NHS reforms: Your reaction
1 published comments with 340 censored.
The following comments were censored from this thread on the BBC's 'Have Your Say' section of their news website.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The only solution is to have an insurance based system where those that can afford to pay do so, & those that can't are looked after. Taxes should be reduced to reflect the change. When will we learn: politicians are a disaster when it comes spending our money.
John Bickley, Cuddington, United Kingdom
No thats not a fair system!!! so hardworking people will have to pay while dole bludgers,single mothers,immigrants etc get it free if you can't afford it you don't get treatment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
No thats not a fair system!!! so hardworking people will have to pay while dole bludgers,single mothers,immigrants etc get it free if you can't afford it you don't get treatment!!
[chezzababa]
There are many people who can't afford private healthcare despite working every hour God sends, once you factor in paying for medication, treatment & travel to a private health centre on top of insurance cover. The NHS in principle is the envy of the world, let's not damage it beyond repair.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Stuart Booth, Northampton, United Kingdom "The NHS is too busy making the suicide bombers healthy to look after true UK citizens - I have BUPa anyway and don't want to pay for the NHS which I never use so lets do away with it - better all round I think."
Does your BUPA hospital have an A E dept, its own paramedics or even an on-site oncology unit? I doubt it. BUPA can't treat serious illness- it subcontracts to the NHS for staff and facilities,
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Well I'd have Hewitt etc. shot first. Then I'd couple a small NI to pay wages with personal insurance based on lifestyle. I'd outlaw PFI, Primary Care Trusts (wtf?!) and privatisation, make all hospitals independent and pay retired doctors and nurses to run them. GENIUS
NHS reforms: Your reaction
After almost 10 years in office this meddling government thinks the NHS is out of date. Well I have news for Pat Hewitt - It's you and your government who's out of date.
To reduce A&E services to a few Hospitals would be a disaster. We all know that the first 'Golden' hour is critical to some accident patients survival. Are we now to travel a great many miles to get 'urgent' treatment?
To get a first class NHS you need first class staff. Stop threating them with their jobs - angry **** angry.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Mrs Hewitt is exactly the sort of person who typifies the incompetents who run the NHS.
No commercial or business experience.
But big on : " I know whats's best for you "
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Rather than complain here, use this email address:
hewittph@parliament.uk
BBC - I know you won't publish this, but it might do some good for people if you did.
The Government have done some bad things in their time, and this is up amongst them.....
NHS reforms: Your reaction
No there should only be one reform stop people who don't pay in from using the nhs; Single mothers(and i mean the kind that have just got pregnant and never bothered to work),long term dole bludgers,immigrants,foreigners,obese people (and i mean the ones scrounging disability when all they have to do is stop stuffing their faces) oh and the pc brigade if they believe all the above should be entitled!!!!!!!!!!! RESULTS lots of spare cash for the harding working taxpayer to get treatment they need
NHS reforms: Your reaction
My comments have clearly been removed.
I have read the house rules and cannot see where I have contravened them.
So that I dont repeat my mistake, could a moderator please email me and explain what I am guilty of other, unlike the BBC of not being a new labour fan.
Thanks in advance.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Our hospitals dont even appear to be a place that you can go to improve your health. They are in old, dirty, delapidated buildings where the homeless sleep in the casualty waiting room. Should they be converted to places where people go to get well when they are sick rather than places to die when they are ill?
Money is needed for this on a scale we cant imagine. I dont like the idea of private healthcare but I think this will be the quickest way to improve facilities, tho maybe just for rich
NHS reforms: Your reaction
There is little left of the old health service. Waiting lists are fiddled, hospitals aren't cleaned, nurses are lazy, and GPs will do anything to avoid seeing patients.
So, no, why shouldn't it be treated differently.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The first change for the ultimate benefit of the NHS is get rid of Hewitt
NHS reforms: Your reaction
As a childrens nurse I feel these changes are ill conceived as are the "Making it better" that a lot of nurses feel are "making it worse" as with all these ideas nurses and medical staff are not consulted. The "Making it better" fiasco quoted that 12,500 people icluding nursing, medical staff and patients were consulted, yet as a nurse and mother I know of NO ONE that has been consulted. When you ask who we get told that due to confidentiality they cannot reveal identities RUBBISH!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The NHS may well be in need of reform but I can't see how having to travel any further than necessary to get to A&E when you're in the back of an Ambulance bleeding to death stuck in city centre traffic is going to help anyone.
