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Post by finsobruce on May 14, 2021 17:38:24 GMT
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the Hartlepool closure, what did bring a wry smile to my face was Dr Williams complaining that his opponents were " bringing NHS matters into the campaign " ...... this from the party that has used the " 24 hours to save the NHS " line for at least the last Four Elections .. Sailors complaining about the sea, etc. |
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Chris from Brum
Lib Dem
What I need is a strong drink and a peer group.
Posts: 9,746
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Post by Chris from Brum on May 14, 2021 18:10:27 GMT
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the Hartlepool closure, what did bring a wry smile to my face was Dr Williams complaining that his opponents were " bringing NHS matters into the campaign " ...... this from the party that has used the " 24 hours to save the NHS " line for at least the last Four Elections .. That line really is wearing thin these days, isn't it? Tory government after Tory government, and we still have the NHS. Lord knows I'm no fan of the Tories, but they're taking their time over shutting the NHS down. |
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Post by andrew111 on May 14, 2021 18:27:54 GMT
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the Hartlepool closure, what did bring a wry smile to my face was Dr Williams complaining that his opponents were " bringing NHS matters into the campaign " ...... this from the party that has used the " 24 hours to save the NHS " line for at least the last Four Elections .. That line really is wearing thin these days, isn't it? Tory government after Tory government, and we still have the NHS. Lord knows I'm no fan of the Tories, but they're taking their time over shutting the NHS down. It is creaking at the knees though. |
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Chris from Brum
Lib Dem
What I need is a strong drink and a peer group.
Posts: 9,746
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Post by Chris from Brum on May 14, 2021 18:29:43 GMT
That line really is wearing thin these days, isn't it? Tory government after Tory government, and we still have the NHS. Lord knows I'm no fan of the Tories, but they're taking their time over shutting the NHS down. It is creaking at the knees though. It has creaked at the knees almost since it was founded. Colour of government seems to make little difference. |
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timmullen1
Labour
Closing account as BossMan declines to respond to messages seeking support.
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Post by timmullen1 on May 14, 2021 18:45:48 GMT
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the Hartlepool closure, what did bring a wry smile to my face was Dr Williams complaining that his opponents were " bringing NHS matters into the campaign " ...... this from the party that has used the " 24 hours to save the NHS " line for at least the last Four Elections .. That line really is wearing thin these days, isn't it? Tory government after Tory government, and we still have the NHS. Lord knows I'm no fan of the Tories, but they're taking their time over shutting the NHS down. It is becoming more obvious by the day however; I need my hearing aids replaced? Specsavers, who don’t have any qualified audiologists between Birmingham and Manchester, and charge for replacement batteries and hearing aids. The last non emergency oral and maxiofacial department between Hull and Birmingham closes in September, and what’s left will be run at below Consultant Surgeon level, so don’t break your cheekbones or eye sockets, get mouth cancer unless you’re prepared to travel 150 miles for consultation and treatment. Routine blood tests in many parts of the country, got to wait for BUPA to fit you in. |
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Post by No Offence Alan on May 14, 2021 18:46:40 GMT
It is creaking at the knees though. It has creaked at the knees almost since it was founded. Colour of government seems to make little difference. The elderly are the biggest users of the NHS. The elderly mostly vote Tory. Why would the Tories be a threat to the NHS? |
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Post by andrew111 on May 14, 2021 18:53:48 GMT
It is creaking at the knees though. It has creaked at the knees almost since it was founded. Colour of government seems to make little difference. True, but the crisis in GP numbers was there before the pandemic and now it is much worse. We did some surveys and over 40% can't get a GP appointment when they need one. Mental health provision is utterly inadequate, and while putting more real terms cash into the NHS, govts keep cutting "social care" which includes illnesses like Alzheimers. A lot of money is mopped up by private providers who are not actually any more efficient (other than at making money). And then add in the disastrous pfi contracts which are taking significant proportions of the annual spend of many Trusts. The NHS is a black hole for money, and needs above inflation growth every year just to stand still. This is of course a problem... |
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Post by andrew111 on May 14, 2021 18:55:08 GMT
It has creaked at the knees almost since it was founded. Colour of government seems to make little difference. The elderly are the biggest users of the NHS. The elderly mostly vote Tory. Why would the Tories be a threat to the NHS? They have certainly been a threat to adult social care... |
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Post by curiousliberal on May 14, 2021 19:09:31 GMT
The NHS budget is up, in real terms. In every year of Tory governments. If the NHS is still failing timmullen1 it is for one of two reasons. Either the delivery system is flawed. Or it does not matter how much money you plough in, if there is no limit on demand, supply can never meet it. BTW both are true. A rising limit is not the same thing as the absence of a limit. |
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Post by Defenestrated Fipplebox on May 14, 2021 19:24:25 GMT
The NHS isn't failing. It is doing worse than a year ago, because of the decision of the Health Secretary and his policy wonks, that prioritising Covid was more important than anything else.
