Tag: nhs

10 Comments

It’s a no brainer – public assets should be publicly owned

johnrobertson834

Leah Gunn Barrett The Horizon-Fujitsu Post Office scandal is rooted in the UK government’s 2015 privatisation of a public service that had been state-owned (in England) for almost 500 years. It’s what happens when essential public services are sold off to private companies because the government is in thrall to an ideology that prizes profit maximisation over people.  The failing UK has zealously pursued this ideology to its natural conclusion – the complete collapse of public services and the immiseration of the people they’re intended to serve.  Essential services – health, water, energy, transport, mail, telecommunications – are more expensive … Continue reading It’s a no brainer – public assets should be publicly owned

5 Comments

Junior doctors’ strike is becoming Labour’s problem

johnrobertson834

Remarkably but not unusually unaware, the Guardian has this today: With a general election now on the horizon, MPs are starting to talk about the prospect of strikes straddling two administrations. Will some calculate that if they hold out a few months longer their pay deals would be done by a Labour government, which might find them politically harder to refuse? By publicly readying for a spring election, no matter how unlikely some think that is in practice, the government has opened up that possibility. Junior doctors’ leaders seem intent on driving change within their institutions and shifting broader attitudes … Continue reading Junior doctors’ strike is becoming Labour’s problem

7 Comments

In Cambridgeshire with 6 Tory MPs hire cars are needed for ambulances but it’s just one of those things

johnrobertson834

From BBC Cambridgeshire today: An ambulance service is using hire cars to respond to calls amid claims of a maintenance “crisis” within its fleet, it has emerged. The East of England Ambulance Trust (EEAST) has leased 15 vehicles to help during the busiest time of the year. In October, almost a quarter of the trust’s 500 ambulances were off the road with the majority undergoing unplanned maintenance. Glenn Carrington, who chairs Unison’s EEAST branch, said the trust was going through a “fleet crisis”. “I’ve lost count of the number of my colleagues who have turned up to do extra shifts … Continue reading In Cambridgeshire with 6 Tory MPs hire cars are needed for ambulances but it’s just one of those things

8 Comments

Why is BBC England or UK press not reporting ‘Longest-ever NHS strike will sink Sunak’s waiting list pledge, say health chiefs’

johnrobertson834

In the Observer today: One of Rishi Sunak’s key targets for the NHS – to eliminate waits of longer than 65 weeks for operations and other procedures by March – is likely to be missed because of strike action, health bosses warned this weekend. The health service faces the longest national strike in its history when junior doctors walk out for six days from 7am on Wednesday. One NHS trust leader said he expected about a third of operations to be cancelled at his trust. Strike action by consultants, junior doctors and nurses over the last year has hampered the work to … Continue reading Why is BBC England or UK press not reporting ‘Longest-ever NHS strike will sink Sunak’s waiting list pledge, say health chiefs’

4 Comments

NHS Scotland – A wee heresy

johnrobertson834

By Alasdair Galloway As regular readers of Talking Up Scotland will be well aware John and Stewartb have long and honourable records of showing how much better the NHS in Scotland perform (ambulance waiting times, A&E waiting) compared to the NHS in other parts of this sceptred isle. As well as this valuable service they regularly call out claims to the contrary – misreports – often from the BBC and the Herald. Let me be quite clear that I have absolutely no problem with this, and in fact agree fully with both. And yet …..and yet …. Can we honestly … Continue reading NHS Scotland – A wee heresy

16 Comments

As Reporting Scotland headline unreliable doctor’s union figures, remember the facts

johnrobertson834

Dr Iain Kennedy, chair of BMA Scotland Enthusiastic Unionist and admirer of Sandesh Gulhane MP (Con) returns with another dodgy survey as part of a wider attempt to undermine the SNP. The facts, not mentioned: First, staffing: NHS Scotland has 181 000 staff, 1 for every 30 members of the population of 5.44 million. NHS England has 1.4 million staff, 1 for every 40 members of the population of 56 million. NHS Wales has 90 000 million staff, 1 for every 35 members of the population of 3.14 million. Sources: https://turasdata.nes.nhs.scot/media/rgyfigzk/workforce-report-june-2022.html#:~:text=On%2031%20March%202022%2C%20NHS,156%2C875.6%20WTE%20(Figure%203.1). https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/nhs-in-a-nutshell/nhs-workforce#:~:text=and%20staff%20wellbeing.-,Workforce%20by%20staff%20group,time%20equivalent%20(FTE)%20basis. https://heiw.nhs.wales/careers/working-in-nhs-wales/#:~:text=The%20NHS%20is%20the%20largest%20employer%20in%20Wales%20with%20over%2090%2C000%20staff. Almost without exception, across Scotland, there are … Continue reading As Reporting Scotland headline unreliable doctor’s union figures, remember the facts