Perhaps we'll just have to take care only to have accidents when near to one of the remaining A&E departments.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
How tired I am of hearing Patricia Hewit speaking in those so well rehearsed and patronising tones.I can only hope that the labour party conference consigns these career politicians to the realm of has been and actually bring in some people who can actually think outside the self serving party line.The arrogance of these politicians is quite amazing.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Yes the health service is safe in Labour hands. They have tried ever so hard to contract it out and now its the workers of the NHS and the health of the nation having to pay the price.
If labour want rid of the NHS lets do it and adopt the USA style of insurance system. At least then we pay less taxes, and get better health care when people need it not in a years time.
The best money I spent is on private insurance just so that if I become ill I will be able to get the treatment fast.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Patricia Hewit is Labour? for a second I thought a conservative with them loony left ideas.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
How can deficits be tackled? By *not* using the private sector. Instead use properly run public services. If the current managers can't run it properly, then sack them and replace them with ones that are worth having.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
This money saving exercise will no doubt cost lives before they get it right, to do this properly the Emergency departments should not just be shutdown and moved, Why do the politicians drone on about this silly idea that the patients will just have to make the best of whatever is decided. what makes politicians the right people to deal with this issue in the first place, most of them are self serving, and only do what benefits them first and foremost,.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
I thought small, threatened A&E departments should stay open until I actually ended up in one. Now, despite the fact I have to travel 45mins to get to my nearest A&E on public transport, I'd rather go to the big, clean hospital than the small, dirty one!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The simple implication of privatisation means there is profit to be made so either current NHS management is inefficient or (more likely) the government doesn't want to be seen as directly being responsible for staff numbers and wages being cut. In any event if privatisation can provide the service then it can be provided as a nationalised business with less cost (no profit) and government should take the responsibiity for any incompetence in failing.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
About time that A & E Depts were shaken up. Most are grossly inefficient in terms of cost per patient when compared with the new Walk-In Centres.
A&E should be reserved for genuine emergencies and not as a dumping ground for the lazy GP's for non-urgent cases.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
When will politicians have the guts to admit that because of their mismanagement of this country over the past 50 years we can now no longer afford such state run luxuries as free heath care for all, to the standards that exist in much of mainland Europe. And to all you who mourn its loss - well you voted for them.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Patricia Hewitt is working her socks off to save our NHS! from whom?
It is only the Goverment who pulls the strings.
The equivalent here is when a manager with a new MBA joins a company at a high level, the company normally lasts about two years.
With the NHS, we have politicians who think they know what they are doing, employing CEOs of Trusts who DO NOT know what they are doing.
It was bound to end in tears.
The NHS needs clear thinking not more money wasted.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
If you have a heart attack it's unlikely to be the junior doctor on duty at the local A E dept who saves your life: it'll be the paramedics who inject you with clot busting drugs. If you're seriously injured you're far better off with them than in the hands of a doctor with only a couple of years experience. Its better to be in their care for a few minutes longer while you're taken to a specialist unit than quickly rushed to a smaller unit with no specialist staff.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The fuss about A&E grabs the headlines but how many of us actually get rushed to A&E in danger of our lives very often? Mercifully few. Its the lower-level boring things the NHS does that can make or ruin people's lives on a day-to-day basis and that's what it needs to get right.
In the same way we hear about the police solving murders, but it's them dealing with the yobs at the end of the street that can make lives worth living.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Reform = spin word for privatisation and fat cat corruption.
