I think anyone who believes that the Conservatives are not planning to privatise the NHS is living in a dreamland totally agree
Underfunding isn’t the only issue but it’s the main issue. It needs money to function. And the money IS there - it was there to fund a crazy referendum, to prop up a minority govt, to give tax breaks to the already wealthy,
But yes there are also issues with mismanagement, procurement, patient expectations management & also education (even on these boards which are generally frequented by quite knowledgable/educated people you get too many who don’t understand how effective and helpful pharmacists, nurses and other non dr hcps can be for many conditions), corrupt practices, poor medical practice...
As someone who worked in geriatric care for several years the issues with lack of social care impacting on the nhs strike me as insane! We used to think bed blocking was bad back in the early 90’s it’s far worse now.
Health tourism isn’t as big an issue as tories and other right wingers claim, but it’s still an expense we should be looking to reduce.
Why does it have to be either the NHS, or the U.S. system? comes up on EVERY thread like this. No it doesn’t BUT left to the tories it will be. Because they have made concerted efforts to invest in and ingratiate themselves with USA healthcare companies from insurers to pharmacology and everything in between. If you think they’re seriously considering models from other countries you’re kidding yourself.
I’m old enough (just) to remember 70’s healthcare too and it was far better then. My parents who were definitely old enough say so too.
I also worked in the nhs in the 90’s before labour came in (mostly) and things were pretty bloody bad then and that was Tory govt, friends/ex colleagues I’m still in touch with are telling me it’s much worse now.
LakieLady your friends experience is very similar to mine.
And anyone who cares to can AS me and see I don’t have the nhs on a pedestal I’ve had many issues with treatment, going back several decades, but I don’t think a privatised USA style healthcare system would have resulted in better treatment based on their system is just as bad if not worse on the same issues, the only difference would have been I’d probably be bankrupt!
if you are worried get private insurance . I have and use it for the things the nhs isn't so good at “I’m alright jack” if ever I heard it!
Not everyone can afford private insurance, indeed those most likely to need healthcare are the ones least likely to be able to afford it as chronic ill health often means inability to work.
I’m disabled and seriously mentally ill. Even if I ever get the support to get well enough to work again I’ll never be earning the big bucks, but I need a lot of healthcare and will need more as I age as at least one of my conditions is progressive. Where exactly does your attitude leave me and the many others like me?
@Pomley the utter disgrace of how nurses and other non dr hcps are being treated right from training stage is a scandal! I happen to have been a graduate nurse but recruitment practice at the time I strongly feel focused correctly more on aptitude for the career rather than academic ability. Yes nurses need a level of intellect to do the job, but they also need compassion, soft skills and a “will do” attitude. One of my friends now mentors trainees, the others work with them and they’re increasingly frustrated at getting more and more trainees coming through who think certain tasks and skills are beneath them.
BJ has just announced 50,000 new nurses and no tax increases in the manifesto.
So where will the funding come from?
Apparently I’m reading elsewhere they’re not even all new nurses but “retaining” current nurses I think as in making them less likely to leave cos it’s all going to shit! Good luck with that if you don’t respect and support them properly!
Re gp appointments I’ve said before based on my own experience (which inc that of friends/family) and a number of stories I’ve read on here, if the economic model of how gp surgeries and specialists intersect was changed meaning gps weren’t so reluctant to refer to specialists I strongly believe that would free up many gp appointments because there are far too many patients who’ve seen gps repeatedly for the SAME undiagnosed condition sometimes (as in my case) for decades when a specialist referral would result in correct dx and treatment. It is a particular bugbear of mine especially when there are constant complaints by both patients and gps that there aren’t enough appointments available. But as I said earlier there is also definitely an argument for educating/informing patients better so they know they don’t always NEED a gp appointment.
I’ve seen many comments on here by non medical people being dismissive of myself or other mners who are/were hcps when we tell them that the medical issue they’re having could/might be able to be treated by self care or that they could consult a pharmacist or nurse or physio or whatever instead of a dr. There’s definitely an issue where certain people will only see a dr even for very minor ailments.