Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I suppose by the same token if you have a head ache you should run off screaming brain tumour as well?

People need to have a bit of self responsibility too.

Of course if you " have a history of heart problems". - no sh:t Sherlock phone 999.

But A&E is full of people every week, every day, who are there unnecessarily.

The clue is in the bloody title. Accident and Emergency

If we're going to sort it out we have to take responsibility for our own actions and if we go there and it isn't an Emergency we should, in my opinion be charged for it, for taking up time from people that really need it.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

No because the medical advice on when you feel a headache is not to go to your doctors right away.

The medical advice for chest pain is to deal with it ASAP because time is critical, you don't wait until you've collapsed with a confirmed heart attack to get it treated. You said previously that people should be able to tell the difference but by all accounts you sometimes cannot. Angina specifically very closely mirrors the symptoms of a heart attack but, whilst serious, it's not as time critical as a heart attack. Obviously you don't go if it's heartburn but 'chest pain', go.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I had a psin in my chest last summer, it didn't involve shooting pains in my arms, or neck and I'm fairly healthy so I didn't think heart attack. Turned out to be muscular pain incurred whilst over exerting gardening the previous day.

Anyway, bottom line is the point is valid.

We need to take more responsibility, have some basic knowledge and common sense and only go to A&E if you are badly injured in an accident or whether it is a bonafide emergency.

Otherwise, you deserve to wait 6-7 hours.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Interesting article with some useful figures on funding

Memo to Theresa May: it is vital that the NHS gets more money
"The NHS’s share of national income rose from 5 per cent in 2000 to nearly 8 per cent by 2009. Since then it has fallen to 7 per cent and, by the estimate of the King’s Fund, is heading towards 6 per cent. What this means is that Britain spends about 30 per cent less per person than Germany. So much for the NHS as the fabled “bottomless pit”.

Since 2010 the pressures have been multiplied by the government’s policy of imposing deep cuts in the social care budgets of local authorities. The effect has been to transfer the burden to the NHS — with elderly people needing care clogging hospital beds at twice or three times the price of nursing homes or help in the community.

Nor has government done much to make its own case. Last year Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, picked a fight with junior doctors about working patterns. The doctors, Mr Hunt insisted, had to take a cut in weekend pay so he could meet the government’s promise of a “seven-day” NHS. After a series of acrimonious strikes Mr Hunt won the battle and lost the argument. A few months on, it is obvious that hospitals cannot afford the doctors and nurses to properly staff themselves even for five days a week."

The Financial Times states that Mr Stevens is a moderniser and is keen to move the focus onto primary and preventive care. His plan can deliver a cheaper and more effective health service but it needs the PM to face reality and provide more funding.

Google the above headline or subscribers can read the full article at https://www.ft.com/content/50d3a12e-...b-e7eb37a6aa8e

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

However, German workers subscribe to workplace health insurance, which increases the money available for healthcare - just like France.

Why is this never mentioned when comparisons are given?

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Many UK companies offer staff access to workplace health insurance from the likes of Axa PPP and Bupa. Presumably, these are similar to the schemes in France and Germany.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

In wish people would stop trying to compare the NHS with the German model ,they are completely different and funded completely differently .We may well end up with a German type system as will the Americans but at the moment it's like comparing apples and oranges

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

The problem is a shortage of staff, irrespective of whether there is a money shortage.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Hire more GP's you say well there is a even bigger shortage at our surgery as 3 doctors have handed in their notice on top of the 10.000 more patients our surgery has had to take as they have had enough because the primary health trust in the city made even more health cuts.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Per my previous post, the NHS is recruiting more doctors from Europe. http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...2&postcount=95

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

I was listening to a phone in regarding GP services this morning and it apparent that there's a huge variance in appointment making procedures which is a big factor in how difficult it is to get to see a GP at a reasonable time. Our surgery has expanded greatly in the last 10 years but it's still possible to get a same day appointment and they also offer a ring back service where a GP will call to discuss your problems the same day. If you want to see a specific GP at a convenient time that may involve a delay of a week or two but if it's an urgent problem one of the other options would be available.

Having listened to all the callers it seems some surgeries have really efficient procedures which offer a range of alternatives for those wanting to consult a GP whilst others operate systems which are frankly inefficient and even amateurish. I can't understand why there isn't a nationally imposed model for handling appointments which reflects best practice because it's evident that some (maybe many) surgeries are falling way short of what they could offer their patients. It seems to me that might be a very good place to start the process of getting the best from the available resources.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Selling NHS drugs - I wonder how much of this is going on too:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...ngham-38598995

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Nothing new, it's been happening for years.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Yes I'm well aware it has but on what scale is the big question. Having said that, it's unlikely to be a major factor on it's own but maybe the big issue with the NHS and what it costs (PFI aside) is in large part the cumulation of countless lesser abuses and inefficiencies which add up to a whole lot of time and money.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves as they say.