Nhs Hospitals (Is This The Right Slot?)

[gl556tr]

In Devon, "they" have, in their infinite wisdom, decided to close a number of cottage/community hospitals. Public meetings to discuss with "them" and their local NHS henchmen were performances very much akin to those protesting intended local developments - I love that term for building houses on green fields - whereby all has effectively been rubber-stamped. "They", from central and regional authorities, argued that those seeking medical treatment can *easily* go to their nearby, large hospital -- some 20 miles distant -- which offers a splendid selection of expensive machinery your cottage unit could only dream of. The implication here being that only then does one have an opportunity of proper treatment - and survival. (Only trouble is, this very nearby hospital had elderly patients on trolleys in corridors, one of whom died, the staff overworked = no time/available resources.)
_A couple of weeks ago, the dreaded closures of these cottage/community hospitals was announced.
_Now, the ultimate shock and insult: this very nearby, large hospital, which had been a central argument for afore-mentioned closures, made public that 32 of its acute beds are to be removed.
_In Germany, there are per unit population three times as many hospitals. No wonder operations can be arranged short-term. Surely, UK Ltd should consider building new hospitals, or re-opening those closed by Thatcher et al.
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