Lib Dems

[cassa333]

I read earlier that the Lib Dems would put 1pm on income tax to pay extra for the NHS and care.

There was a time I would have agreed that I would pay a penny extra tax for the NHS but not any more. Not until they get their fingers out and become efficient and train more nurses and doctors instead of relying of bank or foreign workers to plug a whole left by not appreciating the workforce.

I would actually go back to nurses actually nursing and doctors do the Doctor stuff.

From what I have seen it is the under funding of training and the over training of nurses that have seen the biggest reasons for spiralling costs.

I know for some the NHS is sacrosanct and will not hear a word said against it but let a few knowledgable business people in to sort out the way it runs, make it efficient etc etc and use the savings for the benefit of treatment.

I am not talking about privatisation I am talking about making it business efficient from the ground up.

[Kromovaracun]

And... did anyone claim that GP surgeries are sweetness and light?

[cassa333]

Some do. Some see them within the same halo.

Although the GP service has always been privately owned businesses they are NHS funded so are seen as part of the NHS system.

A GP can get rid of patients based on how much they cost to treat or whether they miss many appointments. Very few do get chucked out otherwise there would be an outcry.

[jourdain2]

kromo - they should at the very least be co-operative with their clients. My sojourn abroad has made me alive to this. We pay their wages. By the way, yes, a surgery visit should be sweetness and light as far as possible. I know this for a fact -you need to rethink, I'm afraid.
Last Thurs. went with Mr.J2 to York Hosp. (yet another - quite aggressive - tumour this time) got complete co-operation by speaking reasonably and stating that we expected to be kept 'in the loop'. No problem - this is more like how it should be. I refuse to accept trouble from receptionists (have another battle coming up next week. I shall win.)

[DTCwordfan]

so much inefficiency so I agree.....I went in for a gall bladder and had to input my essential data 8 times - I can understand three for input and two checks - but this was beyond ridiculous...even on the trolley going into the anaesthetist, there was one more - "sorry, we aren't hooked up to the main hospital system."

Then when one thinks about the power of efficiency that could be unleashed from the front-line to GPs, such as opticians and hearing agencies to the respective GPs on the basis of 'we think you should call him or her in and have a look, as we have seen something....'

Go for business efficiency - I thoroughly agree, the savings would be billions and could be directed to the front line.

I have the same feeling as to other services such as the police.....

[Kromovaracun]

"I know this for a fact -you need to rethink, I'm afraid. "

Rethink what? I agree that GP services are on average not good. I just don't think that is what's causing structural problems in the NHS.

I was actually asking cassa to prove that the NHS would still not be able to cope without its PFI obligations but that somehow became "well I've had a bad experience and I know that doesn't prove anything but I'm just going to pretend it's relevant anyway."

[jourdain2]

Fine, kromo, understood. :)
Tomorrow I have to ring my osteo. specialist's sec. - I reckon I am being rationed by appts. being delayed every time by a month. This should not happen.

[Kromovaracun]

That's really awful. I hope you're luckier this time jourdain.