the geoffrey robinson programmes

[informashun]

this was a great insight into the running of a hospital.
how many agree with me it all went pear shaped as soon as he spoke with the pct financial director and much much more worrying the attitude and responce of the sec. of state. she was pathetic and i bet geoffry could have cried.
i hope blair saw these programmes and takes action.
do you think he will?

[badgerchops]

I worked for the NHS for six years both in a nursing role and in a consultant medical support role. I can see completely what needs to change without a Mister fix it coming in. Every Trust that has financial trouble hires a Fix it man to come in. We pay them over �110k per yr and they stay for 12months. They save us hardly anything, put stupid systems in place and then leave before waiting to see if they are implemented.

The biggest thing the NHS should do is to half the amount of clerical workers. it is a joke. They have about 6 people doing the job of what one busy person could do. Yes they pay low and so staff do not work to their best, as they would in the private sector, but they either want the job or they dont.

But the biggest biggest problems facing the Trusts is the control that the PCT have on them. Everything, even GPs in your community are controlled by the PCT. The PCT are a large organisation with hundreds of staff, most doing nothing. To get through the PCT is no easy task and they have already made decisions on the future of that hospital so it is not even worth your breath

Everyone in the care sector, consultants, Drs, nurses, do their job to the best of their ability and all know that as far as changing things go - it won't happen.

The only thing they need to do is get rid of 60% of the paper shufflers working in the NHS.

[Siamsal]

I doubt he will have. I also doubt anything will change - where/what is the incentive?

[luckyeight]

Would disagree about badger's comments about clerical staff - in my experience clerical staff work incredibly hard in the NHS with little practical support (archaic systems, working practices etc.). I'd agree with the 'trouble shooters' who come in for a fortune then p!ss off again! Personally I think the problem is too much higher level management and not enough grass roots staff - eg cleaners, nurses, doctors. Most of the money goes to high management salaries. The people who keep the NHS going are staff who are low paid, genuinely want to help people, and have no support. When I worked at a hospital (as an administrator!) my workload was huge, I had an ancient pc that was just ridiculous, no stationery, no office (I worked in a staffroom!) and the majority of the money the hospital was paying for my work went to an outside agency. For a start, the NHS should have it's own 'agency' for clerical staff - local councils do this and it saves them a small fortune.
I haven't seen the programmes but am aware of them & I'm glad this is being televised because every single working citizen in this country pays for this Health Service and we deserve it to be accountable and effective. It quite clearly isn't and it would be a travesty if the NHS collapses and we have to enter into an Amercian system where people who have genuine need are denied medical help because they can't afford it. It might be a big job, but surely the NHS can exist and operate cost effectively and be viable?

[badgerchops]

i agree somewhat that there are too many chiefs and not enough indians. The NHS do have a 'agency' for clerical staff 'The Bank'. Clerical staff can apply to work on this basis. Yes i know the NHS do not have the fastest PCs and stationary is low but you were a rarity by being overworked as it is uncommon to be so.

[luckyeight]

That's interesting badger; I wasn't recruited by an internal agency... Funnily enough, I think the more work I did (as a temp), the less other clerical officers did, as they could dump it on me. It was the worst place I have ever worked, actually - simply because of the lack of resources & bl00dy awful organisation - the place was an absolute joke.