How can the Tories be proud of their leader? *Title edited by GNHQ*

No he hid in a fridge and his aide told the reporter (not Piers Morgan) to "Fuck off"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp9XoiFbZcI

No excuses please.

A countries leader worth his salt would easily deal with Morgan if anyone else for that matter.

Johnson has zero backbone and even less political savvy.

A few months ago My DH had a 7.5 hour wait in A&E before being seen by anyone at all . He was desperately ill. Being a Friday night he was “overtaken” by quite a few drunks acting themselves, (all accompanied by the police of course) . Apparently ( from a nurse) the reason for the gridlock is Not necessarily lack of staff but more often the fact that they have (say) 20 cubicles . 10 people Might need admitting and they have no free beds on the wards to admit them to, meaning that those patients are effectively holding up the A&E queue. I am told the reason is that quite often elderly people are in hospital beds that could/ would be at home if they had someone to look after them or in a care facility if there was one available.

The entire system needs a good overhaul .

Some versions are more funny hmm truthful

www.facebook.com/www.JOE.co.uk/videos/731216300703095/

gilly, the situation with A&E is so complex to solve. Huge shortfall in nurses and other staff, lack of maintenance and facilities, etc, etc.

But also the changes in GP services. Ye Olde GPs worked a huge number of hours, and most truly believed in continuity of care- most GPs did home visits, including at night and week-ends, and worked 1 night in 3 or 4 (in OH's practice 4, but 3 whenever 1 partner was sick or on holiday) and 1 in 3 or 4 week-ends- not in lieu of time during the week, but on top of already long hours. The GP going out 2, 3 or more times a night out to see patients at all hours (and sadly often for totally unreasonable reasons- I could write a book), had to get up at 7 again and work all day at the surgery- unlike other professions.

But in 96- the Conservatives insulted the whole profession by saying they would deduct £7000 a year from GPs who did not want to do night and weekend cover. Considering how hard this is to do, and the massive toll it takes on your health and your private life and that of your family (yes, I had to be up at all hours to wo/man the phone and take calls and try and deal with them best I could - no qualifications whatsoever- before the advent of effective mobile phones which worked in rural areas too- as well as being in sole charge of young children and later get up to go to my own work, exhausted). And most of them, especially the younger ones, and I don't blame them- said ** this for a game of soldiers, just not worth it for the huge demand it makes on me and my family- I'll opt out.

And there is no way young doctors would agree to opt back in now- and I can't blame them. So A&E it is, without added money, nurses, beds, services = a disaster. Of course it costs massively more than the money deducted from GP salaries- but it was all ill thought out by the Tories of the day.

gillybob that is so true.

Oh come on Whitewave! You made one hell of a gaff there!

Admit it girl.

Ug I respect your apology as it’s not easy to admit a mistake, so all credit to you.

And re your Dr Pemberton, there is always going to be the odd Tory doctor. One swallow and that. My own relatives, (GPS, hospital doctors, nurses, etc) have had enough and certainly wouldn’t agree with him.

Gillybob the Labour Manifesto agrees with you that the whole system needs an overhaul.

Jura, don’t faint, I totally agree with you. Plus I would add two other factors, one, there are many more treatments available today which means more demand for those treatments, and two, there is a big margin of misuse of GP services and indeed A+E. People go when they have a virus that doesn’t require treatment, they demand Nit Lotion and even sun cream on the NHS and therefore use up an appointment to do so. I know this happens because my GP daughter has told me that people have done this in her surgery. And her surgery is in an affluent area!

gillybob the Lib Dems want to put 1p on income tax to be ringfenced for social care, which would mean that patients at present bed may blocking could go home if appropriate care was available.

My friend waited nearly 24 hours for an ambulance (not deemed urgent although it turned out she had 3 fractures), waited in the ambulance for hours, admitted to a corridor and sat there for hours before she was seen. That is in Wales.
I was seen quite quickly in an English hospital and can't complain about the care in A&E at that particular hospital.

It is so variable.

maddyone we used to have a Minor Injuries unit at our local hospital, now closed. We are allowed to go over the border to one in England which people do use to avoid a horrendous wait in the nearest A&E.

Good we can agree maddy x

Does your daughter do home visits, night calls and week-ends?
I could write a list of what ridiculous things OH was often called out at 4 am, having just come back from another serious emergency miles away, having had to wait for ambulance, etc- to be asked for a couple of paracetamols for a headache, etc, or because the person was concerned about mild hair loss that had been going on for months, or a whole array of nonsense that often did not need a doctor, and certainly not one at 4am!

I had a neighbour, very well off, who asked for an appointment at her GP to get a prescription for ... paracetamol- because she was getting free prescriptions!

Perhaps it would be good, even if it all continues to be free at the point of use (as I agree it should continue to be) - for people to get a 'bill' to show the cost of GP time, night visit, all drugs and treatment, operation, ambulance (one friend used to use ambulances like a free taxi service!!! but was quite happy to pay for taxi to go get her hair done, or to go to town by bus to go shopping).... sadly, as people have no idea of cost, they don't always respect the drugs, staff time, etc,etc (OH knew of several elderly people who religiously got their prescription and very expensive treatment, and never took it and piled them in the cupboard). Perhaps being more aware of cost would help with some people- to respect the amazing, wonderful, unique NHS we have.

Anyhow, back to Boris?

Who is PROUD of him and why?

Do people ever get charged for non-attendance at appointments? I think the notice tells us that it costs over £150 the NHS each time.

Now that I would agree with...missed appointments being chargeable and also those who turn up at A&E if their issue is alcohol related.

I remember our NHS dentist charging me once many years ago, £25 I think, because I forgot an appointment.

Not my place to be "proud" of him jura. He's not my child, nor did I have any hand in his upbringing.

I think he has intelligence behind the bluster. And I think he's well meaning.

We have to move forward. He'll do.

I never did understand this idea of being 'proud' of someone when he/she is nothing to do with you. Doesn't seem to make any sense.

Crikey C. Mine would ring me up and tell me to get my arse down there right away.

Pride comes before a fall

I'm not proud of any politicians.

I don't see how anyone can be.

Except their family maybe

Exactly Minty.

I'm not proud of any of them!

What, your dentist, Gonegirl?
Actually, still see ours occasionally around town, we have a chat (but not about reeth).

Teeth!

Well, the hygeinist does. Rang me in the bath once (me that is, not her). Asked where I'd got to. I'd forgotten.