Quote:
Originally Posted by Maggy J
If we want the NHS to be open 24/7 then we will have to employ not just junior doctors but everyone else with specialist skills.Doctors need lab technicians,radiographers,nurses and all the other myriad professions that keep the NHS working Monday to Friday..plus the missing extra doctors and nurses/midwives the NHS currently has shortages of.
However that costs and trying to provide on a shoestring won't cut it..
Also the best way to keep people out of A&E on any day is to make sure we address the acute shortage of GPs..My friend has just made an appointment to see her GP about her sinus headaches but can't have an appointment until the 2nd of June.
I'm pretty sure Hunt isn't really interested a 24/7 NHS but it merely trying to find ways and means of introducing us to the benefits of a privatised system based on the US nightmare of a healthcare system...
And I'm more than willing to pay higher taxes to fund the NHS..
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I feel for your friend, the insane headaches I had a few weeks back was sinus related, and the pain was absolute insanity. I can barely walk but I stood waiting outside my gp office to make sure I got an appointment that day on the tuesday it opened following the horrible 4 day easter holiday period. Really shocking for a GP to only offer a june date now, no same day appointments?
Also regarding 7 day services, its not quite what it seems e.g. if the nhs is open more days a week its not as if it will be used more, it simply prevents people waiting till the following monday, so e.g. GPs are most busy on mondays as there is a backlog of people who have had to wait over the weekend, so a 7 day nhs will sort of balance of the other 5 days.
This brings me to another point.
I wonder how much appointments would be saved at GPs if drugs were made not needing a prescription?
e.g. increase the dosage of co codamel a chemist can provide without doctor authorisation, allow other drugs that normally need a prescription and bam lots of workload gone from GPs. Anti biotics e.g.