Oldfella

iTrader: (3)

Hi Les, apologies for my somewhat short reply. The term "Administrator" is a over used and very broad term used (often by the press) to discredit the NHS.
To clarify my own position, I work in a management position but from a clinical background and still consider myself a clinician.

Unfortunately people who make up the NHS now find themselves working in a Government imposed business culture, something which the organisations have struggled with over the years.

The NHS from the Governments perspective is a very political tool, as a consequence it has to respond to imposed performance targets which do not always match the needs of the population which it serves.

I feel when people are criticizing the NHS which is their right to do, it may be better to frame it in the terms of the Government's attitude to the delivery of the NHS rather than the NHS itself.

jasey

It's the government's fault for throwing money at the NHS.

It's the NHS's for pissing it up the wall.

You don't get off that lightly !

unclebuck

Once again the moron known as 'pslewis' makes the most shocking fool of himself. You really have to despair at attitudes to life and the appalling view of fellow human beings such as he holds.

Anyway back to the reality of what is happening to the health service under this despicable so called government:


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4811722.stm


I notice that none of the failing managers in this case are falling on their swords – just nurses and consultants getting sacked. Yet another triumph for New Labour's 'reformed' NHS.

Deep Singh

Er no not quite quite. The money pissed up the wall by the NHS is directed by the govt and its cronies. So its the govts fault on both counts

Oldfella

iTrader: (3)

Nail on head yet again.
PCT's and Hospital/Community Trusts have little latitude with regards to prioritising services, also remember that a lot of very senior posts are politically directed appointments.

Deep Singh

Yes, clinical staff ie Drs or what I think jasey refers to as 'the NHS' have had virtually no say over how/where the money is spent. Orders come down from DoH and everybody complies.

Leslie

Yes fine Oldfella,

I understand what you are saying and how the requirements from the Government are the worst thing of all for wasting money.

You will have seen from other posts I have made about my admiration for those in the NHS who are trying to get the job done for its own sake.

Les

theotherphil

Things are only going to get worse! Everything is about targets nowadays and patient care doesn't come into it. I am a Paramedic. In my area, the number of Ambulances has been cut dramatically despite an increase in calls. In a bid to save money and hit targets (Cat A calls must receive a response in 8 minutes) they have put cars on the road instead. These cars can get to incidents quicker but cannot move patients. This means I can be on a scene waiting for the ambulance to back me up for 40 minutes. I've recently been pounding on a guys chest trying to keep him alive long enough to get to hospital. It doesn't matter that he died though, I got there in 8 minutes so the job was a success. If it took me 9 minutes and I'd saved the guy, it would be classed as a failure! Our response times are getting monitored by inspectors next month. In response to this, all training has been cancelled so crews can man cars. Meeting the 8 minute response target means the trust gets more money to spend on red carpets, leather sofas and new cars for the directors. Our vehicles are in **** state, we cannot get the supplies we need or faulty equipment repaired. We've done everything we can to try and improve things...spoke to the local MP's who make all the right noises but nothing gets done. We've spoke to the press to try and make the public aware but nobody cares until their loved ones are affected....our single column tale of woe then turns into a front page headline!

I love my job and get great satisfaction from doing it. It just frustrates me that we cannot give the patients the care that they deserve!

douglasb

While I'm happy to believe that loads of taxpayers' (ie. our) money is being thrown at the NHS, I'm not convinced that it's being spent wisely.

My girlfriend has recently had some problems that required further investigation. On Monday, the doctors who examined her wanted an MRI scan immediately. As the Neurology unit didn't have any vacant slots for scans that day, she went home and waited for a call to come in for a scan.

The call came on Wednesday around 4pm. "Be here at 8pm", was the message. So, she was an in-patient from 8pm on Wednesday. When did the MRI scan take place? 3pm on Friday! It took 20 minutes.

She could have been at work instead of taking unpaid leave. She didn't need to take an NHS bed and be given 3 meals (of dubious quality) per day.

Have the Government increased spending on the NHS? Yes.

Does throwing money at a problem improve things? What do you think my opinion is?

harvey

iTrader: (48)

Here is a major reason for the problems within the NHS.

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little over 500 employees, yet has the following statistics?
29 have been accused of spouse abuse

7 have been arrested for fraud

19 have been accused of writing bad cheques

117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

3 have done time for assault

71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit

14 have been arrested on drug-related charges

8 have been arrested for shoplifting

21 are currently defendants in lawsuits

84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LOOK DOWN HERE VVVVV



























Can you guess which organization this is?

They are members of the British Houses of Parliament, that's the same group that produces hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in check.

The quality and ability of the people we have as MPs is generally below the standard required to run a successful business so it is hardly surprising they are incapable of organising the NHS, Education, Police and Justice just to name a few.
Referring to the NHS, it seems to me there are too many managers and administrative posts which have no direct relationship to the core activity ie. providing health care to those that need it. This is hardly surprising with the amount of money thrown at the NHS with a lack of clear understanding and focused direction from the top, concentrating on core activity.

DocJock

Harvey, much as I agree with your opinion of our elected representatives, this one has been covered by Snopes I'm afraid.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/congress.htm

warrenm2

Get your facts right Harvey - there are 646 MPs......

Thought you didnt like people spouting unverified drivel?

_RIP_

Hurry up and die lewis.

harvey

iTrader: (48)

Thanks DocJock for the link. I stand corrected.

jasey

When I refer to the NHS I refer to the organisation that is the NHS.

I have no doubt at all that the money is not being pissed up the wall be those at the sharp end. However - If you were to ask Tony Blair if he thought he was trying to improve the NHS he would answer yes - and I would believe him. Unfortunately - somewhere between him doubling the annual spend and the services being it delivered it's gone **** up.

The Blame is somewhere in the beast - not it's master !

My argument is that the master should sort out the beast - not keep throwing more and more money at it !

Leslie

Quite right Jasey, like binning all those targets and the administration which it all requires, and not only for the NHS either.

Any organisation which has to rely on this sort of thing has no confidence in itself and is also unable to trust the people who work for it.

Les

lozgti

Think the government's aim is to push everyone private.Wife was hassling me last night to look at private medical insurance.Like good old USA

They turned everyone american on the litigation front.Get rid of legal aid and push no win no fee.Turned us litigation crackers.