NHS not fit for the 21st century

Goooner

Wonder if the ghost wards epidemic is the route cause for record waiting times in NHS A&Es.
NHS ‘ghost wards’: 1,400 beds unused due to lack of staff or funding

nabby

Perhaps because many of them hold deep-seated views on privatising the NHS going back 20 years. If we can worry about the lunatic fringes of the Labour party holding views on the IRA, nuclear weapons and extreme socialism going back decades, why can't we worry about Tory ministers and their long-held views? It surely cuts both ways....

As for increased demand at A&E, perhaps things like reduced out of hours GP services (which I'm sure is due to bad contract management by the NHS/Government over a number of years), lack of awareness amongst the general population about what to do about things that might not be emergencies, a rapidly ageing population increasingly living in isolation and the Thursday/Friday/Saturday night binge drinking mentality are to blame?

You could probably also throw in a lack of social care facilities for those suffering with mental health issues, a couple of extreme cold weather incidents, the ramping up of fear over flu epidemics that mean people think a minor cold is possibly life-threatening influenza, and higher fuel bills for those in vulnerable situations meaning they are more likely to get illnesses such as flu and pneumonia in colder months.

And yes, a lack of investment in new facilities to cater for a higher population (be it through longer life expectancy, immigration or higher birth rates).

Ask yourself this, what is the current government doing to plan for your needs in 30 years time? I don't have the foggiest and I'd reckon they're all too worried about the next election to worry about the bigger picture.  I've said it once and I'll say it again, we get the politicians and political class we deserve.

rustybin

What does any government plan for 30 years time? As you say, no matter what party, all they’re concerned about is getting back in next time.

nabby

I don't know, I just feel that in years gone by, our Government planned better. Now we can't even fix roads for months, have a joined up train network, provide high speed internet to everyone across the UK, build a bigger airport, build enough houses or plan for a future beyond fossil fuels that doesn't involve letting Communist China have control of our nuclear power stations.

rancidpunk

The current government is spending billions on a rail transport system that won't be fully operational until the mid 2030s.

When it suits they'll spend billions on long term projects which will only benefit a fraction of the population.

Marv

Guaranteed it's full of political backhanders, future positions on the boards of contractors and sub-contractors for the politicians concerned and won't be on budget, on time or of much use to anyone by the time it's ready.

weaviemx5

Unfortunately the chancellor doesn't quite know how many billions

Tory Philip Hammond skewered in BBC interview as he gets his figures in a muddle

It probably shows why governments shouldn't make long term plans, or financial disasters in this case.

tapzilla2k

Will the NHS ever recover?
"
Breast scan error 'shortened up to 270 lives'

Breast scan error 'shortened 270 lives'

apolloa

Yes, but I imagine the IT team/department responsible for the mistake will be carrying the burden of responsibility.

apolloa

There needs to be an inquiry to discover exactly what went on and why it took so long for the mistake to come to light. I think I read the Government has been aware of this since January 2018, either they sat on it or have been working on identifying those effected.

NHS IT budgets have been under pressure like every other part of the NHS since 2010, who knows what else might have gone unnoticed.