We'll *Do Something" about the strikes

Shinamae, you are spot on that carers are being left out of all this. The reason is that so many are working for private firms under contract to the local authorities. They are disgracefully poorly paid and not unionised. So of course there is a shortage which means that when a patient is well enough to be discharged from hospital, there are not the carers available to provide the necessary care package, resulting in bed-blocking.
This is a scandal which no-one is addressing. Pay carers properly and the pressure on hospital staff would be reduced.

I remember living through Maggie Thatchers 3 day week and winter of discontent. It looks as though we will get more of the same, but it feels more difficult personally, not just the lack of funds but with this weather feel more vunerable with the situation with the ambulance and nhs. Dont want to risk a fall or need an ambulance but cannot stay stuck inside all the time, and need to buy basics in any case. Dont blame the strikers given the situation . Just have to take each day and fingers crossed that I can get some hot water on monday,

madeleine45

I remember living through Maggie Thatchers 3 day week and winter of discontent. It looks as though we will get more of the same, but it feels more difficult personally, not just the lack of funds but with this weather feel more vunerable with the situation with the ambulance and nhs. Dont want to risk a fall or need an ambulance but cannot stay stuck inside all the time, and need to buy basics in any case. Dont blame the strikers given the situation . Just have to take each day and fingers crossed that I can get some hot water on monday,

Oh dear, poor Margaret Thatcher!! 😂 she might be to blame for some things but not these.

The Three Day Week was during Ted Heath's premiership.
The Winter of Discontent was when James Callaghan was Prime Minister.

But never mind, let's blame Maggie!

Callistemon21

madeleine45

I remember living through Maggie Thatchers 3 day week and winter of discontent. It looks as though we will get more of the same, but it feels more difficult personally, not just the lack of funds but with this weather feel more vunerable with the situation with the ambulance and nhs. Dont want to risk a fall or need an ambulance but cannot stay stuck inside all the time, and need to buy basics in any case. Dont blame the strikers given the situation . Just have to take each day and fingers crossed that I can get some hot water on monday,

Oh dear, poor Margaret Thatcher!! 😂 she might be to blame for some things but not these.

The Three Day Week was during Ted Heath's premiership.
The Winter of Discontent was when James Callaghan was Prime Minister.

But never mind, let's blame Maggie!

Agreed.

Thatcher only increased unemployment to 3million, presided over increased inflation, sold off public utilities (with results we're seeing now with rivers and beaches covered with sewage...), closed down heavy industries without making plans to develop alternative sources of employment and provoked the poll tax riots. Perpetrated the myth that a nation's economy is like a households and that taxes paid for everything...

Nah, she's nothing to be blamed for....

Nah, she's nothing to be blamed for ....

Well, not the Three Day Week or Winter of Discontent anyway!

ALANaV

Those employed in the UK may support the strikes, BUT they tend to forget the extra money all the unions are demanding will come from THEM paying much much higher taxes .....then going on strike again against the soaring cost of living ......no answer ............

Does it never occur to you that pay increases should come out of the profits that are the result of the worker's input? Profits that wouldn't happen if it weren't for them?

Callistemon21

^Nah, she's nothing to be blamed for^ ....

Well, not the Three Day Week or Winter of Discontent anyway!

I agreed with you about that. madeline45's memory is a bit shaky...

Just been talking to someone in the TA who pointed out that for ambulance and nursing duties, they would need to use qualified soldiers. The vast majority of medical core TAs are drawn from the NHS, so unlikely that striking staff would be called in to replace striking (I.e. themselves) staff. Regardless, there are far fewer medic soldiers than NHS staff, so not clear how that would work.

Our problem today are very much tied to Thatcher our strategic industries were destroyed, Coal, Steel, Shipbuilding and didn’t replace them with anything else. Council houses were sold off cheap and not replaced so we have progressive housing shortage.

Everything was done for short term gain, with no thought for the future, successive governments were no different, then 3 large setbacks, Brexit, Covid and Ukraine mean we have a very hard road to any kind of recovery. Internationally our strength is measure in exchange rate, it has fallen from over $2.50 to $1.20 currently.

We must congratulate our polititians for that!.