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User

Posted 16 Aug 2025 at 22:30

So after 6 months of turmoil and going from one treatment option to another I am booked in for prostatectomy next week on the 22nd , hasn't been an easy ride but to be honest the worst part of this journey has been the complete incompetence and incompassionate dealings with the NHS at every step of the way so much the case that despite not now having health insurance I decided to self fund , A, to simply stop my head exploding and B to be able to choose and feel comfortable with the surgeon of my choice not as in my case listening to the most obnoxious incompassionate Baffoon who was going to be my NHS surgeon , ( I wouldn't have trusted him with a knife near my birthday cake let alone me )

I know that many people have had good experiences with the NHS but unfortunately I’m not have that experience

so 110 mile trip into London next week , staying at a hotel before surgery on the 22nd then out on the 24th for the trip home

Over all feelings now are calm but anxious to now just get it done and will be glad to move on from having this on my mind 24/7 for most of this year

this forum has been a great help and have to say special thanks to athedad , Rob, and especially techguy who has been constant support this last week

wish you all the best 👍

User

Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 06:48

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

listening to the most obnoxious incompassionate Baffoon who was going to be my NHS surgeon

Hi Niko

I'm sorry that your experience with the NHS was so poor. I agree, there is no excuse for incompetence, but to be fair, most NHS staff probably don't have the time to show much compassion.

My surgeon wasn't compassionate and wasted no time on pleasantries. He was very matter of fact, and told me lots of things I really didn't want to hear. However, despite me having extensive Gleason 9 (4+5) disease which had breached the prostate capsule, he did an incredible job. Thirty two months later, I'm still 'cancer free'

He did private work at the weekends. Carrying out the same procedures, in the same hospital, on the same machine. I'm sure he'll have done his best for all his patients, whether they paid or not.

I hope that your surgery goes well and that your surgeon proves to be as good as mine.

Please keep us updated, and good luck for the 22nd. 👍

PS: I love your profile picture. It reminded me of this joke.

My wife has just told me, she thinks we'd have less arguments if I wasn't so pedantic. ... I told her, "I think you mean fewer".

Edited by member 17 Aug 2025 at 12:21 | Reason: Additional text

User

Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 09:49

Good luck and I hope the surgeon does a superb job and you recover quickly.

I don't have a date confirmed yet for my surgery but I'm sure I'm going to get increasingly anxious as I get closer to the date.

I'm fortunately that I'm covered in my partner's health insurance through work, although she will be retiring soon. It's very disappointing that the NHS staff haven't shown compassion for you.

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User

Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 06:48

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

listening to the most obnoxious incompassionate Baffoon who was going to be my NHS surgeon

Hi Niko

I'm sorry that your experience with the NHS was so poor. I agree, there is no excuse for incompetence, but to be fair, most NHS staff probably don't have the time to show much compassion.

He did private work at the weekends. Carrying out the same procedures, in the same hospital, on the same machine. I'm sure he'll have done his best for all his patients, whether they paid or not.

I hope that your surgery goes well and that your surgeon proves to be as good as mine.

Please keep us updated, and good luck for the 22nd. 👍

PS: I love your profile picture. It reminded me of this joke.

My wife has just told me, she thinks we'd have less arguments if I wasn't so pedantic. ... I told her, "I think you mean fewer".

Edited by member 17 Aug 2025 at 12:21 | Reason: Additional text

User

Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 09:49

Good luck and I hope the surgeon does a superb job and you recover quickly.

I don't have a date confirmed yet for my surgery but I'm sure I'm going to get increasingly anxious as I get closer to the date.

I'm fortunately that I'm covered in my partner's health insurance through work, although she will be retiring soon. It's very disappointing that the NHS staff haven't shown compassion for you.

User

Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 13:26

lol love that joke Adrian I think are humour is similar 😂👍

to be honest mate if the surgeon had given me any confidence in his surgical skills then compassion wouldn’t have been an issue but he didn’t , he said he couldn't save nerves on one side and yet 3 other surgeons had all advised full nerve sparing he also didn’t like to be asked any questions , he actually asked me why I was asking questions and advised that I should just be listening to him

I did try to get transferred to another surgeon on the NHS but obstacles were just put in my way at every step so in the end just had enough and decided to take the financial hit and choose who I wanted, it’s shame as there are some great surgeons out there but just seems to be postcode lottery if you can get them on the NHS, sounds like you struck lucky mate with a good surgeon and its superb you that your still cancer free 👍

thanks for the good wishes 👍

cheers

Nick

User

Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 13:29

Thank you mate , wishing you well also for your surgery when it comes

All the best

Nick

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