Re: Vote 05
 

There are lies, damn, lies and statistics, ;)

NHS Performance.

The Chief Executive of the NHS, Sir Nigel Crisp, published a report on the performance of the NHS on Friday 7 May 2004. He gave a very upbeat commentary on the report, saying that the NHS had achieved a †œsustained turnaroundââ ¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ÂÂ� which was †œacceleratingÃà ‚¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚ ÂÂÂ�. His conclusion was that the NHS had used the large spending increases begun in 1999-2000 to †œgood effectââ‚Ã⠀šÃ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ÂÂ�. He pointed to:

• †œDramatic falls in waiting times."
• †œPremature death rates from the major diseases are falling quickly.ââ‚à ƒâ€šÃ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ÂÂ�
• †œMore staff have been recruited.ââ ¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ÂÂ�
• †œVery big changes in how services are delivered.ââ ¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ÂÂ�
• †œImprovements in quality and productivity.â↚¬ÂÂÂÂ�

In fact this presentation is the most positive version of the results. Given that spending on the NHS has increased by 40 per cent in real terms in just five years, some improvements are to be expected. But improvements have solely come about because the taxpayer is putting in more resources, not because of the effectiveness of NHS managers in managing resources efficiently.



The concern is that the speed of the rises is resulting in inefficiencies, the scale does not represent value for money, and the NHS at these higher levels of funding is not performing at international standards. Repeated annual spending increases of £5 - £6 billion have not improved average waiting times, nor mortality rates of cancer and heart disease. Most importantly, other countries deliver superior healthcare for similar levels of resource.



Spending without reform may enable sensitive political targets to be hit but will not deliver an efficient, world class health service in the long term.
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Actually, the doctors themselves say the waiting list times are being.

doctored

Re: Vote 05
 

THe link shows some incidents from some people but cannot be indictive of the whole NHS.

Also the NHS has hardly a ball before, years of under funding had left it in a awful state

Re: Vote 05
 

Some facts and figures from the government itself.

Since 1997 doctors numbers have increased by 24,466 or 29%
managers & senior managers and service staff employed in "central functions" have increased by 24,855 or 41%.
Since 2003, again according to Whitehalls own figures the number of nurses has gone up by 3% whilst the managers etc have risen by 6.5%.
An independant report has stated that 59% of the money poured into the NHS has gone on staff pay.

One Health Authority chief executive has said that she spent 80% of her time ensuring Labour's re election.:disturbd:

More evidence of government interference and waste.

The articles in the 'Related Links' top right, also make disturbing reading.

Re: Vote 05
 

You're right...but I think many people are still waiting for the second half of that equation to come true.

There was an investigation into this recently...I think it was Panorama...that suggested that many patients were being admitted into the system just within the government's targets, but then the actual treatment is taking longer to administer now, so I think it's fair to say the figures are being massaged somewhat.

For example what was happening before was that you'd wait 12 months for referral to see a consultant, but once you had then your treatment would start right away.

Now, sometimes, what is happening is that you'll wait 6 months for an appointment with the consultant, and then once you're in the system your treatment may take another 6 months to start.

So, IMHO, the net result is worse. There's an awful lot of money and clever people working on improving the system, but you won't actually be treated any quicker in a lot of cases, which is a huge abuse of my tax money.

Re: Vote 05
 

Kennedys wife has been taken into hospital but is not in labour. Lets hoope she and the baby are ok :(

Re: Vote 05
 

It is, shes going to labour. (charles wont be happy ;) hehe). CONGRATS to them :)

Re: Vote 05
 

Kennedy's wife has joined the labour campaign?

Re: Vote 05
 

and charles will be with her while shes goes into labour!

Re: Vote 05
 

Just watch out for headlines like that when the big day does arrive. She's due to drop just before polling day. :D

Re: Vote 05
 

Very much so.

I wonder if when the sprog's born, does he still get the £250? You'd think that Charlie should argue its for poor people only, cuz he's not short of a few bob is he?

Re: Vote 05
 

Yeah, but he is a politician.. It does sometimes seem that that they say one thing and do another..

Re: Vote 05
 

Election boost anyone? :D

Re: Vote 05
 

I'd quite like to see how people's opinions and voting intentions might change as the election campaign progresses. With that in mind I'm proposing to close this thread tomorrow and start up a 'part 2' thread with a new poll ... same question, same choices of answer ... just to see what happens. If it's a success I'll do the same each week until polling day.

Any thoughts? :)

Re: Vote 05
 

Very Very Very good idea. I thought that the poll would change myself as people do change. I think it would be an excellent idea to do this as elections change, thats part of the exictment. Also do a new one on polling day saying 'how did you vote' and why. That could also hold the flood of posts come election night as results are coming in :tu:

Re: Vote 05
 

My vote has changed all ready so will be worth redoing it.

Can you put on the poll that one has changed mind since first vote?

Re: Vote 05
 

:tu:

Re: Vote 05
 

Maybe make the vote public, it would be interesting to see who votes for who... or is that just me being nosey :)

Then again it is quite a personal decision and people may not like this...

Re: Vote 05
 

I think thats you being nosey. I would not vote if that was the case IMO

:tu:

Re: Vote 05
 

Fair enough :)

Re: Vote 05
 

Yep, I think the poll should stay anonymous as more people will take part in it. Anyone who wants to stand up for their political leanings or affiliation can do so by posting!

Re: Vote 05
 

Well i'll be voting anything but labour, whoever is looking strongest come poll day. I absolutly detest the way labour is running this country and a) i'd of voted against them last time if i was old enough (i wasnt by 6 months) b) sadly there oposition isnt much better. Currently i'd swing to conservatives after a recent lib dem (who are in power where i live) sent there campaign leaflet out which had a very silly statement to it. I have filled out there questionaire though hopefully they will realise that complaining about having to empty our bins weekly is costing a bucket load. When there idea of a every other week system last year was a complete nightmare!

Re: Vote 05
 

Yeah, like I want a lot of rotten food in my bin for 13 days in summer. :rolleyes: It can smell bad enough after a week.

Re: Vote 05
 

Wow, Blair & Brown are both in Oldham tonight, cannot remember either of them showing their faces around here before, but then the large muslim vote in one constituency may be a target, post Iraq war. Shame they never bothered about the rest of us before.:td:

Re: Vote 05
 

the Green party manifesto looks good.

there was a full list of their plans on itv teletext last night

Re: Vote 05
 

As I suggested yesterday, this thread will be closing in the next few minutes once I have created a new version for week 2 of the election campaign. There will be a fresh poll (same questions/answers) so we can see if members' voting intentions have changed at all. Move over, Peter Snow!
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Now closed. The Week 2 thread is here:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ad.php?t=27119