Until we address this our NHS will continue its decline

John, USA

It isn't surprising that the NHS isn't performing as well as it might after being seriously under funded for the past 20 years. We spend 50% less than most of our European neighbours on national health and 300% more on defence. Until we address this our NHS will continue its decline.
John, USA

I work regularly in an A&E department in central London and I can assure everyone that they would not have to wait so long in A&E if 90% of the patients who arrived in the department did not have problems that could be more easily treated by themselves. The problem here is a lack of education about what to do when you're feeling ill. Don't blame the system, we all try our hardest - certain critics seem to think that we set out to deliberately harm patients, which is particularly offensive after spending 6 years training at medical school and being paid a pittance for long hours.
Anonymous, UK

My mother spent 7 weeks in hospital earlier in the year and it took some time to diagnose her condition. We felt things could have happened quicker. After 2 weeks at home she collapsed and spent a week in intensive care, where she sadly died. We could not fault the care she received during that week, and the care shown to her family. Those ITU nurses work long, hard and emotional hours but never gave up and smiled all the time. So two sides of the same hospital. They need more money and trained staff but mainly do a good job with what they have. Think what they could offer with the right resources.
B. Osborn, England

There is no evidence that the NHS is any better or worse than other countries

Steve, UK

No healthcare system, however funded, is going to be free of problems and there is no evidence that the NHS is any better or worse than other countries (e.g. US). Although there is much talk of human error, we forget that humans are also highly adaptable and talented. I wouldn't want my medical care from a robot. Regarding the study showing a lack of knowledge by junior doctors, I wonder whether they asked the same questions of a group of doctors who might be expected to be able to recognise a seriously ill patient e.g. intensive care specialists? In the absence of such a control group, the conclusions may not be terribly valid.
Steve, UK

Last summer I underwent major facial surgery on the NHS to correct a jaw problem. The medical team who treated me were fantastic, and I do not believe that I could have received better care anywhere else. Everyone is very quick to tell NHS horror stories - I'm sure some are true, but equally there are many cases where the NHS is faultless.
Sarah, England

My only recent experience of the NHS has been second-hand, with my partner. All his appointments were kept on time, he received excellent treatment albeit for a minor condition and the whole process took less than the predicted 6 months from start to finish. But this was in a modern, purpose built unit with the computer equipment to cope. The biggest problem is trying to run a 21st century service in 19th century hospitals.
Julia, UK

Fifteen minutes ago I got back from a specialist appointment at the National Hospital of Neurology. I have been going there for years. It is an NHS hospital. I was seen bang on time, and despite my condition itself worsening the treatment and care and attention I received was as ever brilliant. I have been treated privately and there is really no difference. They all have to pass the same exams. I have huge respect for the NHS and without them I would not have achieved half of what I have and would not be where I am today.
Mel, UK

Doctors deserve a break from all the criticism heaped upon them by an undeserving public

Martin Damonsing, UK

Doctors come under unjustified criticism all the time in the press. It seems everyone has a story to tell about how poor the NHS can be, but no-one wants to read about the good work the NHS does. Doctors are under tremendous pressure on a daily basis and deserve a break from all the criticism heaped upon them by an undeserving public.
Martin Damonsing, UK

I work in a hospital and no I don't trust the NHS. I have seen corners cut in order to save money. Cleaning standards are appalling, staff morale is at an all time low and doctors overworked. I'm not relying on the NHS for my future medical needs...
Gary, UK

My granddaughter, a regular visitor to hospital, has had some very good and some very poor service. Almost dying on a couple of occasions due to poor knowledge of her condition and a lack of professionalism in treating it.
Dave, UK

The NHS is a problem. I know a consultant surgeon who performs twice as many operations in his private hospital than at the NHS, because of all the red tape and bureaucracy in the NHS. i.e. he must take an hour lunch break, and then wait for the patient to be brought to theatre instead of having a quick sandwich in between ops, whilst waiting for the patient. The doctors are great and do a good job, but the interfering red tape and bureaucracy costs the taxpayer, and causes the problems.
lance, England

I have witnessed a tremendous decline in the NHS

Ian Sklar, UK

As a doctor since 1981 I have witnessed a tremendous decline in the NHS matched only by increased expectations generated by its political masters - of all parties. The NHS is becoming downright hazardous. Even in the case of cancer where GPs are obliged to refer patients within 48hrs it can take 2-3 months before patients are fully investigated and ready to start WAITING for definitive surgery.

