To think my current work situation in the NHS is an absolute joke *MNHQ tweaked title at request of OP*

[MooreFoolYou]

Props to all NHS workers in the areas that were hit hard by Covid, I'm not denying for a second your hard work. What annoys me, is that hospitals in areas that haven't been affected are barely running and it's just a joke.

I work in a hospital that covers a large county, we've had 3 confirmed Covid cases. Ever. Yet almost all 'non essential' departments are still shut. Deployment has ended, as it's just not needed. Covid is not impacting us at this time. I have no work to do, as my department is shut, yet still I come in everyday. I'm literally coming in to sit in the office reading a book or even watching Netflix sometimes. There's loads of us that have nothing to do! You walk on to a ward and there's 12 nurses just twiddling their hands.

Why are non essential departments still closed when there is nothing else to occupy our time? Can the NHS really afford us to just bloody sit here? It's been two months of this! Why are patients having non emergency surgeries cancelled, why are non urgent referrals being postponed indefinitely, why are we turning people away to sit here with nothing to do?

I'm just fed up of it! I'm paying someone to look after my child whilst I do absolutely nothing. I've been told I can't work from home as the cost of getting me a laptop is too high, so I must come in everyday to just be here. With no work. Zero. What is the point!

No. If you own something, and you care deeply for it, you absolutely should be able to criticise it.
There are no sacred institutions I'm afraid. Every large scale public service should be meticulously examined on a regular basis, and if the management is found wanting we should be looking at ways to operate more efficiently, and with the best interests of the public in mind, NOT the protection of the reputation of the NHS at all costs.
We do need to protect and keep the NHS, but it must be fit to function.

X post x a million!

@Sohe It's not free. It's free at point of use. We fund the NHS through taxation.

I really value our healthcare service, but please don't think that means I will meekly stand by and not complain if things don't make sense or service is poor. There are lots of people working in the NHS doing a great job, bad we're thankful for them. Equally, there are people working in the NHS that do a shit job - look at all the women butchered by Ian Paterson. Working in the NHS does not automatically make everyone a saint who shouldn't be questioned.

I’m sitting in a hospital office right now (late lunch) and the whole place is still weird and eerie to be honest. It’s slowly improving but the car park used to be overflowing it’s now 1/3 full. There is hardly anyone here

I have lots to do - primary care is slammed. Absolutely jammed to the hilt. Just this morning I’ve had another complaint from a patient who is very worried about a health condition and only had virtual consultations from a consultant. Only cancer services and some GP’s are running as normal here.

FYI no one is removing chairs because they hate patients, it’s infection control. Another thing to clean.

@Badbadbunnyi do not know the reason as to why there seams to be so much discrepancy from trust to trust. All I can say is my trust has followed the guidance. Haematology, oncology, and cardiac departments continued to run. I managed to get two appointments with my GP for blood tests and an extra one for my smear so again, In my area services where restricted but accessible.
My hospital has also recommenced elective surgery and opened Additional clinical areas in order to try to clear some back log before the winter pressures which are unfortunately just around the corner now. Visiting has recommenced with strict protocols to follow. Most clinics have reopened. We get a daily email newsletter to update us all on the covid status of the area, new changes coming in where where to find the most recent national guidance, which at risk staff groups need additional risk assessments to keep them safe at work, And tributes paid to colleagues who have lost their lives to COVID.
All I can suggest if you are unhappy with the way your local trust has handled COVID then to write to your MP, and you trusts board of directors and ask why guidance wasn’t followed, why essential services where not made accessible to those with long term and life limiting diseases who rely on regular Monitoring and treatment.

@RegularHumanBartender

We have been trying to get my husband in to see an NHS dentist for about 10 weeks now. He has a dental abscess so bad that he has lost over 2 stone because he isn't able to eat properly. His face is swollen and he can't sleep properly. It got so bad he went to A & E 5 weeks ago. They gave him penicillin and sent him away, telling him to see a dentist. We worry every day that it is spreading but nobody will see him and help him. I guess if he gets sepsis and dies it will be OK because it won't be a covid death.

This is terrible and absurd. I managed to get Botox at a dental surgery no problem! Surely they’re open throughout for emergencies?

Queen, n NHS dentists have not been. My son was put on a waiting list at our NHS dentist and eventually seen but they are not doing root canal work even now so he got pain killers and I think they took out the filling and cleaned under it.

And so the bashing begins. Don't worry peeps, I'm pretty certain this whole pandemic will inadvertently provide the government with an opportunity to rethink the NHS much as it's doing with the civil service, judiciary etc. Radically different type of tory in government now who know they can pretty much get away with anything and will probably be applauded for it by the brexidiots despite it being very much against their own interests

It's so depressing to read about idle colleagues (I don't mean it's the fault of individuals).

I worked through covid in a busy London hospital and it was pretty horrendous. Things aren't quite back to normal yet. Some of it is about reorganizing services around the sector as opposed to covid. It's frustrating.

But my team are very very busy. Clinically busy and all the non-clinical stuff is so hard to get done. We have no admin support. I'm trying to get audit and improvement work done and feel like I'm paddling upstream. It makes me very sad to think there's people who could help who are left reading books and watching Netflix.

@Katharinablum

And so the bashing begins. Don't worry peeps, I'm pretty certain this whole pandemic will inadvertently provide the government with an opportunity to rethink the NHS much as it's doing with the civil service, judiciary etc. Radically different type of tory in government now who know they can pretty much get away with anything and will probably be applauded for it by the brexidiots despite it being very much against their own interests

Are you seriously suggesting that we cannot even point out major failings in the NHS, such as a surgeon who was allowed to operate unnecessarily on over 1000 women, because it's "bashing"?

