Reply to: Time to privatise the NHS

[Forgotmylogin]

Using the NHS? You're all a bunch of spongers. A social program that you pay towards, yes, but how dare you use it when you need to, when you all earn as much as you do.




JSA is different. That's a social program you pay towards and can use if you're in need.

[psychocandy]

Maybe a two tier system, the state NHS provides basic essential care for free, you pay for non essential treatments or extra facilities like private rooms. Some of the money from the latter could go to subsidise the former. Seems to work ok in Australia and France.

Would be an idea. At the moment, we're all stuck with crap basic care or extortionate privte healthcre costs.

Trouble is I suspect a lot of the population just would never bother paying for the extras. I know if my Dad had £50million in the bank and told him it'd cost £20 for a private room or he'd get seen in 2 weeks rather than 12 months he still wouldnt pay.
Partly out of principle "why should I pay I paid taxes all my life" and partly "I can save £20 if I wait so why waste it".

[MaryPoppins]

Can't someone help him? Like a friend or family member? Maybe his son?

Quite.

[gables]

INRAT...

Didn't a privatised hospital just close\move back to NHS as it couldn't make the figures work?

Also isn't the treatment you receive at a private hospital limited to the easier less complicated cases, so should be better provided?

I don't think privatisation is the answer, there are many tulip private organisations out there, what is needed is a proper look at it though.

BTW I really like the NHS, maybe I'm lucky in where I live.

[MrMarkyMark]

FTFY

We'll all end up cooking and smoking meth.

[xoggoth]

Maybe a two tier system, the state NHS provides basic essential care for free, you pay for non essential treatments or extra facilities like private rooms. Some of the money from the latter could go to subsidise the former. Seems to work ok in Australia and France.

[Unix]

After first hand experience of the attitude of a lot of the staff this weekend, there's just no accountability and no-one gives a toss. Time to rip it up and start again.

Dad is 81 only got one good eye. Had cataract surgery last surgery on the good eye. Turfed him out 9am friday morning practically blind. He lives alone, so of course, cant cook, cant read his tablet boxes, cant do his eye drops, cant used the phone, can hardly go to the toilet etc.

So I've been back and fore all weekend. Try to get some help. Must have argued with about 10 different people trying to get someone in to help him. Attitude you get back is not my problem, he should have stayed in hospital, more then my jobs worth.

My wifes a nurse, I know a lot of good nurses, but some of these people should be ashamed of themselves. /Rantover.

You can get private healthcare now, you obviously can't afford it hence the paupers level of treatment. If you think privatising the NHS means you will get amazing care free or cheaply then think again.

[psychocandy]

To be fair her being pregnant was at least partly your* fault.

*presumably.

Presumably!

[MrMarkyMark]

I remember complaining before about the Mrs when she was pregnant. Nothing happens just a letter of apology....

Do you get a letter of apology, from your missus, for each kid you have

[VectraMan]

More than likely. I remember complaining before about the Mrs when she was pregnant. Nothing happens just a letter of apology....

To be fair her being pregnant was at least partly your* fault.

*presumably.

[psychocandy]

Get ready to receive a letter of apology.

NHS, as I said earlier, is an unnecessary evil. People who defend it should be tasered and put on an NHS queue for treatment.

More than likely. I remember complaining before about the Mrs when she was pregnant. Nothing happens just a letter of apology....

[FatLazyContractor]

I'm all for putting in an official complaint. My outlook is if no-one complains then nothing ever changes. If you've done things right and can justify your actions then you've got nothing to worry about. I know my Mrs attitude as a nurse is that she wants people to complain because the bad nurses stand out a mile and bring disrepute to the profession.

Get ready to receive a letter of apology.

NHS, as I said earlier, is an unnecessary evil. People who defend it should be tasered and put on an NHS queue for treatment.

[psychocandy]

Well, 2nd visit in hospital and they seem to be sorting problems they caused first time. Which is good but should have happened first time around.

I'm all for putting in an official complaint. My outlook is if no-one complains then nothing ever changes. If you've done things right and can justify your actions then you've got nothing to worry about. I know my Mrs attitude as a nurse is that she wants people to complain because the bad nurses stand out a mile and bring disrepute to the profession.

BUT, and I'm sure its a generation thing, but old man doesnt want to cause a fuss or get anyone in trouble. Tried to explain to him that he should complain if only to protect the next person, and that no-one is going to get into trouble on my say so but only if they are found to be negligent.

His argument - but all the nurses are so nice here I don;t want to think of them being told off because they've been so nice to me. He forgets quickly what happened to him. I can just imagine the nurse/doctor who caused the original **** up being extra nice to him now which makes me a bit mad I must admit.

Like I said before, NHS staff know a lot of people will just not complain, especially the older generation. Be nice to their face, but screw up behind the scenes and most people won't bother. Its sickening the lack of accountability....

[psychocandy]

The NHS is about curing illness not providing care for those who they have treated and don't consider ill anymore. So it's invalid to compare it to a money making organisation.

The aim once you have been treated is to get you out of hospital as soon as possible. In the case of old people they try and get them out of hospital as it's know they get worse in hospital e.g. come in mobile and leave unable to walk, and are more likely to die.

If you state that there is someone to take care of you they will chuck you out. So they wouldn't have chucked him out if he hadn't of said he has a son and daughter-in-law who could take care of him. The fact the PC couldn't isn't the hospital's fault as they presume once you are over about 10 , don't have learning difficulties or dementia what you say is true.

If PC couldn't care for his dad then he should have told his dad that clearly before he went into hospital like some of the OAPs I've met. He also
should have also said it on the phone when the nurse rang him to collect his dad.

And yes I've had family and friends' chucked out who haven't been mobile and able to clean themselves.

Yes it seems its a common occurence.

Thing is they know old people wont argue. If my Dad was dying he wouldnt moan if a nurse said no you're good to go . Its his generation.

In this case, he did say Im not sure if I'm ok and they basically ignored him.

Apparently the nursing code of conduct implies a nurse should act as a patients advocate and has a duty of care to the patient and this includes ensuring they're left in a safe environment. They failed in this case IMHO.

To be honest though, if what they did is above board then fair enough but I am intending to complain to both the Trust and the NMC about the way it was handled. If there is nothing to answer then the people involved have nothing to fear.

If they have done wrong, then they will face the consequences of their actions. If you are doing things on a day to day basis that you know are wrong and are unwilling to put your cock on the block then you probably should be doing a different job.

Like I said Mrs PC is a nurse and I know that the thing is that nurses are responsible for their own actions - no excuses can be made. Its not easy sometimes when others (like doctors) act like prats and expect nurses to roll over. If things go wrong the nurse gets sacked not the doctor.

My Mrs has had tons of grief in the past by refusing to do things that she knows are wrong just because someone else wants the easy option. But no-one is ever going to get sacked by sticking to whats right.

[SpontaneousOrder]

If you don't like the NHS then disappear to the numerous private health care providers and leave the NHS to those of us who do use it and appreciate it. I would have thought this pretty straightforward for the the millionaire contractors starting this thread.

You do realise that it's the coercively monopolistic NHS which means there is an incredibly limited market for alternative choice in this country?

And then you have the duplicity to effectively say "leave us alone" ?!