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NHS winter crisis looms

(439 Posts)
JessM Fri 09-Dec-16 19:46:17

The NHS is struggling and winter is setting in.
Jeremy Hunt is asking for "efficiency savings" - in other words he is making cuts when demand is rising steeply as a result of our aging population. This means that every year the NHS needs a lot more money, to just maintain their service.
Over the last 6 years Trusts have been heavily pressured by Jeremy Hunt to cut beds - "increase bed occupancy" - to become "more efficient". So there are fewer beds in the system to cope with the inevitable rise in winter admissions.
Social care budgets have been heavily cut in England so there is less of a safety net for frail people living at home - so more likely to end up in hospital.
Noro virus outbreaks in hospitals are already up on the last few years - and that tends to close whole wards.
Today I read that 7% that is one in 14 English people are waiting for non-routine operations. Suspect there aren't going to be many beds available for those on the lists. Longest waiting list for 9 years
www.theguardian.com/society/2016/dec/08/one-in-14-people-waiting-operations-demand-nhs-soars
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38263593
And is this a taste of things to come - flu closing school in Manchester? if there is a flu epidemic things are going to get really nasty. Best advice is, if you haven't had a flu jab yet, get one. They're about a tenner in a pharmacy near you, if you're not entitled to a free one!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-38241513

durhamjen Sat 07-Jan-17 16:35:32

There's a by election in Copeland soon.
The NHS will figure highly in that because the local maternity unit in Whitehaven is set to close, meaning that women will have to go to Carlisle, an 80 mile round trip.
Jon Ashworth was there yesterday.

daphnedill Sat 07-Jan-17 16:40:29

Good! Labour is under real threat in Copeland. I hope Labour throws everything at it, without breaking any rules.

Jalima Sat 07-Jan-17 16:43:41

The MP fighting against the downgrading of Burton A&E is a Conservative, djen, so there are concerns from all sides of the house.

durhamjen Sat 07-Jan-17 16:47:35

Good, Jalima. That's how it should be. The NHS is for all of us to save.

Anniebach Sat 07-Jan-17 16:56:12

Momentum have moved into Copeland

Jalima Sat 07-Jan-17 17:19:21

Well, it could be interesting.
It was close last time and the MP was not a Corbynite.
If Momentum have moved in they could do a lot of damage to Labour's prospects.

Anniebach Sat 07-Jan-17 17:36:46

They are putting forward momentum members for selection ,

Lazigirl Sat 07-Jan-17 18:40:35

A Labour source told "Business Insider" that if it's an election on the NHS we'll win, but if it's about Corbyn we're f-----d. Sadly probably true.

JessM Sat 07-Jan-17 18:42:50

The constituency labour party will choose the best candidate from the field they have in front of them.

Anya Sat 07-Jan-17 19:20:00

Pleased to see Jeremy popped up briefly on the evening news re this crises.

Anya Sat 07-Jan-17 19:20:10

Crisis

Mair Sat 07-Jan-17 20:51:30

Seems Labour Party HQ is rather over represented here!
Haven't you guys got anything better to do? tchhmm

Anya Sat 07-Jan-17 22:28:44

What a silly little post Mair

I might, and do, disagree with DJ and others, but I'd never deny them their voice.

I have just emailed my MP about the desperate state of the NHS and posted on FB asking my friends and family to do the same. Most won't, but I've tried.

Penstemmon Sat 07-Jan-17 22:48:02

What is better than campaigning to maintain the NHS mair... moaning about it?

durhamjen Sat 07-Jan-17 22:51:39

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2017/01/07/todays-nhs-tweets/

durhamjen Sat 07-Jan-17 23:00:59

skwawkbox.org/2017/01/07/dept-of-health-jeremyhunt-not-awol-hes-been-turned-into-an-app/

paddyann Sat 07-Jan-17 23:06:49

why aren't people taking to the streets about the NHS ,its being sold off to the likes of Branson and nobody seems to care .Its shocking how bad things are,if reports on the news are to be believed .It 's not ALL about money its clearly very bad management

durhamjen Sat 07-Jan-17 23:15:14

www.konpdurham.org.uk/?p=362

That's taking to the streets. It happened. It was very well attended and reported in the North East.

It's about money, and about the amount of money this government has cut from the NHS and social care budgets.
It's about a government that doesn't care because people like Branson are only too keen to take money and rob the country of tax.

www.nhsforsale.info/private-providers.html

More than Branson.

paddyann Sat 07-Jan-17 23:23:37

nothing about it on "national" news ,but thats not surprising

durhamjen Sat 07-Jan-17 23:32:31

A march needs to be in London to be on National news.
However, there have been quite a few over the last year, all warning the government what would happen.

www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/our_nhs

durhamjen Sat 07-Jan-17 23:34:41

www.healthcampaignstogether.com/

whitewave Sun 08-Jan-17 13:34:01

I propose that we up the spending to at least the European average and to do so pay a NHS specific tax

Anya Sun 08-Jan-17 14:22:26

Or use the Brexit money!

durhamjen Sun 08-Jan-17 14:38:08

Is there any, Anya?

I propose we claim all the tax that should be paid, scrap Trident and the Hinckley Point contract, and use the money to properly fund the NHS and social care. Let the councils run care homes again, instead of them being run by private companies.

whitewave Sun 08-Jan-17 14:51:30

That sounds like a plan dj