We are the change makers says Blair

[RupertW]

Agreed - my first couple of years doing NHS work was all about walking the floor - it's just the last few months that I've been doing the number stuff, much needed as numbers do have a tendency to drift from reality, as I do understand the perverse way that incentives can work, so I don't think we're actually a million miles apart.

 

[powerskipper]

 

[Peppermint]

Re: How long have I got doctor...

asked the NHS.

The NHS is fataly flawed. It was designed, not for the altruistic reasons often attributed to it, but to help to breed workers, to keep workers fit to work and to ease theire short retirement. This all happened in a time when medical science was developing but steadily and drug companies were not nearly the cash cow's they've become.

So today we're in a world where technology knows no bounds, or cost restraints, we are constantly discovering new things to treat, miracles are common place and NHS careers are aspirational. All of this against a background of a political system that resists increasing taxation, an aging population increasing demand and greatly hightened expectations by the end user.

If you can tell me how this NHS organization can be moved forward by building new hospitals and increasing the overhead, or management as they call them, rather than motivating and empowering the frontline staff, I'd like to hear it. Perhaps you could explain how PFI makes any economic sensein the long term too.

 

[Bejasus]

there's lies, damned lies, then there is statistics

 

[tcm]

Re: oh tsk !

well, it's still keeping workers fit and active innit - management consultants and medical reps are doing fine!

 

[2Tizwoz]

Re: oh tsk !

Finding myself on a waiting list ( nothing very tricky - an impacted wisdom tooth first so named in the middle of the 19th century ) and having retired from the private sector where a 15 minute wait meant a lost customer I decided to spend some time trying to improve the service by attending public meeetings of my local NHS Primary Care Trust. The directors and executives new me and I new them by name as I attended every monthly public meeting and asked as many questions as the chairman would allow. I described my ongoing treatment - the initial 13 week wait, subsequent appointments, lost records, being seen by a shambolic system that would not stay in business for the first 12 months in the private sector.

That my X-ray records were missing was discovered when after spending half a day with lots of tests and duplicate paperwork I first made it to the operating theatre to be apologised to by the dental surgeon who it transpired was my wife's dentist. In all I was seen by five dental surgeons. The Duplicate X-ray was carried out by a newly recruited lady from Zimbabwe. (This government purports to be helping Africa but poaches its medical staff leaving it deeper in the mire).The Trust directors told me she would only be there for training. In fact they had permanently recruited five radiographers from Zimbabwe.

This all took 17 months. The Trust published figures showing that there had been no over 12 month waiters. The directors all knew me and I asked how the figures had been obtained but the answers were less than satisfactory.

The accountant, chief executive, a director and the chairman all left.

If progress is being made it is not immediately obvious. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[Sgeir]

Caius Petronius?

 

[webcraft]

Re: oh tsk !

Your impacted wisdom tooth was first diagnosed in the middle of the 19th century?

I didn't realise waiting lists were that bad . . .

- Nick

 

[gandy]

Provate sector \"efficiency\"

My experiences with a remorgage, and some ISA stuff shows that plenty of private sector outfits are as inefficient as any NHS horror story. Of course, I can take my business elsewhere.

Tony S

 

[Bergman]

Perhaps this is the fringe comedy bit