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Post by hullenedge on May 14, 2021 19:32:12 GMT
That line really is wearing thin these days, isn't it? Tory government after Tory government, and we still have the NHS. Lord knows I'm no fan of the Tories, but they're taking their time over shutting the NHS down. It is becoming more obvious by the day however; I need my hearing aids replaced? Specsavers, who don’t have any qualified audiologists between Birmingham and Manchester, and charge for replacement batteries and hearing aids. The last non emergency oral and maxiofacial department between Hull and Birmingham closes in September, and what’s left will be run at below Consultant Surgeon level, so don’t break your cheekbones or eye sockets, get mouth cancer unless you’re prepared to travel 150 miles for consultation and treatment. Routine blood tests in many parts of the country, got to wait for BUPA to fit you in. A bit different here. Blood tests conducted at the surgery. There is a machine on site so results within the day. If 'complications' referred to one of the two local hospitals albeit appointment at the mo. Home visits can be arranged for blood tests. Also audiology service attached to the practice. This is a boon because it's taken pressure off the hospital department. The audiologist works for Scrivens but it's an NHS service. My aids were free (but I have to pay £70 if broken, by me, within three years). I could have bought private aids but NHS ones are fine. Bags of free batteries and I always forget to recycle the old ones! |
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timmullen1
Labour
Closing account as BossMan declines to respond to messages seeking support.
Posts: 11,823
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Post by timmullen1 on May 14, 2021 19:43:12 GMT
It is becoming more obvious by the day however; I need my hearing aids replaced? Specsavers, who don’t have any qualified audiologists between Birmingham and Manchester, and charge for replacement batteries and hearing aids. The last non emergency oral and maxiofacial department between Hull and Birmingham closes in September, and what’s left will be run at below Consultant Surgeon level, so don’t break your cheekbones or eye sockets, get mouth cancer unless you’re prepared to travel 150 miles for consultation and treatment. Routine blood tests in many parts of the country, got to wait for BUPA to fit you in. A bit different here. Blood tests conducted at the surgery. There is a machine on site so results within the day. If 'complications' referred to one of the two local hospitals albeit appointment at the mo. Home visits can be arranged for blood tests. Also audiology service attached to the practice. This is a boon because it's taken pressure off the hospital department. The audiologist works for Scrivens but it's an NHS service. My aids were free (but I have to pay £70 if broken, by me, within three years). I could have bought private aids but NHS ones are fine. Bags of free batteries and I always forget to recycle the old ones! Very different. Surgeries still take samples - possibly, they’ve only been done at Health Centres during Covid with a phlebotomy team doing one day a week at five health centres, but the actual tests are done at a BUPA path lab. I can still get my hearing aids repaired by the hospital, but only because I wear in both ears, but I have to buy new batteries, and new referrals, such as my mum, have got to go to Specsavers or similar. |
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Post by gwynthegriff on May 14, 2021 19:45:59 GMT
