Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Some interesting statistics.

http://www.nhsconfed.org/resources/k...ics-on-the-nhs

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

One of the problems, with A & E more specifically, is because it's free people take the piddle.

I bet you could cut down on people wasting time with minor issues if there was some kind of charge for attending A & E with a non-emergency issue.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Yeah that's something that's being pressed upon up here. Recent one was, ''We're going to inform people what you shouldn't be coming to A&E for''

Surely that can't be the first time they've used that campaign :erm: It evidently doesn't make enough of a dent to really change anything.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Any sort of charge is going to discriminate against the poor. You could exempt those entitled to free prescriptions. However here's bound to be cases of people not exempt but hard up, not going because of that pain in the chest, and it turns out to be serious.

I'm all in favour of fining/prosecuting drunks wasting A&E's time. I was in a A&E cubicle once with my son who had just been diagnosed with a potentially life threatening illness (fortunately he's fine). There were drunks either side of us carrying on, could have cheerfully killed them.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

That's the whole of Wales exempt then.

How do you know any change will impact the poor? Do you know something we don't or are you just coming out with your normal drivel?

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Try and think it through bud, there must be some brain cells there somewhere...

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Don't forget the NHS in Wales is controlled by Labour, and is in a heck of state too.

Leadership and admin within each Trust appears to be the constant that screws things up no matter what flavour government we have.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Don't forget Mr K wants labour in control of NHS England too.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

No, it's going to discriminate against the stupid.

If you have pain in your chest you go to the GP. If you're having a heart attack you go to A&E, you should be able to tell the difference.

agreed, even if they're poor working class drunks, that are drunk through no fault of their own?

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Where did I say that? I just want it properly funded.

---------- Post added at 16:19 ---------- Previous post was at 16:17 ----------

I'm glad you've got wonderful powers of self diagnosis but not everyone has.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Pain in your chest is a symptom of having a heart attack or just pain in your chest. You can also have pain in your chest which is symptomatic of a heart condition without being a heart attack and yet still serious such as Angina.

The advice is that any of these symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency because people aren't great and knowing the difference. Especially if you're older, unfit or have a history of heart problems.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

What about the heart attack that starts with a pain in the chest.

A&E should always be free for everyone .People should be able to get urgent medical treatment without fear of getting a big bill ever ,that is one of the founding principles of the NHS.The only real arguments are how do we fund it and how do we get such a huge organisation to use the money we give them effectively without getting used up in admin costs and managerial wages

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Seems to me that triage at A&E needs to be more aggressive and those turning up with grazes, split fingernails or paper cuts, yes they do, need to be sent on their way to the nearest pharmacy.

They call it triage but it's not the military kind. Three streams: Those who will get better without treatment, those who will die anyway even if treated and those who will get better with treatment. Only the last get attention on the battlefield.

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

Indeed its hard to tell the difference between a heart attack and severe Heartburn as most of the ordinary Joe Public would not know the difference

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...d/art-20046483

Re: Crisis in the NHS
 

At our local hospital non urgent cases arriving in A&E are directed to an on site GP service in the same place but I'm certain 99% of those people will say they've been treated in A&E.

I'm wondering if this is common and whether or not the waiting times for each dept. are recorded separately because the non-urgent stuff clearly has no bearing on waiting times for the actual A&E section dealing with the serious stuff.