NHS must be fully privatised. Hands off wasting my high taxes year after year after year.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
In response to Bernie Matthews I am one of those "lazy" nurses you refer to. I am that lazy I cannot get to have a drink during my shift and there is so little staff on most wards that I also do not get a break or anything to eat during my shift.Oh by the way the majority of nurses work overtime (but do not get paid for it) every day! Thge first thing labour should do is increase the staff on wards according to RCN guidelines not due to the monetary position of the hospital
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Maybe the government are working on the principle that if they can ensure everyone has to travel 50 miles in rush hour to get to an A&E department a fair number will die before receiving any treatment, thereby saving costs and cutting down waiting times. Cost saving and target meeting in one swoop!!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
There's been an unrelenting attack on front line staff (job losses, unrelenting reform, no consultation) while money is wasted on IT projects that don't deliver, PFI that cost the public millions and politicians who spin that it's always someone else's fault.
I'd much rather listen to the professionals who are in the thick of it, rather than patronising 'Blewitt'.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Is the conference season approaching????? - has bad news been buried?????
Another spin story from a contemptible Government.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Endless reform and change. The worst thing that has happened to the NHS is the relentless interference and looney ideas of politicians. Get minister's destructive hands out of the NHS pie and give it back to the clinicians. It is the rolling change of governments and yet more 'ideas' who are killing it piece by piece.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Reforms are certainly overdue but I am not re-assured by the proposed measures.
Also, I am wondering who wrote the "NHS hospital structure 'outdated'" report. Was it someone's two year old on a visit-dad-at-work-day?
NHS reforms: Your reaction
It's interesting isn't it, that this government has doubled the amount of money poured into the NHS, but the number of available beds, staff and available slots for operations has halved.
Half as much service, for twice the cost, sounds like a poor deal to me.
The Health Minister would do well to realise that the 'S' in NHS stands for service, and that it isn't nor should be run as a profit making entity.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Our county hospital is being threatened with A & E closure, this would mean instead of 10 mins travelling we would have to travel over 30 mins and that is with good traffic. Surely this would be madness, the reason for an A & E department is to save lives and it is documented that the first few minutes of a trauma is critical. I don't know the answers to the problems but closing A & E departments is not one of them.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The solution for a better NHS
Keep politicians out of it
Tony Blair and his cabal are only interested in votes - leave it to the experts Tony
Better stll call a general election
NHS reforms: Your reaction
This government just can't stop meddling. I used too work at Rochdale infirmary, where 5 years ago they opened an expensive new building which housed the new A&E department. Now they're closing it. What a waste of money. WASTE is all this incompetent bunch know. To all those who think new labour have been good for the NHS, try asking those of us who work in it. Waste, interference and beaurocracy is all they are good at. Get them out ASAP.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Again another stupid idea by the Labour government. Had they not got the country into such massive debt then perhaps they would have the funds to provide a better NHS. More A&E's are needed, not less.
It is time this country reformed the service in that is is made only availble to UK Taxpayers and citizens. People who have paid through their taxes should be entitled to free care. Others should be made to pay through insurance.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
My daughter in law and grandson aged 6 months are currently staying with us and unfortunately we had to take the ill young baby to A & E at 2 am Sunday morning.
It was deplorable, Blood & Urine in the dirty toilets,carpets were stained & filthy.There were several drunks there and the Staff were obviously under great pressure...we finally left after waiting for almost 3 hours and asked to return next day.Another long wait with very little help from sullen staff,just not good enoug
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Order Counterorder Disorder - the NHS today.
Cottage hospitals - closed in droves.
A heart condition - I cannot go to the Hospital 7 miles way, I must travel 50 miles to my area unit.
The Community Medical Centre - Overwhelmed with new under-funded responsibilities.
Enforced Private Sector involvement- another 2 layers of bureucracy - to the advantage of finance houses and detrement of the medical requirements.
STOP HEADLINE GRABBING - IT'S COSTING LIVES
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Absolute genuis. Spend millions 'reforming' the system leaving people jobless and others with no clue what they are doing. In a couple of years they'll decide the shambles of a new system isn't working and revert back tot he old one costing further millions. Why is this government incapable of altering/improving a system without scrapping it altogether and making things worse?
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Frankly no matter what Patricia Hewitt says or does she'll get abused. Most people are living in fantasy land if they think they can have a fully equipped hospital with emergency, cardiac, neurosurgery, maternity etc etc etc in each small town.
