Forum Topic

NHS dismantlement?

There seems to be good evidence that the Conservative party is undermining the NHS by chronic underfunding. Waiting lists for non emergency operations like cataracts seem to be well over a year and I spotted this article about birth control in the Huffington Post:https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/women-are-failing-to-access-contraception-ive-been-trying-to-get-the-coil-for-6-months_uk_5de0e7f8e4b00149f72d2973Is this a subtle attempt to force people to have private health insurance if they want non-critical care in a timely manner?In my opinion a vote for a Conservative is a vote against the NHS. As they say about the US; what happens if you lose your job and the company medical scheme that goes with it, and then get a serious condiutioin like cancer? Answer: first you go basnkrupt, then you die 🙁 Even if one has medical insurance in the US there are many excess charges, exclusions and the system can be quite disjointed (I'm basing this on US friends who have good medical insurance) - and, unlikes the NHS, there seem to be no efforts to reduce costs or actively promote lifestyle changes that help prevent illnesses.

Michael Ixer ● 2536d9 Comments

Hello Michael,First question would be, is Huffington Post not an American owned publication?  It is very good though.One of my greatest fears is the NHS in the hands of the Conservatives.  They have been undermining it for years always saying the amount of money they supposedly were putting into it but forcing the NHS to use private contractors.....I think many conservatives are so much in love with the US that their only objective is to imitate it...  Pfffff.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2536d

My recent experiences of the NHS is of excellent service and care. However when walking througb the hospitals it is clear there are many folk employed there who are not needed and thats  not just managers. Rather than throw money at the problem it really needs a full root and branch review of ALL areas to look at where savings can be made.

Andy Pike ● 2536d

The NHS is a behemoth and needs constant reviewing.  There is more pressure on it because of increased population and leaps in science and new types of cures.  Pharmacology companies seem to try and rip off anyone they can, although I appreciate their research and new cures.It's also being abused by so many people going to their GP or to A&E for no good reason.  Also wanting drugs which are completely unnecessary (and being prescribed them). We need to concentrate far more on holistic help and to make people understand that running to the doctor is not always appropriate and everyone is capable of taking more care of their own health.  Perhaps more education needed?

Bunny Payne ● 2536d

@Adam. I agree that the NHS's medical services and cares are excellent - once one gets to the front of the queue! Having observed elderly relatives being admitted via A&E I've no complaints about treatment. What has always seemed apparent is that medical, nursing and administration staff and resources such as beds seem to be getting stretched further as time goes on. I'd agree some users of the services don't seem to help (I don't know how one could work in A&E on a Friday or Saturday evening) and there's always a need to watch out for unnecessary expenditure. We'll just have to see what happens over the next few months ... 

Michael Ixer ● 2536d

Despite his recent protestations, Boris Johnson has long wanted to dismantle the NHS. Here he is railing against the "monopolistic" system in 2009:https://videopress.com/v/dOpX3w9T

Matthew Tiller ● 2536d

The NHS is heavily UNDERstaffed.  Nurses are working 14 hour shifts and that is if they can leave after 14 hours.  It is a much more complicated job than it used to be with much more complicated medications to administer and with an increasing elderly population many of them have more and more complex chronic conditions.  I don't know who you thought you were seeing (are you sure you hadn't recently been anaesthetised?) but I really don't believe that you were seeing qualified staff.  The NHS are desperate for more qualified staff as a large group of nurses are coming up for retirement and stressed out nurses are leaving, just as GPs as leaving for countries and other jobs with better conditions and better pay.  We once again will be bringing in nurses from further afield as we have now lost or are losing so many European staff.

Philippa Bond ● 2535d

PhillipaNot sure if you were referring to my post but if you were I was not suffering from anaesthetic delirium.When you attend for pacing,ecg and a docs appt onbthe same day in the same dept I fail to understand why you need to book on with 3 separate staff sitting alongside each other all with computers. Surely you could book in with a single person who enters you into the 3 areas. Thats one area of over staffing I have experienced recently . Of course roger areas where people attend hospital or docs when they coukd simply take an aspirin and take their headache to bed.

Andy Pike ● 2535d

An excellent summary, Bunny!

Craig Fordham ● 2535d

On the face of it this sounds ridiculous.  I used to live, Colchester, where they had a walk in centre.  I had a splinter under my thumb nail which I was unable to remove.  Very painful.  The walk in centre would not help as it was invasive surgery required.  Was sent to A&E. Rules are rules I suppose but the cost involved must have been out of all proportion to the incident.

Barbara Shillabeer ● 2535d