That line really is wearing thin these days, isn't it? Tory government after Tory government, and we still have the NHS. Lord knows I'm no fan of the Tories, but they're taking their time over shutting the NHS down. It is becoming more obvious by the day however; I need my hearing aids replaced? Specsavers, who don’t have any qualified audiologists between Birmingham and Manchester, and charge for replacement batteries and hearing aids. The last non emergency oral and maxiofacial department between Hull and Birmingham closes in September, and what’s left will be run at below Consultant Surgeon level, so don’t break your cheekbones or eye sockets, get mouth cancer unless you’re prepared to travel 150 miles for consultation and treatment. Routine blood tests in many parts of the country, got to wait for BUPA to fit you in. Funnily enough I got my hearing aids through Specsavers. No idea if the guys who did my initial assessment and my follow-up were audiologists but they seem to have got the aids correct.* Hearing aids, boxes, batteries, cleaners all free. * I don't know about audiology, but in the world of optometry there's plenty of turf wars between different levels of qualifications in which everybody claims that competence ceases at their level and that anyone with a lesser qualification is a threat to the nation's health. |
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Post by gwynthegriff on May 14, 2021 19:47:38 GMT
A bit different here. Blood tests conducted at the surgery. There is a machine on site so results within the day. If 'complications' referred to one of the two local hospitals albeit appointment at the mo. Home visits can be arranged for blood tests. Also audiology service attached to the practice. This is a boon because it's taken pressure off the hospital department. The audiologist works for Scrivens but it's an NHS service. My aids were free (but I have to pay £70 if broken, by me, within three years). I could have bought private aids but NHS ones are fine. Bags of free batteries and I always forget to recycle the old ones! Very different. Surgeries still take samples - possibly, they’ve only been done at Health Centres during Covid with a phlebotomy team doing one day a week at five health centres, but the actual tests are done at a BUPA path lab. I can still get my hearing aids repaired by the hospital, but only because I wear in both ears, but I have to buy new batteries, and new referrals, such as my mum, have got to go to Specsavers or similar. North Staffs is a mess. But I wouldn't assume their specific issues are general. |
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timmullen1
Labour
Closing account as BossMan declines to respond to messages seeking support.
Posts: 11,823
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Post by timmullen1 on May 14, 2021 19:49:07 GMT
It is becoming more obvious by the day however; I need my hearing aids replaced? Specsavers, who don’t have any qualified audiologists between Birmingham and Manchester, and charge for replacement batteries and hearing aids. The last non emergency oral and maxiofacial department between Hull and Birmingham closes in September, and what’s left will be run at below Consultant Surgeon level, so don’t break your cheekbones or eye sockets, get mouth cancer unless you’re prepared to travel 150 miles for consultation and treatment. Routine blood tests in many parts of the country, got to wait for BUPA to fit you in. Funnily enough I got my hearing aids through Specsavers. No idea if the guys who did my initial assessment and my follow-up were audiologists but they seem to have got the aids correct.* Hearing aids, boxes, batteries, cleaners all free. * I don't know about audiology, but in the world of optometry there's plenty of turf wars between different levels of qualifications in which everybody claims that competence ceases at their level and that anyone with a lesser qualification is a threat to the nation's health. I don’t know about competence either, it’s a case here of there simply being somebody to actually do a test. Pre lockdown they only offered tests one day a week rotating around their shops. |
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timmullen1
Labour
Closing account as BossMan declines to respond to messages seeking support.
