Stop been so cheap!

Like i said personal opinion... the point i origionaly was trying to make is if there is ever a concern of the growth of a baby should they not be given a growth scan rather then it been put off week after week just in case?
 
I think considering people in the UK get free healthcare it's not unreasonable to expect the minimum number if scans for a healthy pregnancy. If your m/w or Dr has concerns then yeah, you'll have more.

I get more over here (probably 4 over all) but I pay a small cost for each as they are subsadised, not free. And even here most normal pregnancies only get 2 may be 3 as that's all that really needed in most cases. M/w are damn good at working out size etc

I'm not saying the NHS is perfect, cos it's very definitley not, but is a good enough system, look what you DO get for free, I think it's great they provide free appts, scans, free dental care etc.


i am a huge fan of the nhs - i have a great deal of respect for our healthcare system and am grateful to live in a country which provides the level of care which we receive. however, i don't agree when anyone says we receive this for "free" - it's never been free.

OP - would you agree to an increase in tax to fund these additional scans?!

no i wouldnt... i believe we pay enough tax as it is and in my personal experience and opinion i dont think the health care we recieve is worth what we pay! ...

Very, very few people pay enough taxes in their lifetime to even cover the most basic elements of their healthcare. The cost of maternity care alone is phenomenal before we start talking about investigative procedures especially in the over 50's, drugs for chronic illness, care of the long term sick, geriatric nursing care/hospital stays.
A patient can come to a medical recieving ward with chest pain (a pretty common complaint) ,be cared for by a nursing team, medical team and sometimes physiotherapy, dietician, smoking cessation services. They will recieve basic tests, telemetry overseen by a CCU and consultant, will have ECG, blood tests and urinalysis using NHS funded equipment (which are then analysed by biochemistry) and that's BEFORE anything more than the basics is performed or drugs are prescribed from pharmacy. I don't think the above statement shows any idea of the reality of just what kind of resources one avergae individual will consume in the NHS in a lifetime, let alone if you are unfortunate enough to suffer more than your share of ill health.

I am a very healthy person, so rarely use the NHS. However, in the course of maternity care alone I have had off the top of my head(free at the point of access):

2 hospital confinements.
2 geneticist consultations.
1 ECV.
15 ultrasound scans.
1 homebirth.
All my GP/consultant and midwife appointments, including blood tests, urinalysis, doppler of babies heartbeat.
Paediatric check up.
Entonox.
postnatal checkups.

How much do you think that comes to in real money, and that's without intervention, anasthesia or surgery or any of the other that are regulary performed in facilitating women in childbirth?
 
Like i said personal opinion... the point i origionaly was trying to make is if there is ever a concern of the growth of a baby should they not be given a growth scan rather then it been put off week after week just in case?

But you ARE offered a growth scan if there is any concern. 2-3cm out on a fundal measurement is NOT a concern.

And even so, as another poster has stated this isnt always accurate either!

Your OP stated that pregnant women should be scanned every 4 weeks and now you are backtracking!
 
Are you aware that growth scans are also, more often than not, wrong when it comes to estimating baby's weight? :wacko: Soooo many people are sent for scans and scared to death when they are told they are having a 10lb baby and then out pops an 8lb'er!!! So to suggest our healthcare give us more scans is just ridiculous!!! Like so many other people have stated pregnancy and childbirth isn't an illness. It's only been in the last century (maybe less!) that women gave birth in hospitals! Before u did it all at home, as it's a natural, everyday thing!! So the fact we get treatment from the NHS at ALL is bloody good IMO!! Your tax doesn't just go to the NHS, a small portion of it does... and no way would this even start to cover how much u would have to pay if u went private, so no you aren't ''overpaying'' either!! If you want extra scans, pay for them like the rest of us do!!! I've paid for 2 private scans now and they are expensive, but I was happy to do so because it's not up to the NHS to predict the weight of my child!!
 
i know this but a cut of it does go to the NHS so i expect to recieve the health care i pay for... which 2bh i never have... i go to the doctors they can never be arsed ... then i find something potentialy serious through the nhs general neglect! i have complained 3 times due to my health care maybe its just were i am but it is pathetic 2bh

Don't smokers pay taxes? Don't people choose to have children?
 