The amount of illnesses the NHS treats (succesfully) has rocketed since the 60's... no other organisation (private or public) can survive unchanged over 50 years. People are fools if they think the NHS can.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Unfortunatley money needs to be saved, the NHS is a black hole. Even doctors have said that it cannot go on.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
What spectacular ineptitude this foolish woman displays. didn't she tell us a few short weeks ago that the "NHS had never been in better shape"? Now it needs changing again! gosh! what irks me is that this government treat us, the taxpayer as if we have no intelligence at all, how can she change her story now? Its ridiculous. Its all lies and spin, wheres the substance to this government?
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Stuart Booth - aren't you lucky that you are healthy enough to be couvered by BUPA. Some of us are not. So when we have our much treasured medical service taken away - we do tend to get a 'teeny weeny' bit fed up. Do you see Patricia... some of us are not covered by Private Healthcare and so we have no alternative. So what are we supposed to do when you remove it?
NHS reforms: Your reaction
When Patricia Hewitt says the NHS needs reforming, what she means is she wants to sell it off to the corporation that claims is can run it the cheapest (i.e. provide the worst service). Then, when she's finally outsted from office, she can go through the revolving doors between big business and the government, to get a seat on their board of directors like so many other Labour ministers before her.
She should stop meddling with something she knows nothing about.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
We are paying the price of PFI contracts where it is not possible for the Government to cut costs. As a consequence the non-PFI hospitals are the ones being sacrificed.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
This woman and this government are an absolute menace. Explain to me, please, how rationalised A&E departments will improve care for those in ambulances stuck in traffic, or in rural areas miles from the nearest A&E? I am sure, however, that it's more cost effective to have lives lost in ambulances rather than in wards! Fewer patients. God help the ambulance crews and the overworked staff in the new, vast, overcrowded A&E departments.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Travelling further for emergency care? I can understand where a trust has two hospitals providing similar specialisms to remove the duplication, but emergency care??
Shifting care into the community is a nice ideal, but not at the sacrifice of shutting and merging A&E departments. It should be the more routine care that should be shifted into the community, not closing & merging hospitals.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Where we live we have a new "modern" hospital 20 miles away - the money is spent - they even upgraded the childrens wards.
Now the health board want to down grade this "white elephant" and have already reduced the childrens ward to 10am till 6am only - and all emergencies goto next city which is a 100 mile round trip.
We recently had a child in hospital - and the 100 mile trip for my wife was last thing my wife needed when she was tired and worried about our child.
Just get it right!!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
My local hospital, St Richards in Chichester, West Sussex is under threat.
They want to move several services, A E and Maternity amongst them to Portsmouth. We already suffer from bad congestion and now they want to add to the time it takes to get to A E/Maternity. In a lot of cases the time of travel would be well over the "Golden Hour". Portsmouth already offload patients to St Richards because it cant cope.......I dont get it and neither will the critically ill /injured until its too late
NHS reforms: Your reaction
I have BUPa anyway and don't want to pay for the NHS which I never use so lets do away with it - better all round I think.
Stuart Booth, Northampton, United Kingdom
Better for you perhaps because you can afford BUPA, not better all round because there are a lot of us out there who can't.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Reform always mean one thing cut backs and job losses, Parliament needs reforming
NHS reforms: Your reaction
I would like to suggest to Mrs Hewitt that she makes UNOFFICIAL and UNNANOUNCED visits to Hospitals rather than the Staged managed official visits. Then she can see what Hospitals are really like and then think about improving basic standards rather than a wholesale makeover
NHS reforms: Your reaction
recently required abcess drained, however it was the simple requirement of needing dressing changed daily over the weekend which seemed impossible.. it was too late to contact the district nurse, there was no local drop in centre set up to change a simple dressing, in the end i had to go to a minor incident unit who changed my dressings as a "Favour". What a waste of money... only the district nurse can change dressings over a weekend, who has to come to your house, nothing else is set up
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The traditional hospital model is no longer appropriate ? So what is appropriate ? 10 months for an appointment, another 10 months for treatment and if it's an operation, they will remove the wrong organ or limb ? Is that appropriate ?
