT specialist referred me to Harefield hospital where sleep studies where done and found that significant high risk sleep apneas where occurring with drops in O2 stats & bradycardia. I had to use CPAP on a night - lol going to bed looking like a fighter pilot with a mask delivering not oxygen but air under pressure if you talked with this on you sounded like Darth Vader..
I had to have a breast reduction as it was an abnormality at the menopause my boobs kept getting bigger..... to be a L and M cup given my small statue it was causing a lot of problems ... from feeling like my back muscle and skin going to tear open..... and arm ataxia from the weight of my bra strap on my shoulders......BUT the most important was that I was snoring and having sleep apnoeas....with increasing fatigue through day. The ENT specialist referred me to Harefield hospital where sleep studies where done and found that significant high risk sleep apneas where occurring with drops in O2 stats & bradycardia. I had to use CPAP on a night - lol going to bed looking like a fighter pilot with a mask delivering not oxygen but air under pressure if you talked with this on you sounded like Darth Vader..
You can see from the picture it is commonly a male problem to have sleep apnoeas - My specialist could only put the problem of sleep apnoea to the large breasts and the weight on my ribcage..... it would feel like someone sat on your chest having to force your breath to expand your ribcage on inspiration........ So the CCG finally permitted funding for my breast reduction as to continue as I was ....would have led eventually to raised BP from body in constant catecholamine effect from drops in O2 sats ... then increase risk of stroke and heart failure..... so long term I would cost more to the NHS........ I was referred to the surgeon and was happy for him to do bilateral mastectomy as so frustrated with the problems to my health.... but he wanted to preserve some breast tissue so I had bilateral mamaplexy .... reduction.... I had a tricky post op with necrosis and wound breakdown but the feeling of the weight of my chest was wonderful........ once all the wounds healed with vac therapy - we did repeat sleep studies and there was significant reduction to not need the CPAP.... so the outcome was worth all..... and I have paid in tax and NI since 1969....in my day you put a stamp on the nhs card..... so felt I was being cheated to have to fight and justify the breast reduction ..... not a frivolous Kim Khardsan whim of plastic surgery but medically necessary....
I can see the tack on these cuts - you can see that the private sector will capitalise on these operations but this means patients will be paying twice.....their contributions to the NHS and then the extra for private care...... and their need to get private medical insurance ON TOP of National insurance!! or those in poverty having problems will be denied the right to treatment and this is totally against the principles of the NHS.
So this feels a massive push to privatisation!!!!
I feel as clinical practitioners we must as always be an advocate for our patients; and help managers see out of the narrow frame of cost cutting - to see the long term benefits of intervention when a problem is manageable. This is much better housekeeping rather than it escalate to be a more expensive medical and surgical problem down the line!
Marjorie retired BSc RN RM a practitioner in the NHS since 1978 to retire in 2014.. so seen many politically induced changes over those years.... and from my father before me who was a Charge Nurse from the outset of the NHS.
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