Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

That'll be the £billions they committed the NHS as a result of PFI - privatisation of the worst kind paying over the odds for everything via lucrative gold plated private contracts which are so lucrative they're traded. Yep, IIRC, over 80% were signed on Labour's watch. Of course we'd all be able to forget about that were it not for the fact that many of these contracts are going to last for decades and costing us vast sums of money which could have been far better spent and actually improved the NHS instead of being a drain on it.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

It's changed Den. Nurses used to get bursaries, now they have to get student loans like any other student. Given that there is a desperate shortage, it's hardly going to encourage new recruits, graduates have much better prospects and working conditions in other professions. Another Tory masterplan !

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

A&E patient wait joint-worst on record.

https://news.sky.com/story/nhs-winte...elays-11203206

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Funny, that, I thought that the bursary system actually restricted the number of nurses that could be trained.

The answer is obvious. Create new nursing posts that don’t actually require a degree. There are solutions if we look for them and that is one of the more obvious ones. It wouldn’t even cost more money if the non-degree nurses were used only to fill the vacant posts. You don’t have to throw money at a problem to resolve it, you just have to get practical.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Well more are leaving nursing than joining OB, so getting rid of bursaries has backfired. Something they could easily resolve and should do so immediately.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I think you will find that there are more nurses studying now than when there were bursaries. This is a complete red herring.

If they allowed non graduates to come in as nurses, you would solve the problem quite quickly. Graduate nurses turn their noses up at carrying out some of the dirty jobs long associated with nursing.

The answers are there if you look for them. Unfortunately, rather than do the job properly, too many politicians think that all they have to do is throw money at it and it will go away.

Guess what? It doesn't.

---------- Post added at 14:54 ---------- Previous post was at 14:52 ----------

I wasn't talking about NHS employees specifically. I was drawing attention to the fact that in other industries, you have to pay for your own training. Why should NHS staff be any different?

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Given that some nurses are doing jobs that Drs used to do, running clinics, some performing minor surgery, think you'll find they they do need to be highly trained.Its not Carry on Nursing with bedpans any longer. The problem is that as it's been a female dominated profession, wages are low compared to other graduates, and they are just taken for granted.

Better prospects elsewhere for young people and the EU nurses are going to more welcoming countries who appreciate and pay them more.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Exactly Mr K because if this country does not look after its doctors and nurses then they only have themselves to blame as goodwill and loyalty will only get you so far.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Non graduate nurses could be employed at a lower pay grade, avoiding the more testing duties that you speak of. This would relieve tne graduate nurses of some of their workload so they could spend more time carrying out higher level work.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

You mean AN's, SEN's and SRN's?

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I am talking about a different category of nurse, performing all but the most advanced aspects of nursing.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Those I've listed then. They are what we used to have on wards before degrees became necessary to be a nurse.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Ah, I see what you mean. From what I can gather, though, SENs and SRNs currently need a degree.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Official NHS report shows the scale of the NHS's deepening staffing shortages.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...sing-vacancies

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

While I'm aware some companies do this there was an email went round a couple of weeks ago offering staff to take additional annual leave at a monthly cost spread over 12 months.

While this is great if you need the additional time. But considering the staffing levels are at breaking point I'm surprised they went with this. Perhaps £££ signs to increase or save NHS funds is what they are looking for.

The problem is like my ward they can't get suitable staff to do the job and just lately the turnover is worse than an agency.

We can't even get bank staff from other areas of the trust because the job is specialised so can only give bank/overtime to those that work within the role.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

It not just the NHS that has problems.
Paying more in taxes doesn't solve anything as the Swedes will tell you.
The fact that there are unfilled vacancies shows that money for the NHS ISN'T the problem. They must already have the money set aside in their budgets to fill those vacancies.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

It doesn't. It shows that the money they have set aside is insufficient to retain and attract people to the profession.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

So what higher paying jobs are they going into? The required number of trained staff DO NOT EXIST, here and elsewhere in Europe.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...P=share_btn_fb

Don't see this improving the situation.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

What happened to that old fashioned value of applying clear normal common sense?.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Red tape and the compensation culture. :(

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

We recently recruited a nurse, 2 months down the line she's still working on her ward the reason being the current ward she works on is so busy and short of staff the manager wont release the reference needed in order to work on our ward.