NHS reforms: Your reaction
As anyone in a senior civil service position will know - these reforms (or PFI) are not about providing best care. These are about the pensions crisis. Centralising means less staff, PFI means less public employees - ergo less pension money required!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
When is this Maggie Thatcher soundalike going to waken up! Through their incompetent handling of the NHS we are in the position we are now. I have looked at the geography and political leanings of the areas where they threaten to close A&E departments, maternal etc etc. It is just a coincidence that the majority are in Lib Dem and Conservative constituencies? I think not, to use patients lives to get back at other parties is despicable, but the norm for Tony and his cronies. I voted labour,mug
NHS reforms: Your reaction
My local maternity unit and paediatrics is under threat to be relocated into Manchester which is over an hour away. Macclesfield is a large town, so people will just not accept travelling such large distances for care. Infrequent out-patient visits might be OK, but any prolonged stay puts a huge strain on family and work life. Why should people outside large cities accept such a huge drop in service. Its just not acceptable. We pay our taxes too. The government should not forget, we also vote!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
And why on earth should we be giving free treatment to people that have got lung cancer from smoking? They know it's bad for them!!!
Lauren Hudson, Romford, United Kingdom
I completely agree with your first bit about immigrants, but we must remember somokers pay 10 times more in taxes than they cost us in nhs treatment (no i'm not a smoker)!!!!!!!!!!!!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
My daughter's partner was involved in a RTA last Thursday. He has both arms in plaster and is still waiting for an operation to pin his broken shoulder. My daughter washes him, cleans his teeth, gives him his medication (he is on seroxat which the nursing staff have failed to give him at all).At night he is unable to reach water or go to the toilet. When he buzzes for help he is ignored, while staff are laughing. WHAT CARE?? ANIMALS WOULD BE TREATED BETTER.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The privatisation of the supply channels to the NHS by giving the contract to DHL a German company, is beyond belief. As a company we regularly use courier services- DHL is beyond doubt the most expensive. E.g. a letter to Nigeria €300. How in gods name do they expect to save money and more to the point who’s getting the backhanders?
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The NHS is too busy making the suicide bombers healthy to look after true UK citizens - I have BUPa anyway and don't want to pay for the NHS which I never use so lets do away with it - better all round I think.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Lauren Hudson, Romford, United Kingdom "And why on earth should we be giving free treatment to people that have got lung cancer from smoking? They know it's bad for them!!!"
Ignoring the fact that the duty on the cigs is a huge source of NHS funding where would you stop? No free treatment for car crash victims because its dangerous? No treatment for footballers who break a leg on the pitch? No treatment for DIY-ers who cut themselves?
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The commercial sector learned the hard way in the 70s and 80s that big didn't mean better. It looks good on paper, but doesn't work. It seems that the Gov., as usual, is 20 years behind. We need good basic hospitals, with A&E, within easy reach,in all areas, with large centres of excellence, with all facilities, sited regionally. Otherwise we end up travelling miles for basic treatment, with all the cost and environmental implications associated.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The problem with the NHS:(i)people think it's free, so overwhelm the system,(ii)politicians continually interfere for party political ends, (iii)no amount of money will ever be enough, & (iv)it no longer works as a public sector body. The only solution is to have an insurance based system where those that can afford to pay do so, & those that can't are looked after. Taxes should be reduced to reflect the change. When will we learn: politicians are a disaster when it comes spending our money
NHS reforms: Your reaction
I have had a medical condition for 20 years which has dominatied my life.
I would like to ask Ms Hewitt in what way does she begin to envisage the benifits of centralisation of A&E? Old people, those who have no transport and rely on ambulances (which never do turn up in time from experience), heart attacks, brain haemorrhages, knifings and shooting when people have just been left - how on earth in todays climate can the general public gain any worth from this? It is deplorable.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
"for a second I thought a conservative with them loony left ideas."
Advocating privatisation is RIGHT wing. Labour's origins are left wing, but we have ended up with an extreme capitalist society. It doesn't work. You need a combination of socialism and capitalism, or you end up with a society just consisting of extremely poor and extremely rich people and no social welfare.
