Tag: nhs

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NHS Scotland is far better staffed and is returning to pre-pandemic treatment levels but this IFS twit can’t even do basic arithmetic!

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Straight after we hear that Neil Grey is ‘facing‘ his first day as Health Secretary, Reporting Scotland at 06:27am: It comes as the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says the NHS is handling fewer patients – including 21% fewer elective in-patients – but costing more. A Scottish Government spokesperson said they remain committed to reducing waits for planned and emergency care. Then from Max, above: I think this should be one of the highest priorities for the new health secretary. NHS and health spending is one of the largest fings (sic) the Scottish Government or most governments do and when you … Continue reading NHS Scotland is far better staffed and is returning to pre-pandemic treatment levels but this IFS twit can’t even do basic arithmetic!

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NHS England told to treat the less sick BEFORE those ‘at death’s door’ to meet Tory ‘political’ targets

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This is all-too-familiar to us here. I’ve reported on NHS England re-starting the clock after A&E arrivals have been admitted to a department, to improve published statistics; on NHS Wales reducing targets from 95% for cancer waiting times, to 70%, to make things look less bad; on Public Health England not counting care home deaths to make their Covid death rate seem comparable to those in Scotland; on BBC UK using the ‘All’ A&E waiting time figures to compare with our ‘ED’ only performance to make theirs seem bearable and on English hospitals ‘coping’ with third world hospital-acquired Covid infection … Continue reading NHS England told to treat the less sick BEFORE those ‘at death’s door’ to meet Tory ‘political’ targets

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More on MMR immunisation in Scotland – latest research

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By stewartb Let me share some other positive insights on MMR immunisation, this time from a recent peer reviewed research paper: Source: McQuaid F, Mulholland R, Sangpang Rai Y, Agrawal U, Bedford H, Cameron JC, et al. (2022) Uptake of infant and preschool immunisations in Scotland and England during the COVID-19 pandemic: An observational study of routinely collected data. PLoS Med 19(2): e1003916. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003916 ‘We found that early uptake of infant and preschool immunisations (within 4 weeks of a child becoming eligible) ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY FOR THE DURATION OF THE FIRST LOCKDOWN PERIOD IN SCOTLAND, RESULTING IN THOUSANDS MORE CHILDREN RECEIVING THEIR … Continue reading More on MMR immunisation in Scotland – latest research

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Misleading the public on hospital operations in Scotland for cheap political gain

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In the Herald’s health newsletter and big on their website, today: It is fairly obvious that clearing the elective waiting list backlog depends on ramping up the number of patients getting into theatre for surgery. Yet the results of a new workforce survey, published today, highlight that a lack of available theatre spaces is (alongside stress and burnout) the number one gripe for the nation’s surgeons. Indeed, the most recent available data for Scotland illustrates just how much patient turnover continues to lag behind pre-pandemic levels. As of November 2023, a total of 25,922 operations were scheduled for theatre in … Continue reading Misleading the public on hospital operations in Scotland for cheap political gain

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NHS Scotland staffed and equipped for 98% of operations to be done on time despite major increases

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From Public Health Scotland yesterday: The number of planned operations has been steadily increasing since pandemic restrictions first affected provision of services in March 2020. In the 12 months to November 2023, there was a 11.3% increase in the number of planned operations compared to the previous 12 months. This compares to a 16.8% year-on-year increase when comparing year ending November 2022 to year ending November 2021.  Of all planned operations during November 2023 in NHSScotland, 820 (3.2%) were cancelled by the hospital based on clinical reasons, 737 (2.8%) were cancelled by the patient, 582 (2.2%) were cancelled by the … Continue reading NHS Scotland staffed and equipped for 98% of operations to be done on time despite major increases

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Mistakes and ‘mafia-like’ culture at Sussex NHS Trust but it’s not the Health Secretary’s concern

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Again, imagine this was in Scotland? Imagine ‘our’ media hounds on this? Last night, BBC Newsnight revisited their story from 29 November 2023 in the light of new whistle-blowers coming to them. Here are the key points from the Patient Safety Hub, the next day: Summary The first 14 minutes of this programme are focused on a Newsnight investigation into allegations of cover-up, avoidable harm and patient deaths relating to University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. At the time of broadcast, Sussex Police were investigating 105 claims of alleged medical negligence at the Trust. Content This programme features: https://www.pslhub.org/learn/investigations-risk-management-and-legal-issues/mistakes-and-mafia-like-culture-at-nhs-trust-bbc-newsnight-29-november-2023-r10542/ You can watch the 29 … Continue reading Mistakes and ‘mafia-like’ culture at Sussex NHS Trust but it’s not the Health Secretary’s concern

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As NHS England staggers into a ‘third world’ crisis, BBC England ignores yet BBC Scotland platforms Labour and Cons to make one up here

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BBC Scotland above and BBC England below: You’d be forgiven for thinking things were difficult in NHS Scotland but hunky dory in England, yet in the Guardian today: NHS chief warns trusts in England are ‘stretched to limit’ amid strikes. Several NHS trusts in England have already declared critical incidents during the walkout, which continues until Tuesday. Some have asked staff to return to work, citing patient safety. It means that Sunak’s key pledge on NHS waiting times risks going into reverse. Official data suggests that since the PM made his pledge a year ago, the waiting list has gone up by … Continue reading As NHS England staggers into a ‘third world’ crisis, BBC England ignores yet BBC Scotland platforms Labour and Cons to make one up here

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

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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

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Junior doctors’ strike is becoming Labour’s problem

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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

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

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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