The 'pruning back' of the NHS is never far from being in the News

[Bobbisox]

The NHS will face the biggest shake up and reforms very soon, It is without doubt the best Service in the world, Lord knows, plenty come from overseas to use it, but I am inclined to agree, reforms and changes have to be made for this service to run efficiently ....
Where would you suggest savings could be made?
Could a charge be made to those who simple don't bother to turn up for an appointment? seems to work in the Netherlands..

[shaneystar2]

I know Bobbi ..my brother has had letters making him an appointment ,then duplicate letters of same ,then letters cancelling said appointment and making him a further appointment ......
My appt this morning was after being lost in the system for getting on for two years !!
I shouldn't moan really .We are lucky to have the NHS .My husband had excellent cancer treatment ,couldn't fault them .
Something needs to be done ..but what ?

[andy-hughes]

rowanwitch - I have no objection to the salaries paid to essential support staff that assist the NHS in its daily running - i object to calling health authorities 'Trusts' and putting suits in charge with a remit to save money.

If you give someone a financial incentive to save money running a public service, then you have problems. A bonus for saving money focuses the mind entirely on saving money, not on running a proper service to the public.

[vivandorron]

Bring back Matrons and cut back on the abundance of administrative staff.
Hospitals need good nursing staff who are properly trained and supervised.

Nowadays one sees a lot of 'suited folk' walking around corridors with files in their hands.

Ron.

[Bobbisox]

I am very proud of our NHS Shaney, it saved my very prem grandsons life but cuts do need to be done, all of the paper and time wasting going into sending out duplicate letters, is mindblowing

[Bobbisox]

Hi ron, a very old trick..lol
"must be important when a file or files are tucked under ones arm" eh?

[Sqad]

Bobbi

//// it saved my very prem grandsons life //

That is what hospitals are supposed to do....you say that is if this could only be achieved in the NHS.

[shaneystar2]

Quite ..my own GP told me that the doctors in A&E are watched by some remote cctv system .If they dare to go off for a break or well deserved cuppa they get paged and asked what they are doing by faceless wonders who are just gathering statisics .
Too many chiefs ,not enough indians .

[Bobbisox]

No sqad, I don't, but I am talking about very low odds here, and for that, we will always be grateful, it just happened to be an NHS Hospital

[Sqad]

Bobbi...;-)

[Bobbisox]

actually seeing what these poor Doctors and staff put up with in A&E is in itself, scary

[Zeuhl]

<<Hospitals need good nursing staff who are properly trained and supervised>>

And - essentially- a stream of patients presented to them in an effective, efficient and timely manner and the materials they need to do their jobs

The only issue i had in my NHS treatment this year was delays in treatment due to a lack of 'pen pushers' in essential roles scheduling surgery and transferring notes.

[emmie]

I object to the bstards who don't turn up for their appointments, and don't let anyone know, it can only be excused if the person falls ill beforehand, but it wastes time, resources, and could be used for another person.

[NoMercy]

Start charging those who Dan their clinic appointments, scheduled scans, operations and so on. Also charged should be given to those who end up in the back of an ambulance after too many vodkas.

There is no justification for Chief Executive giving themselves bonuses and parishes whilst so many in the Bank 5 and below bracket are losing their jobs.

[NoMercy]

Payrises

[Bobbisox]

well said NM...
they should be an on the spot fine for those who get totally leathered and have to use our Ambulance Service

[NoMercy]

And those who call Paramedics to their home because they have toothache.

[dzug2]

<,VHG, again I am with you on this, it isn't rocket science to introduce payments for people who 'fly' here for free treatment>>

Such payments already exist - it's enforcing them that appears to be the problem

Don't forget charges = existence of a bureaucracy to collect such charges

[emmie]

i said the same ages back, if you get bladdered and end up needing an ambulance, once sober you get a large fine, they won't do it again.

[notasyoungasiwas]

I watched some of Soho Blues on TV last night and it was all about special ambulances going round late at night picking up drunks, some who were so out of it that they couldn't get up! The amount of vomit produced by these people eventually made me turn off. I can't begin to magine how much all this must cost just because people can't control themselves when it comes to going out drinking.