Chezzababa: am a tax and national insurance paying foreigner. You can't do my job. Guaranteed.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Has anyone considered the potential loss of life due to time delays getting to A&E, this affects both inner cities and rural areas.
Further the reduction in hosital numbers shows a lack of joined up Government with additional fuel costs to attend hospital.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Spending on the health service doubled with no improvement in service.
The urgent need is to reduce Government overheads so that more can be spent on the front line and to reduce tax.
Private companies run this way would quickly go out of business.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Um, I would have thought that it's more the policies that need looking at. I'm by no means racist, but why is it people can come over to thsi country illegally and use our free health service? It stops the people that actually make a contribution (i.e. people that pay taxes and national insurance) from getting the healthcare that they deserve. And why on earth should we be giving free treatment to people that have got lung cancer from smoking? They know it's bad for them!!!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Privatisation of the NHS is anathema to most people. It is, however, the long-term goal of all Govts whatever forked tongue they speak with. As such, the slow drip of privatisation will continue till the NHS is private in all but name. People won't see this coming, so will more easily accept it without a fight when it does eventually come. Hence if we want state-funded healthcare, we had better start the fight for it now before we all become figures on the balance sheet of corporate finance.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
In my opinion, by far the biggest drain on the NHS isn't cardiac problems or obesity, it's beuraucracy.
Reform what you like, but let front line medical staff do their jobs.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Question :
Why is it impossible for any government to create an apolitical review of the NHS, with
a view to producing an immutable model for the next 50 years.
Is it the fear that Medical & Logistics experts would highlight the follies of successive governments and Civil service initiatives.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
vicola w - you pay NI, I assume? hence you pay more than you would under a basic BUPA policy anyway
Stuart Booth
Possibly but I have Crohn's Disease, so a basic policy is no good to me. I have looked at several different companies and I can't afford private cover from any of them. So yes, it's fine if you're healthy but for those of us with a problem it isn't a solution.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The NHS does not need changing, the 'old approach' has not failed.
What has failed is the government trying to impose wrong ideas on a service which if bolstered not battered would survive and thrive for generations to come.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Ignoring the fact that the duty on the cigs is a huge source of NHS funding where would you stop?
[Peter_Sym], Nottingham
This is a pointless statement. If we stopped selling fags, therefore clearing a source of NHS funding, there would be a lot less need for any treatments for lung cancer, so it works both ways. As for the rest, having an accident in a car is another thing, smoking is a deliberate intent to harm the body, seeing as we are more than aware of the damage it causes.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
vicola w - you pay NI, I assume? hence you pay more than you would under a basic BUPA policy anyway - Do you really think the NHS system is value for money? I don't, there are more managers than doctors and nurses on any NHS site and there's alway too much waste. The Govt was trying to make them all PFI a few years ago which would make them become profitable - what happened, Balir and his cronies got involved and screwed us all over again!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
If the government wasn't spending twelve thousand million pounds on a computer system, which is unlikely to work, then there would be plenty of money to keep local hospitals going. My local hospital, Bedford, is up for closure for the sake of twelve million pounds, which is only 1/1000th of the cost of the computer system. If the hospital closes it will be an hour and a half at peak times to get to the nearest hospital. Where will the funding be for extra ambulance services? And more car travel!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
PFI is nothing more than a tool being used by the govmt, in order to prop up our ailing NHS with high high interest loans, and extorionate private contracts, which we will be lumbered with for the next 30 years.
Its a disgrace that after years of suffering the Tories selling everything of. We now have a Labour govmt selling of our kids future.
The only way to fund a proper NHS is through higher taxation. Unfortunately, our leaders are too busy looking out for no1 to tell us the truth.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The NHS is already in a tailspin trying to assimilate the government's modernisation programme. More 'modernisation' will only serve to add hugely more burdens on staff. The NHS is haemorrhaging staff by redundancy, stress, dissatisfaction over recent pay restructuring, etc.
