Nhs Must ‘Reform Or Die’ Says Kier Starmer

[naomi24]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/nhs-prime-minister-government-people-england-b2611262.html

 

This should be interesting.

 

[Spungle]

I really hope that Labour do something/anything to improve NHS waiting times for A&E and for operations. But how can we have any faith in them given what they have done to the NHS in Wales?  Their track record on the NHS is dire.  

[ToraToraTora]

18:49 stop with the BS I said no such thing. Show me where I have said it's the best in the world and I'll ban myself.

[naomi24]

Gulliver, stick to the OP.  

[THECORBYLOON]

NAOMI, "it appears he intends to reform it with no financial investment.  Magic!"

"Labour has no plan for fixing the NHS.  This is nothing more than an excuse to deprive the NHS of funding."

"no more money without reform." doesn't mean "reform without money", it means if there are reforms, there will be money to fund them.

Regarding the lack of plans,

'The government has promised three "big shifts" in its approach to fix the NHS:

Using more technology to create a "digital NHS"
• Shifting more care out of hospitals and into communities
• Moving from treating sickness to focusing on prevention'

[Spungle]

What is a digital NHS, and does it tackle any of the root causes and/or problems?

[gulliver1]

18.24 🎩Take it steady🎩

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

Why does no one admit there are too many people in the country and too many people using the NHS without contributing? This is the major problem.

[webbo3]

Yep, everyone that comes here can use the NHS but not every one that comes here works for or contributes to the NHS.

[naomi24]

Corby, we all know the NHS needs reform but despite his plans, everyday costs continue to rise, staff salaries continue to rise, so it stands to reason that if the money isn't going to be forthcoming to cover all of that, something has to suffer and that something will be the sick.   I remember when 'Care in the Community' was introduced in the 90s - one of his planned reforms is obviously an extension of that - but the care very often wasn't there and it still isn't there - and it won't be there in the future either.   You've more faith than me.

[Old_Geezer]

We have yet to see what these intended shifts are, and won't know until; spring is it ?

If they know there are three of them, they must know what they are. More information would be useful.

[naomi24]

Gulliver, stay on topic or go away.

[Blubster]

He could start by cancelling the PFI  payments, which have cost the NHS millions. Next would be to source cheaper costing drugs, do away with `diversity` managers and translation services, and get rid of the multiple managers who contribute nothing except for their inflated salaries and pensions.

 

That alleged £22b hole in the finances would soon heal up.

 

[davebro3]

it's just words - they'll do beggar all that will improve the NHS

[naomi24]

Good post, blubster.

[newmodarmy]

I'm pretty sure this will play out something like this:

-Some reforms will be implemented with no significant change in funding

- It'll be claimed more and more skeletons in the cuopboard and black holes will come to light

-There will be an announcement that the reforms are clearly  improving things markedly, bringing the NHS back closer to how it was before the Tories trashed it.

- Now that the reforms are bearing fruit the ncessary massive investment can now beging and the government will allocate an extra one off amount of maybe  £10 billion to oil the wheels and a promise of above-inflation increases for each of the next 5 years.

-We'll be constantly reminded of the £22 billion black hole inherited and of the many billions blown by Truss, so of course regrettably tax and or NI will have to go up significantly, although much it will fall on the broadest shoulders  (motorists, those on pensions, the rich -with exemptions for public sector like doctors, train drivers).

-Finally to fill the new posts we'll need to increase immigration levels significantly.

[Deskdiary]

I posted the below back in late 2022, but I feel remains relevant - there's plenty of savings that can be made

"There was a former Trust Chairman on the radio this morning, and he stated that a staggering 48% of the NHS payroll is on non-clinical staff. I found that absolutely shocking. Of course non-clinical staff are needed, as are managers, but there needs to be a cull of the non-jobs. For instance, earlier in the year there was a Trust's LBGTQWERTY+ Chief whining about something or other (natch) who was probably on at least £100k. The chap said in the Trust he previously chaired, there was a role advertised for a "Life Lived Director" on £100k. It turns out this was a role to obtain patient feedback on the Trust's mental health services. These are non-jobs."

[jourdain2]

Yes, plenty of savings to be made. Blubster mentioned 'translation services'.  Why are we doing these?  They don't do them in France.  Nothing is translated to English or anything else.

If you can't speak French you get someone to go with you to appointments - it is your problem.  In fact, a French Dr. told me that his insurance would be invalid if he explained treatments etc. to me in English - he could make a mistake in translation.

One tiny example of waste.