AIBU to ask if you believe that a labour government will go some way to fixing the NHS?

It needs reform for sure but it also needs more money. After 14 years of underfunding there’s a lot of catching up needed.

No. The issue with the NHS isn’t just funding. It’s badly managed.

@AmpleFatball

I never implied the tories were fiscally responsible 🤔 🤷‍♀️

I’d happily pay more tax for it. If we spent as much on healthcare as our European neighbours we wouldn’t be in such a mess.

But, as I understand it, it's not just about more money. The part pay model reduces waste as there's fewer no-show appointments. I think it was Germany where posters said the local hospitals compete against each other so the underperforming ones have to improve or face having no patients.

It's not just pouring more money into the pit. Average life expectancy was 70 when the NHS was founded and it's now 81. We have an ageing population and proportionally shrinking working age population to pay for it. It's not going to cut the mustard which is why our European neighbours have different systems.

I'd happily part pay for something that doesn't feel like a third world country.

I’d happily pay more tax for it. If we spent as much on healthcare as our European neighbours we wouldn’t be in such a mess.

Me too. I'd actually vote for a party on just this single issue. My consultant friends feel the same. If people working in the NHS think this, why don't politicians properly investigate the healthcare systems in France and Germany?
It’s striking how many doctors hold this view. I’d also like to see the health service separated from the government, with a health expert in charge, rather than a health minister. Decisions need to be driven by health outcomes rather than politics.

I’d like to see a government have the courage to change healthcare funding more in line with other European countries that have better health outcomes than us. The NHS is beyond repair: it’s too expensive and is therefore a drain on social care and education, which need massive financial input.

Me too. I'd actually vote for a party on just this single issue. My consultant friends feel the same. If people working in the NHS think this, why don't politicians properly investigate the healthcare systems in France and Germany?

Our population is getting older and by extension sicker and the NHS isn't going to cope in its current form, irrespective of increased funding. I'd happily part pay for something that doesn't feel like a third world country.

This isn’t true. Labour governments have persistently borrowed less and repaid more of our national debt than the Tories. The idea that the Tories are fiscally responsible is a myth they have cultivated.

My friends in England have the “right to choose” and can be seen outside of their health board.

My friends in England are getting seen much much faster for the same issues.

I’m a Labour voter and I think there’s a limit to what they can do. I’d like to see a government have the courage to change healthcare funding more in line with other European countries that have better health outcomes than us. The NHS is beyond repair: it’s too expensive and is therefore a drain on social care and education, which need massive financial input. No party will have the guts to do this in a first term though. I’m from a family of NHS doctors and this is their view too. We need to stop being sentimental about the NHS.

It wouldn’t be better in England though either at a guess.

No. It’s not.

We're in Wales I had two babies early eighties great experience. The one I had in 2001 was so different. Gas and air broken, just paracetamol offered. Dirty toilets, showers. The icing on the cake they left me, baby in the delivery suite. After an hour I managed to get down and find the nurses lounge to ask if I could have a bed.

When my DILs were pregnant I told my sons don't leave their side, advocate for them. When my DIL started seizing after 26 hours of labour my son shouted for help. We nearly lost them both.

I can only bloody hope so given a Labour government seems inevitable at this point, but I'm just not that optimistic. Wes Streeting is dreadful.

Look https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/feb/11/health.medicineandhealth1

@Enterthewolves.

A national area that was particularly bad was a lack of midwives.

Headline after headline after headline at the time of the dire maternity services offering.

Hospitals actually shut maternity wards.

That was definitely natinal
It was a particular interest of mine as I was pregnant and terrified.

Not for one minute.

If their management of the Welsh NHS is any guide, it’s going to get a lot worse.

Nationally - and anecdote isn’t data - I’m sorry your experience was poor but that doesn’t give a national picture.

@Enterthewolves

Perhaps in some areas but definitely not in mine?

I work in the NHS in my area we have been told we have to cut our mental health trust by £50m next year - that’s an 8% cut - when last week we had 20 people in A&Es and crisis hospital beds waiting for admission to mental health hospital beds. We had one patient on a mattress in an office off A&E for three weeks. The Tories are killing the NHS and are putting in, per capita, the second lowest funding in the G7 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthcaresystem/articles/howdoesukhealthcarespendingcomparewithothercountries/2019-08-29#:~:text=However%252C%2520of%2520the%2520G7%2520group,United%2520States%2520(%C2%A37%252C736). If you think Labour won’t make a difference or will be worse you are tripping.

Labour MASSIVELY improved the NHS last time.

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/reports/rise-and-decline-nhs-in-england-2000-20

No I know what you're going through, similar to us in North Wales. A pp was warbling on about how wonderful the Welsh NHS is. I thought what a crock.

I live in Wales. Labour government. Health is devolved.

I desperately need a hysterectomy, I have extreme blood loss every month. I’ve waited 18 months to see a consultant. I now know it’s a 4 year wait for surgery.

My daughter has a diagnosed nut allergy. She needs further tests. It’s not offered in our area. There’s no right to choose and the other health boards won’t take her.

I was referred for urgent breast scan at the same time as my friend in England. She got hers in 4 weeks, mine was 8 months. Both thankfully clear for us, but for some other woman it won’t be.

I’ve been reffered to dieticians by my GP to try and manage IBS. They won’t see me for that in my area. They do that in Cardiff, but again, different health board so they won’t take patients outside Cardiff.

Do I need to go on?

Tbf I've had a couple of weekend appointments recently, so it's not a new idea, it's already happening.