For Hewitt's 'outdated' read 'too expensive'. This exercise will cost the taxpayer vastly more, not less at a time when we can least afford it. It is just a manoevre to reduce staff and hospitals under a positive spin.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Reform would it better to say Rationing due to the over staffed and over paid NHS management.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
When will politicians realise that the NHS is not a business!
Closing and consolidating A&E departments may make sound financial sense but it WILL cost lives. The government preferred solution in my area involves a 22 mile drive through some of the worst traffic in the South East and takes over an hour which could be the difference between life and death. I doubt the government bean counters will report the numbers of people that never made it to A&E when reporting reductions in waiting times!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Reading these comments, Peter_ Sym from Nottingham is clearly a healthcare expert. I recommend we put him in charge of the reforms!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The frontline staff are amazing people who work hard and often work in situations most of us would never consider. The over paid bureaucrats with their arrogance and pointless tick boxes have screwed-up the NHS
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Those with self inflicted illnesses (cause by smoking, poor diet, excess alcohol, no exercise etc...) should be given a lower priority than those who have illness through no fault of their own.
When will people learn to value their health and look after themselves rather than abusing their bodies then expecting the taxpayer and NHS to foot the bill?!
Maybe encourage companies to subsidise private health care for its employees?
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Try using Bupa for your kids - hospitals dont want to know - as they have so little childrens resources anyway.
We tried to use our Bupa when our child was admitted and they told us NO. The only use of side wards was for "infectious" cases. They didnt keep to this as infectious cases started coming into our ward. At this point I discharged my daughter to look after her at home to avoid the sickness bug that started to work its way thru the childrens wards.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
If the request for change had come from medical staff I would be more sure of it. Coming from the Government, it means they are meddling with the NHS for political reasons. I am sick of hearing the word 'reform' in regard to public services. Labour and Tory administrations have re-invented the wheel so often they have gone full circle and ended up with a donkey again. Ms Hewitt should add some new words to her vocabulary like 'stability', 'consistency', 'reinforcement', and 'consolidation'
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Privitisation NO, Change YES but there needs to be limits. I don't mind some specialist services being centralised but everyone should have an easy to reach AE department and easy to reach basic health care facilities. Yes we all have a doctors but what happens when they and the public transport system is shut. We also need to cut middle management and get rid of red tape which is slowly strangling this country.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
I can hardly believe a Labour govt is set on privatising the NHS (piece by piece to stop opposition: dentistry, medical collection/dely, some maternal services now I hear ?). The country clearly doesn't want it privatised and if the NHS can't meet medical needs now, how is a private version going to meet them AND provide profits too ? Would Hewitt care to tell us what other bits of the "traditional model" of the NHS they're planning on getting rid of too while she's at it ?
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Lies, Lies, Lies. Whatever the real reason for these reforms you can bet we will never know It. This government is consistently dishonest and has clearly been giving lessons to their friends in Hungary.
I have never been able to trust people who can smile and frown at the same time. Patricia Hewitt is particularly fond of using this technique to patronise and condescend to her audience when delivering her latest bit of spin!!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
So 'Patronising Pat' Hewitt says the redesigned NHS will retain the values of the old health service.
When did that include making a massive profit for the boys in Privatisation Land?
If you don't believe me, look at the usurious profit made by the Ocatgon Consortium out of the Norwich and Norfolk P.F.I. deal last year.
It's time for a sea change in this greedy, money-grubbing country before all the family silver is sold off.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
PH only stated a few weeks ago the NHS has never been in a better state.
I'm sorry I though most hospital departments were under one roof already.
Grrrrraaaaa polititions make me so made.
DILLIGAF
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Seems to me the traditional model of British government is no longer appropriate in the 21st Century.
It doesn't matter what we say, or what the doctors and nurses on the frontlines say, the government will just go ahead and do what they want with the NHS anyway.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Here they go again talking about one happy family of departments. Did it ever occur to Patricia Hewitt that the NHS is not actually an office block, but consists of mainly overworked and undervalued people who despite her government's policies, are trying to help people get better again?