HR have had to get involved.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Theresa May's focus on immigration number-counting at the expense of our hard-pressed NHS is clearly demonstrated by this.

She should know that UKIP's a spent force and she can now safely put the NHS before immigration red tape box-ticking.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Add on top of that is that NHS hospitals facing serious shortages of vital equipment as well.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...ital-equipment

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

that disappeared after a certain vote a couple of years ago. The public only have themselves to blame.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Common sense with civil servants?

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Civil servants are an easy and lazy scapegoat. It's the politicians and the people that vote them in that make the money decisions.

Boris accidentally went into an NHS hospital this week and saw how it was for the plebs. Even he was shocked into telling it how it was, only to get sent to naughty step.... Poor Boris.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Yep politicians are very good at making sure other scapegoats get the blame when the heat is on as they either quickly do the old quick disappearing act or conveniently go out of the country for a few days until the flak dies down.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Yes, well our Theresa is not a one-trick pony, and you are forgetting that a lot of people have expressed concerns about the unsustainable level of immigration.

I think I am right in saying that employers can make a case for employing more people from overseas. It was certainly the case just a few years ago, so maybe the NHS have mucked up.

Easier to blame the government, I suppose.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

My daughter had an appointment to see a Diabetes Opthalmist last November. It was cancelled with a week to go, and moved to February.

Last week a letter arrived to move that to April.

3 days later another letter said that was moved to July.

Today that has been postponed by phone to September!

---------- Post added at 17:55 ---------- Previous post was at 16:58 ----------

All the NHS nurses I know have left the NHS and returned as agency nurses at much higher rates of pay and better hours.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

She ain't my Theresa in exactly the same way as he ain't my Jeremy either as both are pretty useless IMO.

---------- Post added at 18:26 ---------- Previous post was at 18:22 ----------

Well they are the incumbents just like any other party that would be in power and as such people are entitled to have a go at them as if any of the other parties were in power so don't tell me that you would not be blaming them for many a thing.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

People are not 'entitled' to blame the wrong people, Den.

If there's a rule that says an employer can apply for an exemption but the employer doesn't use it, then the fault lies with the employer. Blame the government if you like, but that makes one look a bit daft, don't you think?

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Well recently i got to meet my new rheumatologist as my old one an absolutely excellent doctor has retired from the NHS though continues privately and over all the years i have dealt with consultants they always have their preferred medications to treat conditions never before had i had a consultant who stopped a treatment on the grounds of it couldn't be justified financially and other treatments may have to stop as well and offered no alternative. I'm no longer discussing the effect of immigration on the NHS as apparently I'm an ignorant racist which must be true as it was a late teens multi pierced girl telling me at the sametime as wishing my demise would speedup so the young people of this country who were the only one's who had a clue could start fixing everything. It was ironic at the time as i was lamenting at the loss of my asian doctor while stating what a good and honourable man i felt he was.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

So what you're saying is immigration has been beneficial to the NHS? I agree, we'd be stuffed without it.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Mr K conveniently forgetting there is a WORLD WIDE shortage of nurses as recognised by the W.H.O.

They pinpoint specifically....

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12817393

And this was an issue over a decade ago, probably much worse now. Go figure.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

No overall it hasn't yes we have gained some fine doctors and nurses but we've also gained a lot of non english speaking elderly with complicated medical conditions. I base my view on my experiences in the Leicestershire area where I've seen doctors and nurses abused and intimidated on a daily basis, a budgetry strain of translators and translation services taking chunks of budget that could have been better used. Immigration is not great across the board in some cases it's beneficial but it is also detrimental in others but in the UK unless your spouting pro ethnic diversity and multiculturalism your shot down as being ignorant and racist.