In Canada you only are supposed to get ONE scan at 18-20 weeks, unless they are concerned about dates or something! I'm actually happy with that because no one knows how ultrasounds effect the baby other then heating up its cells!

Yup, here we get one. I had 4, only because I went in too early for my first so I had to redo that one so they could get accurate measurements, I paid for my third (3D) and then I had a growth scan because I had lost so much weight.
 
I haven't read the whole thread. But I think the Nhs provide enough scans. The nhs has a limited amount of money and there are alot of areas that need more funding. If there is a concern with a pregnancy they will monitor more closley with scans etc
Xx
 
I think considering people in the UK get free healthcare it's not unreasonable to expect the minimum number if scans for a healthy pregnancy. If your m/w or Dr has concerns then yeah, you'll have more.

I get more over here (probably 4 over all) but I pay a small cost for each as they are subsadised, not free. And even here most normal pregnancies only get 2 may be 3 as that's all that really needed in most cases. M/w are damn good at working out size etc

I'm not saying the NHS is perfect, cos it's very definitley not, but is a good enough system, look what you DO get for free, I think it's great they provide free appts, scans, free dental care etc.


i am a huge fan of the nhs - i have a great deal of respect for our healthcare system and am grateful to live in a country which provides the level of care which we receive. however, i don't agree when anyone says we receive this for "free" - it's never been free.

OP - would you agree to an increase in tax to fund these additional scans?!

no i wouldnt... i believe we pay enough tax as it is and in my personal experience and opinion i dont think the health care we recieve is worth what we pay! ...

couldn't have said it better myself. The healthcare I received during my pregnancy was diabolical, I won't even mention the awful care I had before I was pregnant. I would GLADLY pay for my healthcare if I thought it would be a little better, unfortunately private healthcare isn't much better according to many people I know. I've also got to say that other than being pregnant & a child, I've NEVER had free dental care, not sure where you got that from.
 
I think considering people in the UK get free healthcare it's not unreasonable to expect the minimum number if scans for a healthy pregnancy. If your m/w or Dr has concerns then yeah, you'll have more.

I get more over here (probably 4 over all) but I pay a small cost for each as they are subsadised, not free. And even here most normal pregnancies only get 2 may be 3 as that's all that really needed in most cases. M/w are damn good at working out size etc

I'm not saying the NHS is perfect, cos it's very definitley not, but is a good enough system, look what you DO get for free, I think it's great they provide free appts, scans, free dental care etc.


i am a huge fan of the nhs - i have a great deal of respect for our healthcare system and am grateful to live in a country which provides the level of care which we receive. however, i don't agree when anyone says we receive this for "free" - it's never been free.

OP - would you agree to an increase in tax to fund these additional scans?!

no i wouldnt... i believe we pay enough tax as it is and in my personal experience and opinion i dont think the health care we recieve is worth what we pay! ...

couldn't have said it better myself. The healthcare I received during my pregnancy was diabolical, I won't even mention the awful care I had before I was pregnant. I would GLADLY pay for my healthcare if I thought it would be a little better, unfortunately private healthcare isn't much better according to many people I know. I've also got to say that other than being pregnant & a child, I've NEVER had free dental care, not sure where you got that from.

See post #42
 
Sorry but I completely disagree with OP.

I do not pay National Insurance and Income Tax to pay for an unnecessary waste of money.

2 scans is sufficient for most pregnancies. If the pregnancy is high risk (e.g. previous losses, diabetes, medical conditions, multiples etc.) or if there are any complications (poor fundal height growth, bleeding, lack of movements etc) the NHS will quite rightly provide extra scans or other services as needed. We have trained health professionals caring for us the whole way through and are incredibly priveleged to live in this country with this service.

I suffer from anxiety disorder and it's terribly hard sometimes. I wish I could be scanned every few weeks to give me peace of mind but that's not what the NHS is there for and I understand that if I want these I will pay for them privately.

