I have the totally opposite view of the N.H.S. Probably because I loathe the hospital in Aberdeen. I have never had a good experience there, either personally or with family members. Latest report showed the Maternity Wing of that hospital in a very poor light. Filthy dirty with blood on bed and equipment. This is not new as my daughter found the place so squalid and that was over 3 years ago. The ward toilet had blood all over the floor and walls and it was like that all day and the next morning.
My husband was admitted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary last week with a suspected bleed on the brain. We took him in, there was no one on reception and I eventually used an internal phone to get directions to the ward. On arrival, there wast no way into the Ward, reception not manned and door locked, ringing the bell was no use either it was ignored. Eventually found a nurse to let us in. Again we hung around for 2 hours waiting. with my husband. When he did see a Doctor we were told that tests would be another 2 hours, as it was 9.30pm we where told to go home. They moved my husband into another ward after 12.00 midnight and he had no pillow on his bed, three nurses at different times said they would bring a pillow, he never got one and spend the night without one. At the time he was suffering from a slipped disc and was in a lot of pain. He was given two paracetamol.
On the other hand, the local NHS Cottage Hospital is such a lovely place and they cared for my Father so well when we as dying. However, our Doctor suggested to him that a blood transfusion could prolong his life but he wold have to be moved to the hospital in Aberdeen, he totally refused, as he had such an awful time in that place he was terrified to go back and have to die there. He stayed on in Peterhead Cottage Hospital, where we was really content and happy with the great care and attention he got from the lovely staff. He died two weeks later. There was no way I would have wanted him back n ARI.