This debate has to start and it needs to start soon or the future is going to be extremely unpleasant for everyone.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

We're an ageing population, not enough young people. Nursing, we've decided to make a very unattractive career ( in our wisdom). We need immigrants and they may want to bring their family with them. You decide whether you want healthcare or not.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Personally i want community cohesion and a healthcare system that isn't riddled with ineffective beaurocrats who generally do nothing more then squander vast sums of money. If the trade off is having one good immigrant doctor\nurse who brings with them two or three drains I'll do without thanks it's time the UK got back to self sufficiency.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

When I started working on my ward it was mostly run by English staff. Out of 60 staff at least 45 of them were English the rest made up of filipino nurses.

11 years later we are down to 55 staff with around 15 staff who are English the rest made up of filipino and EU nurses. Times are changing same with the patients majority were English now it's around 60% to foreign patients

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42871081

Nice one Prof. Hawking ! Go for it !

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Taking Government Cabinet Members to Court, is unheard of and sets a dangerous precedent, it’s Parliament that should be getting top of Mr Hunt. But there is a weak opposition party in play here, not taking the government to task as it should.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Oh, thank goodness we have capped immigration. There will be no adverse effects on the NHS. And skilled doctors are not being deterred. Hmm.
https://www.ft.com/content/f9cea29e-...0-9c0ad2d7c5b5

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I believe he is taking the Government to court which wouldn't be unprecedented, indeed the Government isn't above the law either. Pretty important part of our constitution there. ;)

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Taking the Government to court is precedented last time I checked. And the Government and opposition are both weak. In fact, a Government minister is likely to resign next month with daydreamer Liam Fox's name very much in the frame!

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

It's no wonder the NHS is in 'crisis'...

LBC Talk show asks: The NHS has been charged £1500 for a £2 pot of moisturiser. Who is to blame here, the overcharging Pharmacy or the NHS for wasting such money?

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Well we've got the EU to thank for stopping a company ripping us of for cancer drugs.
https://www.ft.com/content/0765175e-...a-6027b8a20f23

We'll be easier meat for these companies once we've left the EU.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I read the article but it's not entirely clear what happened. The article items a bill was sent for that amount but it doesn't tell us the circumstances, what was ordered, what they actually paid and so on.

and


There might be more to it. It doesn't sound like they ordered a pot of nivea though.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

NHS intensive care units sending patients elsewhere due to lack of beds.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...tage-hospitals

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

who agrees with this?

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...iday-in-return

NHS staff offered 6.5% pay rise over three years if they forfeit day's holiday

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Well inflation is 2.7%, over 3 years that's 8.1%. So it's potentially a pay cut and loss of a days holiday, doesn't seem like a great deal to me, particularly when they've already lost so much through the pay cap since 2010.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

And in 2014 it was 1.5%, 2015 0%, 2016 0.7%.

Also, last year, over half the staff received pay rises of 3-4% on top of the annual 1% rise.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42167359 I used to get this argument from colleagues, when there was a pay freeze where I worked, but the annual increments (for those who weren't top of the scale, which was about 75% of them) were worth 3-4%.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

That isn't really a fair argument is it? it has taken me 8 years to work up to the levels to get the pay I am on now which is £18,157.

It is a cheap way to employ staff at a lower cost doing the same job for less pay. Most private companies you work for you would have actually gone in at the top pay of 18k rather than starting down at around 15k.

It's not a payrise it's what you should be getting paid for doing the job

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Most private companies don’t start someone at the top of a pay band - what would be the point in having a band, then?

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Because it's normally public sector services that have a payband not private. You may get a few but most offer a set rate when employed by them the rest comes through promotion.

I can only assume this is to ease payments coming from the Government/public purse.