To reform the NHS: 1) reduce bureaucracy and red tape to a sensible level. (2) Less managers and offices, more UK-qualified doctors and nurses. (3) More cleaners.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Patricia Hewitt makes a habit of delivering patronising statements. I suspect the electorate is now heartily sick and tired of her banal pontificating that reform of the NHS, privatisation and change, closing A&E departments and wards does not mean cuts. Yet another failed NHS IT system had led to missed appointments, mis-placed x-rays and cancelled operations. Ms Hewitt spends her time covering up mistakes and failure; perhaps it is time for her to leave before she totally messes up the NHS.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
"Maybe encourage companies to subsidise private health care for its employees?
[just_one_more] "
We have private healthcare funded thru'work - and have to pay tax on the benefit! despite the fact that by going private we are not using the NHS services we've already paid for thru' NI.
A better system would be tax breaks for those people who opt to go private.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Those with self inflicted illnesses (cause by smoking, poor diet, excess alcohol, no exercise etc...) should be given a lower priority than those who have illness through no fault of their own.
[just_one_more]
People like you always forget to include those who injure themselves playing sport, doing DIY, driving a car etc. All avoidable choices. It would also only be fair to stop taxing tobacco and alcohol too as a massive amount of NHS funding comes from these sources. What say you now?
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Serial hypochondriacs who have made ‘being ill’ a full-time occupation are a menace to the NHS, convinced they’re ill because they've developed a healthcare-dependency after long-term ‘free’ treatment. Nothing is free and if something can be abused it will get out-of-control, especially in today's selfish society. If we abolished the NHS and paid for treatment, illnesses could be treated and healthcare could be provided quickly, efficiently and without being herded from pillar to post.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
"Why do we need to save money in the NHS? Could it be the billions being spent in Iraq and Afghanistan?" ~ A dog named spot, UK
Perhaps, or maybe even the next generation of nuclear deterrent the Govt is intent on buying. It is rumoured that the purchase of Trident caused the Conservative Govt to sell off state-owned companies. History seems to be repeating itself, with Tory Blair determined to out Thatcherite the Tories themselves. And working class people voted for them? It beggars belief.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Can anybody explain to me how Patricia Hewitt can say that care in the community, with doctors, nurses, et al, travelling to a patient's home is more cost effective than having somebody in a local hospital. Just think of all the time which will be wasted by professional people sitting in their cars travelling from patient to patient! Further I thought we were supposed to be reducing car journies not increasing them or will all the professionals have a special bus pass!
NHS reforms: Your reaction
The problems with the NHS is there are to many managers, to many people from oversaes treated for free and much to much government interference. It is time we only treated those who are registered with the NHS and have a valid NI number. We should charge for missed appointments and even charge for a visit to the doctors. Nu Labour are desperate to dismantle everything that is British as they know they will not be in power again for a decade at least.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
I always believe what Ms. Hewitt says she is such a genuine person the epitome of propriety and truth.
Yes. I always believe what she says.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
This government has poured money into the NHS -this is a good thing. This government has provided no guidance at all on spending the additional funds - this is a bad thing.
So what we've seen is cash frittered away, spent on massaging headline grabbing targets, ill conceived IT systems and bad PPP projects. Rather than sorting out the fundamentals - clean wards, proper nurses rather than mini-doctors.
I'm sorry the NHS isn't wrong, this government's management of the NHS is wrong.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
How can an assumedly educated person along the lines of a minister make a case for private care being paid for by the NHS when private care inherently over-charges for services provided in order to ensure a healthy profit margin? Shouldn't hospitals be funded with the aim to provide complete care rather than produce paperwork and employ administrators?
The NHS is by no means perfect but the amount of paperwork and justification required has to be detrimental to care.
NHS reforms: Your reaction
Why do we need to save money in th
The traditional model of hospital care is no longer appropriate in the 21st Century, the health secretary says.
Patricia Hewitt set out NHS reforms, including the centralisation of emergency care to fewer hospitals and greater emphasis on the private sector.
Is the NHS in need of reform? Do hospital departments need to be under one roof? Should there be a bigger role for the private sector? How can deficits be tackled? Send us your comments and questions.
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt will be answering your questions on News 24 today at 1700.
Link to the BBC website for this thread