Quote:
Originally Posted by 1andrew1
There are several factors apart from immigration. Let's not forget that most immigrants are young and healthy so not a big user of the NHS and thir impact on the NHS is outweighed by the numbers of immigrants working in it.
Other important factors include:
- Peoples' expectations of healthcare are higher
- Longer life expectancy
- Reduction in social care.
All councils should be encouraged to prevent bed-blocking regardless of which parties are in local control.
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The young and healthy ones have come in with their parents and sometimes their grandparents, who may not be quite so healthy! It is quite clear, at least in my area, that the vast majority of people using A&E are Asians and others who don't even speak English when conversing with the people they have arrived with. This used to be the exception, but in the last decade or so it has become commonplace. We natives are now in a minority.
Nothing wrong with that, of course, but I draw attention to it because it disproves your theory that the level of immigration is not impacting on the NHS.
I agree that longer life expectancy has also played its part in adding the pressure and this has also led to the increased pressure on social care. However, this is too big and important a problem for Labour to deal with. It's Labour controlled councils who are causing most of the bed blocking.
Remember that under the Conservatives, hospital patients are no longer expected to drink out of vases. I know who I trust to make sensible decisions about the NHS, and Labour it ain't!