300 children from Gaza to be brought to the UK for free specialist NHS care

[Fragmentedbrain]

According to the Sunday Times. That's nearly as many beds as there are in Great Ormond Street, where the average waiting time for paediatric surgery is 15 weeks (which is fairly typical nationwide).

Why is it mysteriously possible for government to deliver these showy, headline-grabbing measures (I know we already knew it could happen from COVID policy) but not to just make systems work well in an ordinary way?

Because all this 'we have no money' thing is crap.

I am so glad we're helping these children though. I really don't think that they are one of the things the gov is frittering money away on.

I'm pretty sure the government isn't funding it but philanthropist and aid organisations. Last time that many Gazan kids came to get treatment it was all funded by philanthropist and none from the government or NHS. The money is going to the hospital and they'll be providing some more doctors to come and assist (from around the country). I could be wrong but this is what has happened the last few times and from what I can find is the same, I remember reading the reports and hearing from the women who was organising it, she was at pains to continue to emphasise that NHS money wasn't going to them and neither was taxpayers money. They also give money to help with additional supplies and sometimes as a thank you to the hospital and the doctors (though not sure about whether this is happening, on this occasion). These kids are very sick and in need of urgent help, many will just need nutrition and wound care and yes some surgery but their health is dire.

YABVU @Fragmentedbrain.

Good

To think it's outrageous that we can pay for 300 Gazan kids (it is the NHS paying for this - the philanthropic stuff is separate) but not British kids? The paediatric pain management services in NHS England has a waiting time of c17 weeks.

This isn't about not treating kids from Gaza (although I knew some people would choose to read it that way). It's about the political choice to make children in the UK wait months to have essential surgery or pain treatment. Why is nobody protesting about that?

A child is a child, what ever their nationality or religion. It makes me feel a little bit sick that someone might want to deny help to the suffering children in Gaza.
If you feel so strongly about this @Fragmentedbrainthen I suggest you protest outside Great Ormond Street rather than wondering about why others are not protesting.

Did you organise a protest about NHS wait times?

I tell you this kindly - you are not good at reasoning and should think about whether you can improve.

This thread is not in favour denying healthcare. It is against healthcare currently being denied on demonstrably optional grounds.

Why can’t their neighbours help more? Some of the best medical facilities are in the Arab world… but somehow it makes sense to fly them half across the world to use facilities that are breaking point. The NHS is struggling to cope with the backlog of child operations and you need to wait 2-3 years for a simple ear grommet operation… (my son is half deaf and falling behind in his speech and social interaction) but somehow we can prioritise children from other countries….

It's headline seeking because Keir is trying to mollify a particular faction in his party. But in doing so he's revealing that a lot of children in the UK are suffering needlessly.

I've not read the article, but are their parents coming as well? They'll need board and shelter.

Rather than being outraged at the government funding (or maybe not) kids from Gaza coming for treatment be outraged that the government is complicit in their starvation and injuries by funding spy planes, personnel and whatever else to the Israelis.

I readily admit I don’t know why the wealthy Arab countries much closer to their home aren’t providing this care.

It all feels rather performative.

YABMassivelyU to resent 300 children from a war zone being treated in our hospitals. Is this what society has become? Saying piss off sick and seriously injured children, you’re not welcome here. As for the Arab nations, maybe they are also taking in people for medical treatment in their countries too.

Why don’t we just fund their care in Dubai, Qatar or any of the other wealthy Arab states? They have excellent medical facilities. Surely that is cheaper than bringing over 300 families.

I don’t have a subscription does it say how they do it?

How do they get the children out of Gaza

I am very glad these children are getting help.but if it is being done with NHS resources I do wonder why it's possible to find resources for this but not the resources to help with reducing waiting times for UK children. I do suspect it's Sir Keir pulling a rabbit out a hat for political reasons.

I agree with PP that he should also.be stopping UK companies selling arms for use in Gaza.

I hacw a child on a 6 year waiting list in the NHS for assessments and support, I am still glad we are helping these children from Gaza. It's not like they have access to any sort of medical care, do they.

We are really seeing such an upsurge of racism through social media now. Stories such as this would be absolutely picked apart in the comments with more comments about ‘invasions’ etc. I think it’s so incredibly sad that the migration problem has caused such a high level of hate. Hopefully those children receive the care they need.

@Fragmentedbrain What do you suggest as the answer to provide the care for the children of Gaza? Genuine question, and there has been at least one suggestion by another poster on this thread.

I’m perfectly able at reasoning. I understand your reasoning and personally disagree with it.
I understand your concern about children already on GOS waiting lists and I’ve expressed my personal response.

And I don’t find you to be kind.

Sorry but if you really begrudge 300 children from a warzone where hospitals are being bombed and people are starving to death medical care, have a word with yourself.

Having a backlog is a separate issue and is a picture of wider issues in the NHS. It does not mean we should not support children who are victims of war crimes and genocide.

We have played a significant role in the tensions between Israel and Palestine and imo have a moral duty to help and also to stop supplying Israel with arms.

I'd also hope that if Scotland were bombing us, for example, that other countries would be willing to support our injured children if our medical infrastructure was being ravaged.

who says they don't take their share?

This million times.

Why is nobody protesting about that?

Because it's a strawman and not what is happening.

Good news.