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..

[boxtops]

The changes aren't coming, they've been here for the last twelve months - witness the millions which have been saved since this time last year by closing services and making staff redundant all round me. I guess you could call me an NHS suit if you wanted to, but without the services we offer in the support services (HR, training, data protection, IT, estates, etc.) there wouldn't be any hospitals or trained staff in them. In today's paper they are talking about ten hospitals who are bankrupting themselves and which may close or be taken over by other services. The cost of healthcare is massive - we can't go on like this. You can't do without the backroom services - this means that the clinical and medical staff can get on with their jobs.

[China Doll]

I don't think charging would work, (although I like the idea in theory), how would it be enforced? ANd more staff would have to be hired/trained etc to implement it more than likely.

[boxtops]

I don't understand DNAing at the GPs, ours had 76 DNAs last month - all it takes is a quick phone call to say you can't make it.

[rov1100]

If you bomb Libya expect there to be some civilian casualties. Their hospitals are in such a mess they have to be brought over here to be treated.