NHS - safe in Labours hands?
Posted by: Steve G on 07 June 2005
After two full terms in office and throwing loads of cash at the issue I think Labours blaming all the woes of the health service on the tories is wearing a bit thin. Fortunately (and fingers crossed) I and my family haven't had a great deal of cause to use the NHS however recent experiences haven't looked very encouraging.
My wife is a science teacher and yesterday at school she got a small piece of glass from a microscope slide lodged in her thumb. The school told her that as it was glass she'd have to go to the casualty department at hospital to ensure it was all removed ok. So after school at 3pm or so she headed off to hospital to get it looked at. On arriving there the casualty department was posting an average 4 hour wait time and that turned out to be approximately how long she had to wait for 5 minutes with a doctor.
4 hours average wait at casualty on an average day (from what I've heard 4 hours is about the best that can be exected at that particular hospital) - is that normal elsewhere?
After the doctor had seen her she was told to go home, not to eat anything after midnight and to return to the hospital (not casualty this time) at 8am this morning for the glass to be removed. Well it's 11am now and she's sitting in the ward, taking up a bed (for a bit of glass in her thumb!) and they can't tell her when she'll be seen - or even if she'll be seen today (someone mentioned 11pm tonight as a maybe!). Is that a sign of inefficiency, overwork, underfunding, incompetence or that they really couldn't give a shit?
Where on earth is all this extra funding going because from this limited exerience it's not to front line services? We used this same hospital 13 years ago and 9 years ago when my kids were born and it seemed better run and in better condition then than it does now. At that time there were other hospitals with A&E departments servicing our area but now, as part of the labour led Scottish Executives restructing plans, it's the only one.
My wife is a science teacher and yesterday at school she got a small piece of glass from a microscope slide lodged in her thumb. The school told her that as it was glass she'd have to go to the casualty department at hospital to ensure it was all removed ok. So after school at 3pm or so she headed off to hospital to get it looked at. On arriving there the casualty department was posting an average 4 hour wait time and that turned out to be approximately how long she had to wait for 5 minutes with a doctor.
4 hours average wait at casualty on an average day (from what I've heard 4 hours is about the best that can be exected at that particular hospital) - is that normal elsewhere?
After the doctor had seen her she was told to go home, not to eat anything after midnight and to return to the hospital (not casualty this time) at 8am this morning for the glass to be removed. Well it's 11am now and she's sitting in the ward, taking up a bed (for a bit of glass in her thumb!) and they can't tell her when she'll be seen - or even if she'll be seen today (someone mentioned 11pm tonight as a maybe!). Is that a sign of inefficiency, overwork, underfunding, incompetence or that they really couldn't give a shit?
Where on earth is all this extra funding going because from this limited exerience it's not to front line services? We used this same hospital 13 years ago and 9 years ago when my kids were born and it seemed better run and in better condition then than it does now. At that time there were other hospitals with A&E departments servicing our area but now, as part of the labour led Scottish Executives restructing plans, it's the only one.
Loves Labours LOst 
Fritz Von I'd pull the bugger out myself. The extra funding for Hospitals & Schools was initially paid for by the Private sector (PFI) now the funds are being paid back to these firms as interest at the expense of vital services, I just really wonder how long it will take for people to wake up to this Nationwide fact, it's a Tory dream, they just have to wait & keep silent, obvious innit Tom.
P.S. Hope seh get's better very soon Jim
Fritz Von I'd pull the bugger out myself. The extra funding for Hospitals & Schools was initially paid for by the Private sector (PFI) now the funds are being paid back to these firms as interest at the expense of vital services, I just really wonder how long it will take for people to wake up to this Nationwide fact, it's a Tory dream, they just have to wait & keep silent, obvious innit Tom.
P.S. Hope seh get's better very soon Jim
Although I make no comparisons between the NHS and the German system one common denominator remains the same, in that people still have to visit A&E and their GP. Even though a work incident I wouls see my GP in this case (time allowing) and she would simply remove the shard. As of Jan 2004 one is now required as well as paying for prescriptions (which were previously free) to pay 10 Euros every quarter. As a result of this only people actually working (very few) visit the Doc for a sick note etc) and some 25 % less now do not visoit beacuse of these extra costs, and many suffer as a consequence, just thought I'd point that out, innit.
Fritz Von I have no choice personally so have to pay anyway, on top of the high insurance premiums (even through Dole calculations)
Fritz Von I have no choice personally so have to pay anyway, on top of the high insurance premiums (even through Dole calculations)
I refer only to my own experinece here when I've had a work related incident here in the past, deep splinters wood/fibre glass/metal, etc, & some practices here have x-ray + lots of other things too, strangely enough, though as has been covered many times afore, you gets want yer want when yer pay for it.
Fritz Von My earlier post refers naturally to pensioners here too, not jus nasty old lazy dole scroungers, though we do all get free tv licences here, and don't get threatening idiots at the door (as my Ma recently told me she did in london ): PFI³
Fritz Von My earlier post refers naturally to pensioners here too, not jus nasty old lazy dole scroungers, though we do all get free tv licences here, and don't get threatening idiots at the door (as my Ma recently told me she did in london ): PFI³
quote:Originally posted by Steve G:quote:you gets want yer want when yer pay for it.