You don't suddenly get 1 million NHS workers all going in at the top banding. Some will leave before they get there other might cut their hours down. Comes in handy for schools where they employ staff on a yearly contract saving money if they need to let them go after the 12 months.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I've worked in the private, public, staff-owned and non-profit sectors in a range of roles. All have had pay bands.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Yup, me too.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

that's bollocks.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I've worked in the private sector the areas I worked in never had pay bands and a lot don't I guess it depends on the company. but I've never seen a private company with 8 or more pay bands?

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I think most organisations over a certain size will have grades, the key determinant will be size not ownership although I guess public sector organisations tend not to be fewer than 20 staff.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I doubt very much that the employee in Band 2 (15-18k) is doing the same job as employees in band 9 (79-100k).

https://www.rcn.org.uk/employment-an...scales-2017-18

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Agreed.
I suspect - the larger the organisation, the number of bands.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

the one in Band 2 probably works a lot harder and has more stress ! Such is life...

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Yes, I had that comment made to me when I was an IT Director at a University by a Programmer (Grade 6, pay band 33-38k) who worked a 37 hour week, compared to my 60 hour week...

He wasn’t the one fighting to keep him and his colleagues in a job when all the funding got cut.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

So basically you just think everyone is a piece of crap below you then that the work they do is worth nothing for the pay they get because of the level you have worked at?

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

How on earth did you conclude that from what Hugh said, I took it that the programmer assumed his job was harder and more stressful without knowing Hugh did nearly double his hours, part of which was devoted to keeping the blissfully unaware programmer in a job.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Erm, no - I think that everyone who works for me deserves a decent wage (for a decent day's work), and that part of my role was to keep them in a job (by putting together a future work plan and budgets to support that work plan) and help them do a good job by supporting them, helping them develop, and providing direction. I thought I had success when one of my colleagues was promoted internally, or went somewhere else for a higher paying / career progressing job.

Another salient point was that he had been in IT for under 10 years, and I have been progressing for over 35 years...

A manager can't succeed without a good team, and you can't have a good team if you treat them like crap.

Not sure how you came to your conclusion, though...:erm:

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Possibly because whilst you're saying very laudable and altruistic things you include the revealing "everyone who works for me" ;).

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Well, they did - I was head of the department; people worked with, and for, me - the two things are complementary, not exclusive.

I, in turn, worked for a Deputy Vice-Chancellor, who worked for the Vice-Chancellor.

We all worked together, but it was/is a hierarchically structured organisation, like most places.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

We have differing views on management. Saying people work for you sounds to me like they are busy squirreling beneath your omnipotent gaze.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

God, no!

Good management (imho) is giving direction, letting people get on with doing their jobs (with appropriate oversight and governance), and selling the teams' efforts and successes to the wider organisation, whilst defending them against nay-sayers. Give people the opportunity to succeed, making sure they understand what is expected of them, whilst being available for them to tell you what you need to know.

Micro-management is a productivity and morale-killer, again imho.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Hugh means they reported to him and he was responsible for them.

Seems to be a sensitive area for you, Kursk!

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Clarified, thanks. Sorry, I was teasing a bit :).

Valuing others regardless of pay grade is I'm sure a sensitivity for all people who work together. I'm no autocrat.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Sorry but it was the way I read it. Sounded like you came across as look at me in my job everyone else is worthless.

I've worked in jobs in the past 35k a year at management level not so much now but was a personal choice.

However while I can appreciate those that work at the top may experience stress at a different level putting in 60hrs work compared to someone doing 37hrs work doesn't necessarily mean that the role they carry doesn't have any stress or they are anymore worthless in what they do be that 10 years or 45 years experience.

If anything I encourage those below me to put the effort in to get where I have got to in life.

Although I work with a few that have got 30+ years on me in this job they certainly like to make a point of letting everyone know.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Some good news.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43476340

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

And the article does mention the annual increment which means staff often get 3-4% on top of pay rises. So while 1% rise is small add the increment and it's not quite as small as some would make out. This increment is something the government may try to drop.