Posts: 11,823
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Post by timmullen1 on May 14, 2021 19:52:39 GMT
Very different. Surgeries still take samples - possibly, they’ve only been done at Health Centres during Covid with a phlebotomy team doing one day a week at five health centres, but the actual tests are done at a BUPA path lab. I can still get my hearing aids repaired by the hospital, but only because I wear in both ears, but I have to buy new batteries, and new referrals, such as my mum, have got to go to Specsavers or similar. North Staffs is a mess. But I wouldn't assume their specific issues are general. I’m incorporating my cousin, an oral maxiofacial Registrar formerly in South Yorkshire, and his husband, a pathologist on Humberside. |
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Post by andrew111 on May 14, 2021 20:01:33 GMT
Postcode lottery
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Post by andrew111 on May 14, 2021 21:36:11 GMT
Question to those who believe in the NHS At what level of GDP per capita would the NHS be adequately funded ? If it were funded at the level of the American insurance led system it would certainly be adequately funded... |
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timmullen1
Labour
Closing account as BossMan declines to respond to messages seeking support.
Posts: 11,823
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Post by timmullen1 on May 14, 2021 21:44:56 GMT
Question to those who believe in the NHS At what level of GDP per capita would the NHS be adequately funded ? Funding isn’t necessarily the question, most medical professionals will tell you that the structure is more of a problem than funding, particularly since Lansley’s disastrous “reorganisation” Act. For a start, and yes Labour got this wrong, PFI is a disaster and will continue to be a millstone around the neck for decades. Commissioning is way too fragmented and CCG’s need abolishing and the old District Health Authority’s recreated. Staffing is a ticking time bomb post Brexit; and not just at nursing level. However on the subject of nursing it’s a simple change to increase the staffing budget to employ Agency nurses as part of the NHS. Another cousin was a senior nurse before retiring with MS and his job was purely to book Agency nurses to plug gaps at a major South Wales hospital. Trusts should not be fined for missing artificial targets, it’s self defeating. Adult social care needs to be a part of the NHS; my local hospital has to try and negotiate discharge care packages with at least 15 local authorities, including some in Wales, leading to a December 2019 figure of 479 patients medically fit for discharge but unable to be sent home because local authorities couldn’t/wouldn’t fund a required care package. That’s just page 1 of my own observations as someone who relies daily on the NHS and adult social care, and has multiple members of my family and other friends working in/retired from in the NHS. It’s non partisan, I don’t care who introduces them, as long as they’re introduced. And, like the overwhelming majority of the population I won’t entertain those amateurs, usually the same ones who deny Covid is serious, who advocate for an alternative system. |
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Post by No Offence Alan on May 14, 2021 21:53:02 GMT
Question to those who believe in the NHS At what level of GDP per capita would the NHS be adequately funded ? Funding isn’t necessarily the question, most medical professionals will tell you that the structure is more of a problem than funding, particularly since Lansley’s disastrous “reorganisation” Act. For a start, and yes Labour got this wrong, PFI is a disaster and will continue to be a millstone around the neck for decades. Commissioning is way too fragmented and CCG’s need abolishing and the old District Health Authority’s recreated. Staffing is a ticking time bomb post Brexit; and not just at nursing level. However on the subject of nursing it’s a simple change to increase the staffing budget to employ Agency nurses as part of the NHS. Another cousin was a senior nurse before retiring with MS and his job was purely to book Agency nurses to plug gaps at a major South Wales hospital. Trusts should not be fined for missing artificial targets, it’s self defeating. Adult social care needs to be a part of the NHS; my local hospital has to try and negotiate discharge care packages with at least 15 local authorities, including some in Wales, leading to a December 2019 figure of 479 patients medically fit for discharge but unable to be sent home because local authorities couldn’t/wouldn’t fund a required care package. That’s just page 1 of my own observations as someone who relies daily on the NHS and adult social care, and has multiple members of my family and other friends working in/retired from in the NHS. It’s non partisan, I don’t care who introduces them, as long as they’re introduced. And, like the overwhelming majority of the population I won’t entertain those amateurs, usually the same ones who deny Covid is serious, who advocate for an alternative system. I would also add that IMHO getting rid of the Community Health Councils was a mistake. |
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