My wife has private medical cover as part of my corporate deal however there does not appear to be a private alternative for this procedure.
I didn't mean you or your wife personally mate, I mean't the general plot, for instance I had to have an emergency operation last sept, after just starting a new job,being on probabtion still, I wasn't insured for being paid as it were, so got 70% of my wages back from Health insurance some two months later, main thing was, immediate diagnosis & treatment, which subsequently reduced much unnesescary worry & grief to my little existence, innit.
Good Luck anyway, bring back the school nurse that's what I say, hand in hot water, few wee drams (medicinal) and oot with the sod, and back T'work, impressing the kids as yer go
A last point being the clincher I suppose, as we neither blame the Military in UK for bad Political leadership, we don't blame the actual 'Medical' staff for their bad Political leadership either. Your wife's recent experience a good case in point, barring no other reasons for her long wait and bed stay etc, the 'actual NHS Bill' for her visit etc, must be enourmous, in compasrison to a quick whisk it out job (even with x-ray?). These trusts are there to make a profit, easier the better, plain & simple Sadly
quote:which subsequently reduced much unnessary worry & grief to my little existence, innit
Look at the grief it's caused us though...
quote:Originally posted by Steve G:quote:which subsequently reduced much unnessary worry & grief to my little existence, innit
Look at the grief it's caused us though...
I did have an arsehole transplant, the bugger rejected me !!
better luck next time eh ?Of course there's also the negative stress factor to your sister (irrespective of what you may think of her). Alcohol does unfortunately play a major part in A & E (as it does here too) but here you get a bill/fine for the ambulance etc (I speak from experience here which may suprise many of you, in fact even shock & stun you ) . Hitting of coppers is routine as in UK by drunks (and you pay for it richly ) hitting of nurses & Doctors is virtually unheard of, and is as taboo as swinging at a fireman (on duty), there is just NO EXCUSE.
Fritz Von I Can't recall anybody here ever telling me that they'd had an operation cancelled once in the actual bed so to speak, shifted along a bit UK referendum style maybe, but never actually time & money being wasted on the Medical side's part, s'called efficiency I believe, innit ?
) . Hitting of coppers is routine as in UK by drunks (and you pay for it richly ) hitting of nurses & Doctors is virtually unheard of, and is as taboo as swinging at a fireman (on duty), there is just NO EXCUSE.Fritz Von I Can't recall anybody here ever telling me that they'd had an operation cancelled once in the actual bed so to speak, shifted along a bit UK referendum style maybe, but never actually time & money being wasted on the Medical side's part, s'called efficiency I believe, innit ?
I'll give way to Andy C, etc on this one, and think of the major A & E Units across the country that require full time security staff to protect nurses etc (as far as they can ). If you consider the NHS itself, as well as numerous Docs, etc are constantly having to way up their own (Profesional Indemnity odds) to wether they're gonna be sued for this that and the other, and it's hardly suprising at times the attitude that evolves, innit, though not in my view justified. To have the luxury of actually being treated by a qualified medical person etc, seems to pass by most people's scope these days. I trust of course Mrs G gets sorted soon, and doesn't get chucked out for playing the music too loud, or pass out through hunger, just think of what that NHS bill really will be profit wise for your local 'Trust' a nice contradction in terms really, innit.
Fritz Von Time to lie down awhile I feel all queezy
Fritz Von Time to lie down awhile I feel all queezy
I'm glad t'hear that, as well as her getting back into the Scottish national quisine with a vengeance too. I did wonder about the infection aspect (another unessesary cost/risk aspect I feel). My ex was/is strongly allergic to Penicillin (stamped on her ID card & Passport) one wonders sometimes Wot's it all abaat, INNIT ?
Fritz Von Don't forget t'make her a nice tea,a nd don't let her dop the washin up, there maybe broken wine glasses in that there watter
Fritz Von Don't forget t'make her a nice tea,a nd don't let her dop the washin up, there maybe broken wine glasses in that there watter
quote:Originally posted by Berlin Fritz:
there maybe broken wine glasses in that there watter
If there are they'll be mine as she's not allowed to drink because of the antibiotics...
Tell me whils't you is there: The term 'Weighed In' meaning to be paid: Would you say that's a purely Scottish saying ? as I've no heard it anywhere else, and it's a goodyun, innit.
Fritz Von Hide the corkscrew Mrs G Cheers, time for my own tea methinks too:
Fritz Von Hide the corkscrew Mrs G
Cheers, time for my own tea methinks too:quote:Originally posted by Steve G:
On the subject of attacks on public service workers there was an exceptionally nasty incident in Scotland a few months back where a fire-crew were attacked. All sorts were thrown at them and a couple were even stabbed by a group of catholic youths (wearing the green and grey of Celtic) because they were seen as agents of the Queen and the "protestant establishment".
In a situation like this, I'd turn the firehose on at full throttle and power those lowlifes into the nearest wall - a torrent of water at high velocity is one hell of a manners adjuster.
As for the Catholic/Protestant thing - wish they'd just get over it and grow up. It's the same god FFS.
Steve G - hope your wife's injury heals up OK and that she doesn't have to go back for a chocolate OD
Sounds like that Israeli women's jail, innit