AIBU to ask if there is anything at all that works as it should in the Uk?

[Lavendersquare]

Just been having a discussion with a colleague and between us we can't think of any public service/government department or agency that is delivering a decent service. Examples include:

Education
NHS
Immigration
Police
Social care
Roads
Railways
Dental Care

it never used to be like this, there was a time when things worked, were maintained and replaced. Now it seems everything is left to the last minute and patched up or left to deteriorate.

What's happened?

The Conservative Party

Happened, I mean. Not that it is the only thing that works.

They most certainly don’t seem to work. In either sense.

Yep the tories

The Tories. The Tories got into power. There's been a marked deterioration in this country in the last few (10?) years.

Libraries still seem okay in my area. Can't think of much else.

Agree with others, 13 years of the tories did this.

Queuing tends to work in the UK. Nothing else does.

I wouldn’t say there are any agencies I can think of functioning properly, but for example NHS staff individually are almost entirely giving 100% every day.

Managed decline to open the floodgates for privatisation and shameless capitalism- basically the Conservative Party.

Public sector staff are still relatively well paid with good pensions

You can add the Prison and justice system, housing and children's services.

I'm not there yet, but I'm in a group re NHS pensions and good god, the mess they make of calculating and paying your pension right though.

Universal Credit is much easier to claim and get then Job Seekers Allowance.
Trainline. Can buy tickets for anywhere and print or put in your phone.
Supermarket deliveries. And easy to sort if they do muck up.

I think people expect a hell of a lot more than they used to from all that you have listed. I'm not saying there aren't improvements to be made, far from it, but there seems to be an expectation of perfection.
But like most things, money is the answer. Underfunded, underpaid, understaffed.

I agree the staff in the NHS and all the areas I've mentioned are working to capacity it's the system/funding/management that isn't.

Definitely need to be added to the list, can't believe I didn't have them as housing or rather the lack of it was how our conversation started.

As a mum to a disabled kid, the only part of our lives that works smoothly with no hassle is Motability. Hardly any paperwork, no problems when changing to a new car etc. They take care of everything. They even gave out a small bonus payment recently because they didn't get as many insurance claims during lockdown. I was shocked. Every other service that we access is a battle or incompetent.

I was surprised to find it's a charity but I'm sure the Tories will find a way to screw it over at some point.

It’s all shite.

Although I did manage to get a tax rebate from HMRC. Which promptly got lost when I paid it into my bank via the Post Office.

I think Tory politicians recognise how poor everything they run is - so they try to outsource and privatise things🤔

Would that be the same public sector staff where the administrators and junior technical staff are on NMW more or less and anyone qualified is earning a lot less than they would be in the private sector, leading to a massive recruitment and retention crisis?

Royal and state occasions.

That's literally all.

The optician I take my daughter to is really good. It’s such a relief to go to a nice, well maintained establishment, get seen by a professional who is not rushed off their feet and stressed, and then be able to take the time to choose some glasses. And it’s all without charge.

Surprises me in a nice way every time because everything else is so shit even if I’m paying a fortune for it.

Good one! The first answer has it. I've had a quick think and I can't come up with anything particular.

I thought 'The Conservative Party' was the answer to 'what happened, why is everything shit now'

Earlier this year we went on holiday to a Nordic country and the difference was stark.

Yes, it was expensive, but everything seemed to 'just work'. Everything we did was well organised and easy to work out, eg transport to and from the airport, tours etc.

There was virtually no litter, public buildings etc were clean and well maintained - my God, how shabby the UK airport we flew back into looked in comparison.

Public transport was frequent, cheap and reliable. In this country they have virtually no crime (there were fewer police officers in the entire country than there is in the one city where we live). There was no visible homelessness, no beggars, housing and utilities were affordable to most people when we looked into it.

There must be some downsides but seeing as all the Nordic countries generally jostle for position in the top 5 happiest populations in the world, they're a lot less prevalent than the UK.

Electric cars.