@Grannyspecsandslippers

Anyone slagging off the NHS needs to get themselves to the USA for a few years to experience how f-ed up a health service can really get. Even with amazing coverage via my work it still cost us $$$ for the most routine of things, caused endless stresses and we were the 'lucky' ones.

Someone else who doesn't realise that most developed country's healthcare systems are between the UK and the USA model. Throughout Europe there are different systems from country to country which are perfectly good (often better than the UK) despite being often easier to access than the UK and still free (or nominal fee) at point of use.

It really isn't a binary choice of the UK's NHS or the USA system - there's a lot of middle ground.

I'm a nurse and our hospital had minus 4 beds overall yesterday. Not covid patients. In the past couple of months we have increased our ratio from 5 patients per nurse to 6 and we are still short of beds for all the patients we have. All our staff were redeployed at the start of covid but most back in their jobs now. If we start a shift and its quieter than the staff required we get moved straight away to a different ward who needs us. With the kids going back theres more coughs and fevers and staff cant come back until they have a negative test so we are generally 1-2 staff down every shift. I can guarantee that I have never watched Netflix on any shift and I would be pretty frustrated if that was happening in our hospital because at the very least you could go to a ward and stock up for them, or make up packs for new admissions.

YANBU. My DIL who also works for the NHS is currently turning up for work and has nothing to do. She reads her kindle or watches Netflix on her phone. She had the same "sit tight" message from her manager. Pointless waste of time.

@Blakes77 like how it always turns to the sacred grail of 'efficiency' which can mean a myriad of things but inevitably results in cuts to staffing and 'streamlining'. Running a busy surgical ward at night with one qualfied nurse and a hca is efficient but certainly not in the interests of patients.

@FredaFlinstone

I’d get my own laptop and WFH OP. It’s worth it.

We cannot access the National Spine or any of the NHS programmes, apart from basic email, on computers that are not NHS property.

It must be incredibly frustrating for staff who are stretched and working at the limits, to know that there's undeployed resource available which could potentially help. The differences between Trusts is interesting - it sounds very federalised in approach.

I’ve namechanged for this but I’m in the exact situation. I was redeployed during covid and then sent home afterwards.

I’m currently have around 4 hrs work a week and the rest of the time do nothing. I’m paid full time hours. My manager doesn’t care, I’ve asked for more work or to redeployed so many times, she doesn’t even bother responding anymore.

There were lots of very busy people during covid. There were a hell of a lot more with nothing to do. And still with nothing to do.

@Tappering. Actual I agree, to say free is a poor choice in words from myself. What I mean is although the majority of us pay a small contribution in tax, the benefits we get in return far outweigh the amount we each actually contribute through taxation.

I am sorry I am just very passionate about my role. Im proud of the way my trust has operated, but I am sorry if others have not felt supported by our health service during this time.

I have a laptop at home which I can access all systems on. I still don’t have any work.

Covid has really shone a spotlight on shit managers, mine is one of them. Her whole attitude is go away I don’t want to know.

They should be organising so that more clinics can run. They need to be specific about what the problem is.

Is it 1) doctor has risk factors so unable to do face to face appts
2) unable to social distance sufficiently (too little space in clinics and waitiNg rooms)
3) doctor needs to do more urgent cases (covid and non Covid)
4) short staffed due to staff self isolating as they have symptoms.

I’m not sure a complete back to normal is appropriate - depends on exactly what the issue is currently.

I work in the NHS in the community and our service has been operating face to face all through the pandemic. We are busier than usual because some services are not seeing patients face to face. However, patients who need to be seen ARE being seen. My own family have all been seen appropriately by different services, as required, and the service has often been better than usual as things have been more efficient. I am deeply grateful to all the staff that have put their own interests aside to provide their expertise. If people want to complain about their local services, I suggest they raise the issue with PALS so that senior management are made aware of any issues.

By not attending to what needs treating, the situation is going to be catastrophic for winter and the predicted second wave!
It’s v v worrying

@Tappering Yeah obviously I'm advocating that
There are loads of issues that need addressing,even public funding, but a randomer comes onto mumsnet claiming to watch netflix whilst on duty and immediately posters believe it.

I'm sorry but all this "NHS bashing" as it's called. Calling people out who dare to question the validity of saying they do no wrong are part of the issue and why the NHS is in the state it is.
It's the words you dare not say. Woe betide if you sue for medical negligence. You are frowned upon.
My son's record actually has a red spot on it. I thought it was due to his allergies so I asked.
I was told, rather sheepishly that it was an alert but not for health. I said well what's it for then. She made an excuse and left the bay we were in.
It took for me to ask another, old nurse, who said it's your fault, it's because you've made a complaint regards his care before. It warns us you could be trouble for us.
I literally couldn't believe it and said it should be removed. This was after finding our they didn't even have his severe allergies on his notes in the front and as a result he was given three items on one tray to way he was allergic to. But a complaint was far more important.

The more of us who question why we or those we care for are treated so bad the better, change can only come when we force it.
He now hasn't seen his consultants since January and March of last year. We were told to expect a call in April at 2pm from his lung consultant, so I got stuff done in the morning to be ready for her call. She then called whilst I was driving and left a snotty message that she had called, at 10am.
I called her secretary and she said the consultant wouldn't call again as so hadnt bothered to be ready. I pointed out she rang 4 hours early but tough.
His inpatient day allergy challenge that we have waited 6 years for also hasn't happened, no idea when it will.
We have had very few cases here and 1 death since June. It's ridiculous.

'Federalised' well yes. The days of it being a centrally governed entity have long gone. The mix of private and publically owned services are to a certain extent what caused issues with test and trace and ppe provision.