No wonder the NHS is struggling - can't quite believe this!

[outpatient]

Today I went to the hospital. On the from door entrance there was a member of staff whose job it was to say "do you have an appointment, so you have any covid symptoms"

That's it. She's was being paid to do that. She was there all morning, just to say that. This is in addition to the receptionist that checks you in when you actually arrive,

Is this not bonkers? NHS is screwed if someone thinks this is entirely reasonable to pay someone to do this.

It is beyond saving, and likely not running out of money just making really shit decisions WITH the money

You are not off sick then

Well the endocrinologist and his colleagues thought it was stupid, and it does seem stupid spending a whole lot more than necessary (it’s a great deal more expensive than it could be).

@Bluekerfuffle thyroxine is as cheap as chips. Would the cba against making other savings be worthwhile?

Which 55 Tufton Street Group is this a shill for?

Of course it's an extremely sensible precaution. You do not want infected people bringing more Covid into settings where there are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable people. It would cost even more if they/anyone got infected.

She probably has another role just asked to do this today it is important
plus
Why do people keep moaning about the NHS
something that is saving our lives for FREE
get over yourselves you entitled bunch on wingers

Most people don’t have symptoms.

So where does the money come from? And let’s be honest as most of the workers in the nhs are foreign born I don’t think it’s an institution that has a problem with diversity! A million pounds on pronoun badges and £75k per annum to check flair? You’re having a larf!

Or perhaps it's because they pay private health providers to provide healthcare because they don't have the staff / facilities to? My DF is currently being treated for cataracts via the NHS. He's picked up in a car and driven over 100 miles to a private clinic and again back again. Sometimes for an appointment of 20 minutes.
Privatisation by stealth doesn't come cheap.

Well said Coastlewave, I think that too, first two weeks without pay, I bet there wouldn't be as many people off sick.

I don’t understand this. The only treatment for cataracts is a one off surgical procedure. He should be sorted in two appointments.

something that is saving our lives for FREE

Free at the point of contact. Nothing is free.

I don't have an issue with people scrutinising public spending, whatever it is on.

I also disagree with what the OP is complaining about because of the bigger picture and that it is likely that the person was a volunteer.

But to suggest that people don't have the right to question how public money is spent is wrong.

But to suggest that people don't have the right to question how public money is spent is wrong

Exactly look at all the hoohah about MP's being able to claim for staff parties. It is right to question something as the OP did, a lot of poster's have explained that as in my Trust the chances are that the person at the entrance was probably a volunteer.

£70m? I pay 49p for 16 paracetamol or ibuprofen at my local supermarkets.

What about the latest one, though? In Scotland, where their prescriptions are free, people with certain conditions are having their energy bills paid on prescription. What next?

It must be said that WE are part of the problem. So many people eat garbage, get fat, use repeat prescriptions/stock pile stuff they don’t need (my BIL’s dad, for example), make appointments they don’t keep, complain constantly, abuse staff, go to A&E or phone 999 over the most trivial nonsense...then wonder why the NHS is in trouble.

At the NHS hospital I have worked in for over twenty years I can fully guarantee that our greeters are NOT paid and volunteer through agancies such as the the WRVS. We'd be lost without them.

This post is bonkers to be frank

You want to encourage people who work with vulnerable patients to go into work with infectious diseases by not paying them for the first 2 weeks of sickness? I'm not sure that's the greatest idea. I'm not sure you've thought this through.

Well that will solve the issue of too many elderly people.

When you are very ill and have loads of appointments, it is easy to miss one. Especially if you do not have someone helping you.
The cost of living crisis will mean more people are eating poorly, living in damp and cold houses.

I agree she probably has other duties or its a volunteer but the NHS is not free. It is free at the point of care but we all pay tax for it which is quite a big distinction.

I think the NHS could save an awful lot of money by prescribing generic medications only. I'm a Nursery Nurse and have also worked in the NHS. People, parents especially, get 'hung up' on Calpol! The amount of parents while said to me 'my child will only have calpol, they don't like the generic paracetamol suspension'. Rubbish! Clever advertisers have made you think that there product is the best and you've fallen for it. If your child will 'only take Calpol' then feel free to go and buy it yourself. The NHS has to prescribe medication but it doesn't have to be the expensive branded names. I did also have a 'discussion ' with a GP when he said he would prescribe Calpol for my child. I asked him why he's prescribing 'expensive' Calpol instead of 'bog standard' paracetamol suspension that costs the NHS a quarter of the price'. He said most parents say 'they'll only have Calpol'. Its not the NHS's job to pander to patients whims, as long as they're prescribing a medication (with exactly the same active ingredients) then they should ALWAYS go for thr cheapest option.

GPs are supposed to only prescribe generic medications unless there is a very good reason for another medicine.

I heard a GP on the radio recently who said her patients insisted on brand name medicines and refused generic and that she accommodated them. This seems to be common practice whatever the rules may be. It is absolutely unacceptable IMHO as is oversubscribing etc. This would save the NHS millions each year.

Another saving would be to stop using agency nursing staff, set up a non-profit -making government agency to fill the gap and refuse to employ anyone from a private i.e. profit-making agency.

Aye, decades of underfunding, corruption, mismanagement, the Tories’ privatisation agenda, and it’s that one low-wage employee (possibly volunteer) that’s the problem. Fuck off.

It’s donated.