I myself have had 2 extra growth scans due to a small fundal height (5 weeks behind!)... it turned out to be accurate as I am having a small but healthy baby. The only reason this was picked up was because of fundal height checks so I don't see how they can be useless? I will have another extra scan in 4 weeks just as a final check that baby has continued to grow and that will be it which I am happy with... there is no medical reason for any more investigation as pregnancy is not an illness and I have no other complications.
 
I think considering people in the UK get free healthcare it's not unreasonable to expect the minimum number if scans for a healthy pregnancy. If your m/w or Dr has concerns then yeah, you'll have more.

I get more over here (probably 4 over all) but I pay a small cost for each as they are subsadised, not free. And even here most normal pregnancies only get 2 may be 3 as that's all that really needed in most cases. M/w are damn good at working out size etc

I'm not saying the NHS is perfect, cos it's very definitley not, but is a good enough system, look what you DO get for free, I think it's great they provide free appts, scans, free dental care etc.


i am a huge fan of the nhs - i have a great deal of respect for our healthcare system and am grateful to live in a country which provides the level of care which we receive. however, i don't agree when anyone says we receive this for "free" - it's never been free.

OP - would you agree to an increase in tax to fund these additional scans?!

no i wouldnt... i believe we pay enough tax as it is and in my personal experience and opinion i dont think the health care we recieve is worth what we pay! ...

couldn't have said it better myself. The healthcare I received during my pregnancy was diabolical, I won't even mention the awful care I had before I was pregnant. I would GLADLY pay for my healthcare if I thought it would be a little better, unfortunately private healthcare isn't much better according to many people I know. I've also got to say that other than being pregnant & a child, I've NEVER had free dental care, not sure where you got that from.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. IF care is below par, this also makes me mad. Some areas have excellent healthcare while others do not and imo there is no excuse for genuinely substandard healthcare as opposed to the OPs perception of what should be given as standard. Otoh, I've seen many posts on this board alone talking about stupid, terrible and crappy drs, midwives, health care professionals based on unrealistic expectations of NHS care and bit my tongue. I've also seen some posts which suggest bad practice and I'd encourage anyone who has a genuinely bad experience to complain to the right people because substandard care is usually imo down to mismanagement both of staff and resources which needs to be challenged to be changed. However, I would reiterate that most people generally recieve more healthcare resources in their lifetime than they actually pay for and in general .
 
Sorry but all I have to say is that if your that appalled with the NHS and its level of care go and pay for private - I'm pretty sure BUPA would love your money since you say you would so GLADLY pay for it.

As for dental - we don't get free dental even when preg, so once again, may be focus on what you do get, not what you don't.

I never said the NHS was perfect, It has its flaws, but over all (aside from the few people who do have awful experiences - which it sounds like you have had, and I really feel sorry for you in that case :flow:) its a good system and people are lucky that they dont have to dip into their pockets everything they want to see a Dr, have a scan etc etc etc

I'm stepping away now as this is a subject that people will never totally agree on ..
 
The only reason I have to go for extra scans is because my first baby was tiny, she weighed 5lb 3oz at birth and so they want to make sure that this baby is growing properly and to make sure it's not something my body is causing. As a result I have to go for scans every 3 weeks.
I can understand what your saying, how it would be nice to have extra scans but I don't think it's putting the baby at risk. During your scans they check pretty much everything and they have to have some time between them to let the baby grow so they can track the growth better. If you had scans every week I don't think it'd make much of a difference.

EDIT: I forgot to add, it depends on which UK hospital you attend too. The hospital I was with for my first baby only did 2 scans. The one I'm at now does 3, more if they're concerned. The first hospital didn't do any more than 2 regardless of concerns.
 
Most Nhs workers will provide excellent care and genuinely care about the patients they are caring for. There will be a select few that will let the patients down and that is a shame as many take pride in the profession and in the nhs

Lik I said there are many areas that need extra funding. Don't blame the nhs blame the government. For example some neonatal units havnt got enough staff or incubators because they can't afford it and seriously ill babies have to be transported to the nearst hospital that can take them. If a woman needs more scans they will get them. If not then the money will go towards other aspects of maternity or postnatal care for example
Xx
 
The only reason I have to go for extra scans is because my first baby was tiny, she weighed 5lb 3oz at birth and so they want to make sure that this baby is growing properly and to make sure it's not something my body is causing. As a result I have to go for scans every 3 weeks.
I can understand what your saying, how it would be nice to have extra scans but I don't think it's putting the baby at risk. During your scans they check pretty much everything and they have to have some time between them to let the baby grow so they can track the growth better. If you had scans every week I don't think it'd make much of a difference.