The article states the reason that it is old fashioned and rewards long service not competence. But long service is not bad in itself. The NHS does need to get rid of the dross but finds it difficult for various reasons and keep the good staff, and keep them in the jobs they are good at not promote them to management or leadership they may not be - need mechanism to pay better and higher for those functions.

I think they want to lose the increment because it's an invisible rise. Staff are getting (say 4-5% with increment) but the headlines are NHS staff only get 1%.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

While I am still considered a technician at work, I am actually a manager. I remember a few years back one of my first important projects was to get a few members of my team to compile a showreel for the students of one of our digital media courses. Sadly I no longer work with that team, as they transferred to a different campus, but the showreel is still used.

The Prinicipal Lecturer for the course told me what a brilliant job I'd done on the showreel, and I said I got the team to to it. She actually said that it doesn't matter I wasn't directly involved in the creation, as I had been in charge of the team that had done it, assigned the task to them, and ensured they had the right skills and equipment that they could do the task. I had managed them.

I have a different team now, and I feel that my job, as manager, is to do what Hugh said. Sadly, it means I don't get my hands dirty with the technical stuff as much as I did, which is the part I enjoy most, but that seems to be the way things go sometimes.

Regarding the pay rise. It is a good thing, but the government will need to stump up the cash to make it happen. Otherwise they are likely to have to cut things like Jobs and services to pay for it.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

About time too IMO.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

This is an article that was posted the other day somewhere else

https://doctoroxford.com/2018/03/23/...mpression=true

Those eye-popping 6.5% to 29% NHS pay rises are a lie – and I can prove it

The first rule of navigating the used car lot is that if the deal you’re being offered sounds too good to be true, well – those shiny-looking wheels will be a banger in disguise.

And, just as with used car salesmen, so it is, I’m afraid, with government pay deals.

You could hardly have missed this week’s eye-popping accounts of unprecedented Department of Health largesse towards hardworking NHS staff. Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Health, tweeted enthusiastically of a deal, bashed out with no less than 13 trade unions, in which 1.3 million staff would receive a guaranteed pay rise, over the next 3 years, of between 6.5% and 29%:

cont in link.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Good to see that the Unions representing Doctors have repeatedly lied about their wage increases without any thought of those of the nurses. Especially when the nurse is the one that looks the patient after the doctors patient admittedly under their direction as to what has to be done.

How many nurses are actually on level 6 or 7 of the paygrade graphs in that article posted.

BTW look at the earning gains in those graphs! I have to assume from the site address it is for doctors only, don't forget nurses are a very important part of making any of what you do or advise/proscribe is successful.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

About time they deserve it.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Interesting move as PM is set to overrule the Treasury and raise NHS spending
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/n...-nhs-8m92t89hd

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Jeremy Hunt admits NHS spending boost would mean a tax rise.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...-mean-tax-rise

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Unfortunately, yes. We are still searching for that money tree... :tiptoe:

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

What the same money tree that props up HMG..;)

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

That's right. Our wallets and purses. More Government spending means less money for you and me in the end.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

If it means our loved ones have an ambulance in a reasonable period of time then some of us will dip into our wallets.
An elderly friend of my mother's had a bad fall in the high street broke her leg. Fortunately, the weather was not as bad as it has been. She had to wait four hours for an ambulance to come. If that means a few quid less each month for those of us in work to cough up, at what stage do we become heartless and say let the elderly wait so we can spend it on ourselves? For everyone will become old some time.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I think that all of us want a more efficient health service, Andrew. The NHS need to move into the current century and make better use of computer systems for a start. However, the whole structure is creaking and badly needs an overhaul and practices need to be made more efficient.

Just pouring money into this antiquated system, which seems to be stuck in the 1970s, is not good enough.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I'm not sure more money is the answer tbh i think how the money is spent is what needs to be closely scrutinised and the number of non front line staff be reduced as those positions most of them 9 to 5 pay significantly better then nurses get. Is it coincidence that as beaurocracy has increased in the NHS quality and service has got worse we have thousands of managers and advisors costing a literal fortune who are not getting results. Have one department in the NHS to purchase everything let the scale of the NHS deliver bulk buying discounts which again would save a fortune.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

But you always need someone to run the efficiency team and to handle transition and they need a team and oversight and so on it goes.

