Considering voting Tory?

We have to hope that the NHS will not fall into Labour’s hands as the outcome can only be imagined too well

That is not an argument lemongrove. It is simply prejudice.

· 11h
Replying to @doctor_oxford
As a paramedic all I see is suffering. The a and e waits and closures are true. The poor people with mental health have no where to go. Suicide has risen hugely. But what really hurts me is going to kids in the UK malnourished.

Ben
@BenJolly9
·
1h
14 million people in poverty while the top 1% have increased their wealth by 183%.

Maya Goodfellow nails the real situation we're in right now.

twitter.com/BenJolly9/status/1191140273440665600?s=20

Comment deleted at user's request.

GG13 - apparently Thatcher wanted to sell off the NHS but her advisers were horrified and advised her against it. Today's government is very different to previous Tory governments.

Disraeli coined the phrase "One Nation Tory" in order to appeal to working class people. As a political philosophy it was paternalistic rather than capitalistic and this lasted until the end of the 19thC when the Tories moved towards free market capitalism. However, in the early part of the 20thC, fearing extremists, there was a revival of One Nation Toryism. This thinking influenced the Tories tolerance of the welfare state and the NHS and lasted until Thatcher. It is for this reason that Tory governments didn't try to sell off the NHS and they probably never even thought about it.

Ken Loaches take on zero hours contract.

www.bigissue.com/culture/film-tv-radio/review-ken-loachs-sorry-we-missed-you-shows-reality-of-austerity-britain/

Margot James.

Another Tory who can’t stomach what is happening to the Tory party.

She’s leaving

We have to hope that the NHS will not fall into Labour’s hands as the outcome can only be imagined too well!
They were always ones for throwing money at things whilst
Not making sure we were getting value for money at the same time.

Hard for families in the gig economy

t.co/PGQ7SfBUuT

UK economy shrinks for the first time since 2012

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49290926

How can a shrinking economy threatened by brexit damage possibly afford the Tory's election promises?

Tony Blair was privatising parts of the NHS years ago. I recall taking my neighbour to a lovely private hospital for a cataracts operation there. On the NHS.

Also, under Labour, our local hospital lost its Children's/Maternity facility.

Leaving local families having to travel 10 miles. Not even in the same county

Not great when you're having contractions and have to get yourself to hospital

I didn't say that Labour did change it back to in-house, notanan. I said that it was not Labour who initiated contracted out hotel services. Which is what you seemed to be implying.

I wasnt implying that. I was disagreing with the labour = NHS safe hands rhetoric. They threw money at wasteful non evidence based initiatives and handed back an NHS that LOOKED unsustainable because they had been so recklessly wasteful with it when they last had the reins. They PRIMED it for more privitisation by running it into the ground.

^ You need professional people to manage these business aspects of running the NHS to ensure that money isn't wasted and detract finance from front line staff.^

As I recollect from all those years ago our hospital administrators were highly trained and, with the formation of Area Health Authorities in place of the old hospital boards, our AHA, at least, initiated competitive tendering for Area contracts for supply of at least the hotel services side. It's not exactly a new concept or an unknown one pre privatisation of services.

I don't know about the arrangements for medical supplies but I do recall our storekeeper being very frustrated by consultants insisting on differing pieces of equipment for doing essentially the same job... He thought it very wasteful. I wonder if they can still do this?

Joelsnan I agree NHS is a huge buyer in the market and procurement regulations do require competitive tenders to get best value. Supplier chain management is key to enable our nurses and doctors to deliver the care. You need professional people to manage these business aspects of running the NHS to ensure that money isn't wasted and detract finance from front line staff. Public sector isn't great on drawing up clear specifications based on what is needed rather than what x thinks is wanted. Nor are they great at managing supply chains so investment is needed behind the scenes to improve these aspects. It's very easy to put NHS on a quasi religious pedestal but fundamentally unpalatable as it is also a huge business.

And was it labour who changed it back to in-house? No it wasn't! Last time labour had the reins they did not undo those contracts, they just wasted money left right and centre.

I didn't say that Labour did change it back to in-house, notanan. I said that it was not Labour who initiated contracted out hotel services. Which is what you seemed to be implying.

And we do know that in many respects the Blair government was just Tory-Lite.

I'd be interested to know if the resumption of in-house cleaning was because of a national initiative or a decision by an individual Trust? If the latter the tories can take no credit for it.

P.s. NHS business plans take MONTHS. Anything that is getting new funding over the next few weeks probably began to be written at the beginning of the year and approved at the end of the summer.

I get the feeling that maybe you weren't employed in the NHS pre 1979. Because I can assure you that hospital cleaning became 'SHOCKING' under the tories post 1979. Whatever happened under the 1abour government nearly 2 decades later was an inheritance from the tories.
And was it labour who changed it back to in-house? No it wasn't! Last time labour had the reins they did not undo those contracts, they just wasted money left right and centre.