As to making mistakes in the days when I was in hospital practice I certainly made at least one potentially serious dosing but fortunately the patient came to no harm. At the time I was working 109hrs a week. Truck drivers and airline pilots are not allowed to work these hours but the most junior doctors are. The wonder is that there are so few mistakes not that there are so many!
Ian Sklar, UK

After years of hearing NHS horror stories in the press, I finally came face to face with NHS treatment when my partner became pregnant. After an initial consultation with her GP, she was looked after by a team of midwives, offered the birth method she chose, at a choice of three local hospitals, The birth, a caesarean, was performed by a highly trained team of skilled doctors and nurses. She was then offered a private room, which she was allowed to stay in until she felt fit to go home. At home she was attended to by her GP and the Midwives. A health visitor is now co-ordinating the care of our daughter. Sorry to bore everyone, but the NHS does deliver an efficient service of an extremely high standard, it's about time we started to appreciate this.
Mark, UK

If moaning was an Olympic sport we'd win hands down every time. The NHS is one of the best health systems in the world, recognised by the UN as such, and by comparison to other ways of running a health system, incredibly cheap. Its not perfect, but what is? Especially after years and years of under funding.
Rob Phillips, Wales

Would people rather that the NHS refused to admit there was any problem?

Graham Bartlett, Cambridge

This report has been published as part of the NHS's new drive towards a more open culture where they try and solve problems instead of apportioning blame. And the first result? People saying "I don't trust the NHS because of this report"! If the NHS is now actively checking the quality of its employees and is working to improve their skills, why should they be criticised when the first report says that there's a lot of work to do? Would people rather that the NHS refused to admit there was any problem?
Graham Bartlett, Cambridge, UK

Most of us are lucky that we do jobs where an error does not risk other people's lives. We are all fallible. We need to see comparative figures to see what the rate of errors is in other countries. There have certainly been many reports of major errors in the private medical sector here. Many doctors would not choose to be treated privately in the UK because they believe it to be much more error-prone than the NHS.
Catherine Stanton, UK

This is clearly more about the lower quality of medical school graduates than it is about the NHS. Medical schools are under increasing pressure to churn out more doctors to prop up the NHS. For medical schools, the pressure is on to minimise the number of students dropping out of the course either because they've changed their minds about becoming a doctor, or because they're failing the course. The result - more doctors, but a greater number of poor doctors.
Lisa, UK

As a junior doctor myself, I have seen many colleagues with poor knowledge.

Dr James, UK

The questions asked in the survey are simple. As a junior doctor myself, I have seen many colleagues with poor knowledge. I blame the medical schools which do not emphasise clinical knowledge. Too much time is devoted to presentations, case discussions, special study modules and a "teach yourself" mentality now in vogue in British medical schools.
Dr James, UK

The results of this survey do not surprise me. They are symptomatic of a greater problem in our educational institutions, that is, the dumming down of standards. GCSEs are easy, A-Levels are easier and getting a degree merely requires attendance. The result is that so-called professionals are not really professional.
Dan Loach, UK

Maybe too much is expected from junior doctors. They have just completed a degree, have very little experience in treating people, yet they are expected to know everything, work 70 hours a weeks and to never make a mistake. They are training. Where are the more senior doctors who are meant to be "supervising" them? Its no wonder people are put off of medical school!
sally, UK

I met a lady in America recently who despite still being unwell after a heart attack, has to work to pay the medical fees not covered by her insurance policy. Now, having had one heart attack, her premiums are so high, she can't afford them. So where does that leave her? Is that what we want in the UK? I think not! I am happy to pay taxes to fund a health service who treats all and doesn't ask who is paying. Better use of funding may improve matters.
Louise Clarkson, UK

People have always made mistakes, and they will in the future. It doesn't matter whether they are doctors, nurses, firemen, railwaymen or shop assistants. It is impossible to change human nature. Actually mistakes sometimes turn out to have benefits such as the discovery of penicillin. We are only concentrating on human fallibility because of our compensation culture. The way we are going, we are all going to become totally and utterly paranoid about everything.
Anthony, Reading, UK

I am terrified of going into hospital for any treatment

Anon, UK

Anthony, UK said that everyone makes mistakes but the mistakes made by doctors and nurses are sometimes lethal. A very close member of my family was left brain damaged and eventually died because of a medical person's negligence - any amount of compensation won't make up for our loss. I am now personally terrified of going into hospital for any treatment!
Anon, UK

The NHS is not free, we all pay for it out of our taxes/NI contributions. As a paying customer I expect first class service, if not then I should be able to opt out of paying and select another service.
Dave, UK

No doubt some people with an axe to grind will use this as another reason to attack the NHS. I'm sure most of us make mistakes day in day out in the course of our work but luckily these tend not to be life-threatening. As it happens most of those in the NHS are not quite that dramatic either but unfortunately the focus is on the more serious ones. Personally I've always had very prompt and effective treatment in our system. I've lived and worked in Germany where it is more or less private. I can say that the actual treatment I received there was not much better, but that the facilities were much more luxurious - at a price!
J Cahill, UK

Having a go at doctors is hardly the way forward, although there should be more accountability for mistakes

Denise, Belfast, UK

I don't see why people still constantly grumble about the NHS when it is free. If we were issued a receipt with every treatment we receive showing how much we would have paid if it was not free, we wouldn't be so quick to swamp the system with minor ailments. Having a go at doctors is hardly the way forward, although I do agree there should be more accountability for mistakes.
Denise, Belfast, UK