EDIT: I forgot to add, it depends on which UK hospital you attend too. The hospital I was with for my first baby only did 2 scans. The one I'm at now does 3, more if they're concerned. The first hospital didn't do any more than 2 regardless of concerns.

Whilst I accept that unfortunately, substandard care does happen I find it hard to believe that any NHS hospital would not offer further scans if deemed necessary by other means / checks!
 
If you're well and having a healthy pregnancy then why do you need more scans? We paid for an 8 week and a nuchal scan and then had a 20 week scan and 28 week growth scan (due to hypothyroidism) on the NHS. Personally I wouldn't want any more scans - I think we get a good service and if there were concerns with the pregnancy you would be referred for further investigations. I'm a nurse and have had full confidence in my midwife and my antenatal care. I don't think the NHS should fund unnecessary additional scans - what do you cut to fund that? Breast screening, high cost cancer drugs ...? After all pregnancy's not an illness so why make it unnecessarily medicalised?
 
Na I disagree. They're not certain of the effect of ultrasounds on unborn babies so they're not going to start giving scans to every woman every week. It's just not needed and is a waste of money. There's only so much a scan can do and I think it's a waste of money to be used for reassurance purposes only, I would rather the money was spent elsewhere- and with a national health service they have to try and allocate the money where it is needed more necessarily.

I have been happy with the care I've had, I really don't see how having a scan more regularly will help a pregnancy progress? So long as the more high risk pregnancies are monitored closely, I don't see why people who are low risk should be scanned more. Just my opinion :)
 
I would have loved to have several scans - but it is not necessary. I am sure that if there was any bleeding/indication of any problems then I would have been scanned.

I am in Glasgow and we only get the 1 scan around 12 weeks.

About 99% (?) pregnancies go without any problems so why do we need extra scans?

Just enjoy being pregnant and if there is something to worry about then see your doctor/go to A&E etc:flower:
 
And I'd like to add that the NHS have been brilliant with me, not at all tight. I got a tiny bit of bleeding in the first trimester, they could have sent me away and told me to "wait and see what happens" let's face it, if it had of been a miscarriage there wasn't much they could do. But no, they sent me to EPU and I was scanned within 3 days (weekend) and then they scanned me a further 2 times in my first tri just for my own reassurance!! They asked me if I would like another scan. I will always be incredibly grateful for their kindness. And the 2 times I have worried about movement they have had me straight in and monitored. So even though they only give 2 scans, I have experienced they are very good IF we need more.

I agree pregnancy is natural NOT an illness so shouldn't be a burden on the NHS for reassurance purposes. I think the NHS already pays too much for other aspects of fertility care in my opnion, but I don't want go into that and be contraversial. But I think the NHS is generous and practical enough in terms of antenatal and postnatal care.
 
I consider myself incredibly lucky to live in a country that treats people as equal, as far as healthcare is concerned. In this country, nobody is left to die from treatable illnesses because they don't have insurance, and can't afford to pay, which is unfortunately the case in a lot of countries. The NHS isn't perfect, but at least it's fair and right.

As it has been said many times in this thread, pregnancy is NOT an illness. It is completely unnecessary for monthly scans, and a huge waste of money that should go towards genuinely sick people. I am one of the people you have mentioned, I got sent for a growth scan because my fundal height was 10cm above what it should be (2-3cm out is not a problem), only to find out that the baby itself is measuring too small, so I have to have another scan. In my opinion, short of actually taking the baby out an weighing it, there is NO way to be 100% certain. Scans can be just as wrong as fundal height measurements. But isn't it better to have height measurements to use as a guideline instead of paying for absolutely everybody to have unnecessary scans? Our country is in trouble with money as it is. Who is going to pay for these scans? Better yet, who is going to do them? Aren't midwives and nurses overstretched as it is?

If you need reassurance, then there is a simple solution. Pay for a private scan.
 

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