I must say that I'm glad to hear that cleaning has gone back 'in house', as it was pre Thatcher. I never worked in a hospital that was less than immaculate... as above, it wasnt changed back under labour

Do keep going with your 'the NHS is perfect under the tories' posts, though. They're very amusing...
Guess what? Not liking labour doesnt mean you <3 the Tories!
"But but look over there at what the Tories done" to deflect from what labour did is a weak retort.

They are panicking over a winter crises. Watch them put in resources that in other years they apparently don’t have.
Don’t take us for fools Johnson.
This year's wonter pressure planning has been worked on all year! The winter pressure wards popping up over the next few weeks have been earmarked for months, planned for for months, recruited for long before the GA was announced, and will ne the result of a lot of hard work from your local hospital management and staff! Please dont dismiss their hard work and planning as a gimmick! The new winter pressures unit opening this month at my local hospital is as a result of the following:
- A WHOLE new "flow" system which has been building up over the last 3 years. Wards have adapted new flow systems, ward sisters have been moved about. New paperwork and apps (which takes months/years to go through approval). A change in how pharmacy works
- Analysis of what went right and wrong with last winter's winter pressure plan. This was very indept and happened last spring and resulted in my next point
- A new winter pressure ward. Meaning that during the summer ward staff were moved and redistributed. The pre-existing wards were totally re-planned to make the space. Estates were in the refurb the ward. New ward management then ward staff were recruited.

So whatever your politics, please appreciate how much work went into your local winter pressure plan. From your local staff. NONE of it will have just "popped up"

I won’t vote conservative, in fact I don't know who to vote for.

However reading these posts I have to wonder why there is so much talk of Tory inflicted austerity. Does anyone know why the austerity was enacted. I have my own opinions but don't know if I am right.

Does anyone know why Labour does not mention PFI’s? And how they will realistically pay for their utopian promises.

Why does no one mention the EU procurement directive that requires government entities with contracts over a certain amount to open the bidding to the whole of the EU and any countries that have trade deals with EU (US for one) and this is why NHS and other services are already well privatised. The NHS buying power is massive so many contracts have to be open bidded.

Thank you for the links which I have read. I am not sure this is evidence of a sell off but rather a campaign to raise money to make a film to document the evidence. If the evidence is there publish it, talk to journalists and out bad practices. Whilst I would agree that NHS is not a commercial business, behind the scenes there will be business transactions and accountability for use of public sector monies. Drugs need to be bought, beds, sheets, surgical equipment, sterilization, pens paper IT Systems all need to be bought and this requires some commercial nous which I admit will jar with the service ethos. I would be nervous of striking deals with the US for supplies, because I do not believe US gave same stringent laws on standards and ethics. The ongoing inquiry into blood scandal from 70s and 80s is a case in point.

I am glad to be distracted from these posts at the moment but have just had the time to read through this one.

There is not a single reason mentioned for voting for the Brexit Bullies in it as far as I can see. Vote Tory - why on earth would anyone one of at least average intelligence do that after going through the last nearly ten years if their chaos.

It would be good to see the reasons why rather than reasons why you shouldn't vote elsewhere. Just one positive reason that doesn't mention another party or member of another party or is it that you actually want more of the same?

And this
About privatising our NHS

twitter.com/drbobgill/status/1043870221067603969?s=20

Tooting29

Here is proof our NHS is being privatised.

Bob Gill
@drbobgill
Doctor, NHS campaigner. Producing
@greatnhsheist
crowdfunded documentary
thegreatnhsheist.com
Kentgofundme.com/thegreatnhshei…Joined July 2013

thegreatnhsheist.com

WWM2 are you referring to me again in your post. If so can I just reiterate that I am not a Conservative activist or even a member. I joined the post because I enjoy political debate and am struggling to decide who to vote for in this election. Please refrain from making broad assumptions based on limited knowledge.

They are panicking over a winter crises. Watch them put in resources that in other years they apparently don’t have.

Don’t take us for fools Johnson.

Here's an interesting graphic. Compiled using Yougov statistics. 'Leftwing' views held by people who consider themselves to be 'right wing'.

I seem to recall posting a video before the last GE. People interviewed in the street who agreed with many 'left wing' policies. The tory voters among them were amazed when told they were from the Labour manifesto but said they would still vote tory! How people think that voting tory will bring about changes that the tories don't have any intention of making I just don't know. But there you are. Many people just aren't rational...

Strange how Johnson has chosen to visit several hospitals and has tried to keep the media out. A couple of days ago he was booed off the premises by staff and patients at Addenbrookes , they tried to remove the footage from Twitter. If the Tories are so popular in the NHS one wonders why that it is the case that he seems to get such a negative reaction.