The NHS does need good managers as well as good clinical, technical, service and other staff. Problem has often been promoting good staff to management roles. (I know I've said this before.) So you end up with poor managers working over poor or overworked staff.

And too many old boy (or girl) networks, bad contracts with suppliers, too many people in the chain preserving the chain to preserve their interests.

More money in would result in more people to ensure it's spent properly costing more money.

And while it's hopefully not as bad as it was more common sense won't go amiss either. If you notice a water spill, get some paper towels and wipe it up, doesn't matter if you are a manger, don't fill in a form to get some janitor to come along with the official mop and sign.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I agree with your second paragraph.

I would not mind more money going into recruiting more front line staff, but there are still too many managers in the NHS. The whole system needs to be shaken up.

As long as there is real reform, then if money is also needed for pump priming and to make it work much better in the long term, you won't get objections from me. I think that's something most people would be prepared to accept.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Easter Sunday marks 1 year since my first bout of Pancreatitis came on. Ive had it 5 times since then, hospitalized 3 times and a major life saving operation in November after a psudocyst exploded on my Pancreas ripping it apart and causing Sepsis.

The NHS have been great to me from the cleaning staff right upto the ward sisters, i really cannot complain. I have a CT Scan every 3 months making sure the cyst isnt growing again and i see a consultant every 3 months for the results.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Glad to hear you are better now, Alan.

Yes, the medical expertise and indeed some other parts of the NHS work very well indeed. The problem is the bits that don't - the administration, the lack of good computer systems with over-reliance on paperwork, parts of the NHS that are not linked to other parts so that your medical information isn't available to the practitioner you are seeing, the top heavy management structure, restricted hours in doctor's surgeries (leading to undue pressure in A&E) - the list goes on and on.

This will take time to fix, but fix it we must.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Sorry to say this but the NHS has been in decline for many years. Due to cuts. And it is only the brilliant staff at our hospitals that they are kept running

Approx 12 months ago we got advised that our regular surgery was merging with another. As the local authority wanted to make surgreris work better.

So we were moved to another surgery that has in the region of 13.000 patients. Our surgery had 14.000 and had four GPs.

My wife had an appointment the other day. When she arrived, she had two ailments. But there is a sign at the surgery that states ' One ailment at one appointment only' so had to return two days later.

Only Ten minutes appointments are allowed. This is totally ridiculous.

The NHS needs urgent funding. And it needs to come from the Government and NOT by increase of tax.

Yes, l would agree to paying extra tax - but only if it covered everything. And not just the NHS

All staff in NHS need our deepest respect

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I think the 10 minute appointments are enough to be honest and they do often go over them depending on the situation but most symptoms can be diagnosed within 5 mins of going in. Most GP's tell you on the doors or the new flash boards that depending on the nature of the the problem some appointments can go over the 10mins.

As for the NHS tax well my main concern for this is that it isn't some kind of stealth tax that turns into privatizing the NHS further down the line and this tax payment becomes a Health payment like they do in America

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

You are funny, Arthur! Government money comes from taxation!

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Leave the poor lad alone OB, its not his fault he's clueless. He does give us a laugh with every post so just enjoy the humour.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

i took it to mean redirecting Government spending on other areas like defence, foreign aid, transport etc to the NHS instead.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

If he did, I cannot see that being a popular move! Although I do think the foreign aid budget needs to be looked at again.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Foreign aid is a popular target for the public but the business it generates is worth many times what we pay out although a good intention is part of it that's not the primary purpose but no government is ever going to call it the foreign bribes for business department. You can throw billions more at the NHS and it will just get swallowed up as all past increases have, until we reform the NHS to better use it's funding more money is utterly pointless.