I don't think Denise realises that the NHS is not free, it's free at the point of consumption. We already pay ridiculous amounts of tax directly and indirectly. I was going to put myself and my children on private healthcare but to do so means I would have to move house to something even smaller and the mortgage would be more than a 10-bedroom house in Florida! Ok maybe I am going over the top here, but the fact of the matter is that people can't pick things like health, schooling and how much to save because we're forced to fund a monopoly ran by the state.
Michael Batcher, England

I have been treated by doctors in India as well as in England. Unfortunately I experienced that most of the doctors here are incompetent or are too afraid to treat their patients. It seems anyone in England can become a doctor. There should be an entrance test for the medical schools in order to improve the quality of the future doctors.
Gagan, UK/India

I don't want to leave my health to a matter of faith. The NHS is a crumbling relic of last-millennium State-centred thinking, which thinks its customers should be grateful for what they are given, even if the service is useless and the waiting lists enormous. The truth is now starting to come out - inept staff, and massive claims for compensation from customers who have been failed. Revolution (in the form of major restructuring and privatisation), not reform, is what's needed.
David Moran, Scotland/Australia

David Moran is welcome to go to Australia and enjoy the mess that increasing privatisation has created in their health care system. Perhaps he will also enjoy the experience that my father-in-law experienced there where the country's finest doctors misdiagnosed cancer of the kidney and removed a healthy organ. We should have faith in the health system not because it is perfect, but because it does what it can given knowledge, resources and cooperation of its customers. Personally I think the NHS still matches up thanks to the commitment of so many of its staff.
Alan P, UK

The NHS saved my daughter's life. Have faith? I love the NHS.
Martin, UK

Problems in the NHS are because of under-investment, especially in staff and training. The vast majority of us still believe in socially-funded health care for all. We don't want the NHS privatised, we want it saved!
Ben Drake, York, UK

If there are gaps in junior doctors' training then we should look to the medical schools rather than the NHS

Dave, UK

Junior doctors are initially trained at university and they have limited and highly-defined contact with hospitals. If there are gaps in their training then we should look to the medical schools rather than the NHS. It's also worth remembering that private hospitals rely on the same pool of junior doctors so if there is a problem then it isn't necessarily confined to the NHS.
Dave, UK

If doctors can't stand the pressure, then why become a doctor. When you become a doctor you have responsibilities with people's lives. If you think that you can't handle that then go and work in an office.
Shahid, UK

The junior doctor's role is a training role. These are teaching positions. They are usually closely supervised by senior staff members. I would not expect a junior doctor who was on a dermatology placement to answer all of the questions. No more than I would expect a member of the public to so the same. But a JHO in casualty should be better placed to do so. You wouldn't expect a financial journalist to be able to give a technically correct analysis of an England football game so why expect the same from another professional? This to me sounds like yet another example of those who say picking fault in those who do!
Tony, UK

Here we go again. Another report finds that the NHS makes mistakes, is not perfect, can't treat everybody immediately, can't cure everything, and doesn't accurately predict this week's lottery numbers. For goodness sake - it's free. Given that nobody is willing to pay any more tax for a better service I can't understand why as a nation we go on and on about how bad the NHS is. To answer the question, I attended casualty a week or so ago as I had a very painful lump in a place I'd rather not talk about. Within five hours I had been seen, examined, the lump scanned, had it confirmed that it wasn't cancerous, just infected, and treatment prescribed. The cost to me - �6 for my prescription. My only grumble was having to wait almost half an hour in the casualty waiting room amongst the assorted winos, junkies and drop-outs who are the NHS's real problem.
Andy D, UK

The two alarming studies referred to are only alarming with respect to the apparent mismatch between the public opinion of, and the reality of medical doctors' behaviour, attitudes, and capabilities. Public confidence in the NHS can be maintained and increased, but only once the power, privilege, and highly rewarded incentives of the medical professional are readjusted downwards.
David S, UK

It is the system that's at fault, not the doctors

Peter Finch, England

Don't start having a go at the doctors! To be a doctor or nurse is still classed as a "vocational" career, and vocational careers have historically been poorly paid work or charity work. It is this ingrained social attitude that is the reason why we don't have enough doctors or nurses. They don't feel like they are valued, and hence only a minority of people decide to train for the best part of their lives for a minimal wage. If they were paid a realistic salary, they would have a financially secure reason to become a doctor, and so there would be more doctors and fewer mistakes. It is the system that's at fault, not the doctors. Give them a break!
Peter Finch, England

Sounds about right. I fell ill in Sweden a year ago with a flu-like illness and was seen by a consultant within six hours despite only having an E111. He did tests, I waited there and then for the results and was sent to the pharmacy with a prescription. I fall ill with flu in the UK and am told the next available appointment is in four days time. Great. These days I have to predict when I'm going to fall ill so I can book an appointment in advance.
Alex Banks, UK

Alex Banks, UK has flu-like symptoms and he sees a consultant (in Sweden)! He then complains about waiting times in England. Perhaps the perceived failings of the NHS are due in part due to people in the A&E worrying about their runny noses.
John Morland, UK