NHS fragmentation

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/06/nhs-future-darlo-mums-protest-march-london&sa=U&ei=H-ENVLH5K83paPn3gXA&ved=0CAYQFjAA&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNF_0umj3KXUvbrjyIQBTsRUkBeWMQ

It got a mention in the Guardian.
Point of interest, the millionth finisher in the Great North Run was also a Darlomum, and a gran.

Yes, durhamjen - my husband I both walked from Edmonton Green to Trafalgar Square on Saturday. I was quite achy yesterday - and that was after only ten miles or so, so I had great admiration for those who had walked the entire route.

Most bystanders seemed interested to take the leaflets that we were handing out on the way, and started to read them straight away (so they didn't immediately end up in the bin!). We also got a lot of support from passing traffic so it was really quite heartening.

I'm sure, in all, there were more than 5,000 participants - I would have said more like 15,000. I haven't seen any news coverage but I haven't particularly been looking out for it because, having gone on the Manchester demo last year where an estimated 50,000 people marched, I didn't expect much.

It was on Look North tonight, and the Darlomums were interviewed. They said this was just the beginning. I cannot remember how many they claimed to be marching. I think they just said they were joined by thousands.

On the NHA website there is a list of those who are fighting in the election next year.
Clive Peedell is challenging Cameron. Peedell was brought up in Witney and has family in the area.
Hunt is being challenged by the NHA, as are Clegg, Iain Duncan Smith and various minor Tory MPs.

Eloethan, it says 15000 here. In fact the link I found to get this said 15000 dying went to meet 15000 at the demo, so it read like 30000.
www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/thousands-campaign-against-nhs-sell-off-7738724

pulsetoday.msgfocus.com/c/161gbYjgzudh9UNBzDpJG6Z

No NHS in 10 years. Anyone care?

Eloethan, a brilliant article about the march. You should be proud to have been there.

https://www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/jonathan-allsop/from-red-ellen-to-darlo-mums

I'm not proud - I'm sad. Although very many people believe that the NHS is on the verge of being dismantled, not enough of them are mobilising to make their voices heard. Of course, some people are unable to go on marches, but there are many who could participate in other ways but who hope that the protests of a (relative) few will turn things around. What we need is for every person who values the NHS and who feels that it is in danger, to register their protest in some way.

I have registered my protest in lots of ways. I gave money for the march, and I am a member of the NHA Party.
But I understand what you mean. It should not be necessary to march.
I was surprised to find that the original Jarrow march was because of 80% unemployment. That's unimaginable. Mind, I do know of mining villages where less than half the population is in paid work.

www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/11/healthcare-funds-distribution-unfair-audit-finds

This is why the NHS in your area might be having problems. The gap between the top CCGs and the worse paid ones is quite startling.

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/increase-NHS-funding

Another self-explanatory petition.

Last week our local NHS trust announced 350 job cuts. In today's paper they have announced a £5 million revamp of the hospitals.
I wonder if one pays for the other? I wonder if we will need the staff over the winter, rather than having a building site at our hospital.

They are still at it.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/03/healthcare-companies-links-tories-nhs-contracts

Im not sure if im commenting in the right place but im sure someone will direct me if I am.

So my 60yo mum has been in hospital for the past three weeks and will be there for the next few weeks after undergoing an operation on her brokenankle. while visiting ive been digusted and horrified at the treatment she is recieving,or the lack of. Her buzzer has been out of action for the best part of her stay which results in her soiling herself as she is doubly incontinent, the nurses say they are busy with other patients and she will have to wait. the last encounter was just yesterday and she had to wait half an hour to be washed and cleaned.
on several occasions she has been left for up to three hours in wet incontinence pads untill the nurses are less busy. one occassion whilst visiting i was asked to take her to the bathroom while the attended to another patient (something i couldnt do as she was hooked to a drip that was connected to the mains). she has been left upset on several occassions due to how the nurses speak to her, one example where the nurse described the place as a 'market' and one visiting hours ended she was 'shutting the place down'

I dont know if im out of order but im am lwast impresed with my mother being treated like this and just wondered if anyone had the same experience or even if someone was able to give some advice as my mother is afraid if we complain she will come off worse .

sorry for such a long post.

marlley87 you must be brave and complain. Ring PALS first thing tommorow. put in the name of your city or town then type in PALS it should give you a telephone number. Make a list of your concerns then report them to PALS. I can't remember whats PALS stands for but it takes up complaints from patients and sorts them out. Your mums care will only get better. Let us know how you get on. Ps there are lots of people here who will give you advice.

I meant to say Google PALS

Sadly you will need to complain - it is I know a chore and a total pain, but the more people who flag up this sort of care, the more likely it is to change.

Be prepared for staff to close ranks - frustrating and annoying, but it does not mean that you should not complain. Even if denial is the response, the fact that people are complaining makes its impact.

I get so annoyed about this sort of thing, on behalf of those conscientious and caring staff who all finish up being tarred with the same brush. Some of the problem lies in understaffing and underfunding, but nurses can still be kind and caring even when pushed - I spent 24 hours n our local cardiac care unit last weekend, and believe me they were very very busy - but also so very kind.

I complained about a hospital where my Dad received appalling care - it did seem that they took some notice - I received a detailed letter about the investigation they carried out and several procedures had been changed (or they said they had) as a result of my complaint.

It is worth copying your MP in to any letter you write as most MPs like to keep a finger on the pulse of how their local hospitals and other services are preforming.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service!

...or even performing.

PS - forgot to say, I am so sorry that you are having to watch this bad care of your Mum - I know how distressing this is.

Good advice above.

I'm guessing, from how clued up everyone is here on what's happening in the NHS, that there are some people might be National Health Action Party members. If not, you might want to check them out. nhap.org/ It was founded in 2012 by NHS people worried that no one was making a fuss about the Health and Social Care Act – or the internal market and PFI deals of the previous government that waste huge amounts of money set the system up for the current privatisation.
You probably can't vote for it – it can only afford to stand in a few constituencies against high profile figures like Cameron, Hunt and IDS – but it is doing a good job spreading the word about what is happening in local areas so the website is worth a look.

Marley87, I'm so sorry about your Mum's situation and agree with the others that you should complain. Support for the patient's voice and staff whistleblowers is also part of the NHA Party platform. We all need the NHS – and we all need it to be better. Especially when dealing with the old and frail, which is where it can really fall down.

I have just signed up for local NHA newsletters as I am concerned about the deterioration in the NHS. A friend of mine recently had a huge operation and was treated nastily by one of the night staff. I did tell her she should complain but she doesn't want to.

I keep feeling that targets are more important than people and the various governments have interfered too much.

I'm a member, too. Clive Peedell of the NHA thinks it should be involved in the television debates, as the NHS is going to be one of the most important topics in the election.

About the PFI and how hopefully we can get out of it.

https://www.opendemocracy.net/guddi-singh/people-vs-pfi-%E2%80%93-giving-pfi-run-for-our-money