Anyone else waiting with anticipation to see what's in the Govt's plan for the NHS?

I find it rather farcical that any party makes very advanced and detailed plans when the probability of them losing power is highly probable. I've always thought it was Labour who left office in financial despair but seems Conservative may be following their awful example. Hope I've got this completely wrong.

Germanshepherdsmum

Depends on the spending. I have no problem with the reduction in legal aid.

You don't like legal aid?

Too many poor people getting access to justice, perhaps?

Better to tax and spend than borrow and spend (as we saw with Trussonomics).

We really don't need to tax and spend or even borrow and spend. We could just spend. There is no compelling reason why we shouldn't.

Just think what that injection of money into the economy would do for people's prosperity and economic growth...

Blair did NOT invent PFI. It was a Tory device to get the costs of projects off the government balance sheet and anyone who thought about it could see any PFI funded scheme would be more expensive because of the cost of borrowing in the private sector (not to mention contractual requirements about ongoing maintenance which added costs to building users). Tax costs very little to raise and there are no dividends to pay so its cheaper. Blair and Brown continued it's use, partly through inheriting schemes in train but it was imo a mistake. Better to tax and spend than borrow and spend (as we saw with Trussonomics).

Depends on the spending. I have no problem with the reduction in legal aid.

Germanshepherdsmum

Very much like legal aid then.

Like just about any state funded service, GSM, left short of money.

But, as a tory, don't you support reductions in state spending?

Very much like legal aid then.

More weasel words from the govt, I'm afraid. "There's no mystery about why the NHS dental service is vanishing: if dentists treat patients on the NHS, they lose money, because the state funding package does not cover their costs.

Germanshepherdsmum

I suspect the problem is that the NHS only pays dentists a small amount of money MayBee so they elect to do the more lucrative private work.

As dentistry has always been based on private practice and is a business surely you should approve of this, GSM?

We have a retired dentist friend who said that NHS work was becoming loss making as the payment for treatments was so poor.

It's not so long ago that it was perfectly easy to find a dentist who did NHS work and made a comfortable living. Not any more. I wonder why that is?

MayBee70

One of the problems ( I think: I’d be grateful if anyone who knows more about the subject could educate me on this) is that NHS dentists have is that they’re only given a small amount of time to deliver the treatment that people require. And, if you qualify to do a job I assume that you want the chance to do that job to the best of your ability. I can’t believe that people in this country now just accept that the can’t get a dentist unless they pay for it, especially as bad teeth can lead to all sorts of medical problems.

Here’s a basic explanation of how it works.
www.healthwatchkent.co.uk/advice-and-information/2022-04-05/how-does-nhs-dental-system-really-work

Germanshepherdsmum

I suspect the problem is that the NHS only pays dentists a small amount of money MayBee so they elect to do the more lucrative private work.

I'm positive you are correct. We pay a private dentist and get seen - moments notice. Dentists should be paid well (from whatever source), they have families to feed just like the rest of us.

I suspect the problem is that the NHS only pays dentists a small amount of money MayBee so they elect to do the more lucrative private work.

One of the problems ( I think: I’d be grateful if anyone who knows more about the subject could educate me on this) is that NHS dentists have is that they’re only given a small amount of time to deliver the treatment that people require. And, if you qualify to do a job I assume that you want the chance to do that job to the best of your ability. I can’t believe that people in this country now just accept that the can’t get a dentist unless they pay for it, especially as bad teeth can lead to all sorts of medical problems.

foxie48

If a water bottle is leaking, you try to mend the hole before filling it up with water. Surely, if there are serious problems with qualified staff leaving an organisation, then it makes sense to address the issues that make them leave as well as training more people and why leave the additional training places to 2025 when there are places already available? It just does not make sense. The Conservatives have been in government for 13 years, surely they must take ownership of the problems in the NHS? We are a civilised, first world country, we should have a decent health care system and 13 years is enough time to come up with solid plans. Perhaps they have just spent too much time squabbling amongst themselves (and the Labour party has been just as bad at times, I'm afraid). Totally depressing and no, I'm thrilled by the plan, they are just pushing the problems down the road.

Exactly. Retention was hardly mentioned and they said it was one of their *three Rs".

I keep thinking of all the "small c" conservative phrases most are happy to live by such as "Be prepared", "fix the roof while the sun is shining", "a stitch in time saves nine". This government has done, and seems unable go do, any of these!

The only phrases that the far right believe in are "The only thing that matters is power" and "Money buys power". Those are not Conservative views; they are the views of the nihilist!

Germanshepherdsmum

DaisyAnneReturns

Germanshepherdsmum

Blair’s PFI initiative has bled the NHS dry and continues to do so. I remember when some developers and contractors I acted for were desperate to get on that bandwagon.

Do you think this would be of any interest to the working population? They generally want to know what is happening going forward and now. Most haven't the time to live in the past.

Not everything can be blamed on the current government. Perhaps ‘the working population’ should have more facts fed to them rather than anti-Conservative rhetoric. Knowing more about how things have evolved isn’t living in the past.

Oh please! Where are they getting anti-Tory rhetoric?

Casdon

Aveline

Och stop moaning and nitpicking and who said what and when. For whatever reason, this new plan is going to start. Thank goodness something practical is finally being done rather than being spouted on about.

Exactly. It’s the best news for ages.

They are unlikely to be in government for much longer and they seem to have no short term goals, so what is there to cheer about?

Where the suggestions are already Labour policy - this government has never, in 13 years shown itself to be good at planing - that will go ahead, so a small cheer for that seems to be sufficient.

The Tories show their intentions every time the open their mouths. They want a two tier system. Private health care for those that can afford it and basic NHS care for those who can't. They dare not come out and say it but "By their deeds you will know them".

I hope you are all set to take out the insurance.

NOT thrilled!

If a water bottle is leaking, you try to mend the hole before filling it up with water. Surely, if there are serious problems with qualified staff leaving an organisation, then it makes sense to address the issues that make them leave as well as training more people and why leave the additional training places to 2025 when there are places already available? It just does not make sense. The Conservatives have been in government for 13 years, surely they must take ownership of the problems in the NHS? We are a civilised, first world country, we should have a decent health care system and 13 years is enough time to come up with solid plans. Perhaps they have just spent too much time squabbling amongst themselves (and the Labour party has been just as bad at times, I'm afraid). Totally depressing and no, I'm thrilled by the plan, they are just pushing the problems down the road.

All the talk is about the people we see when we are unwell but we will need to think about the vast numbers of support staff in laboratories, x-ray, physio etc who also need to be trained and retained. Modern medicine is so complex and each part depends on the proper functioning of the rest. Haven’t seen any mention of this.

Germanshepherdsmum

DaisyAnneReturns

Germanshepherdsmum

Blair’s PFI initiative has bled the NHS dry and continues to do so. I remember when some developers and contractors I acted for were desperate to get on that bandwagon.

Do you think this would be of any interest to the working population? They generally want to know what is happening going forward and now. Most haven't the time to live in the past.

Not everything can be blamed on the current government. Perhaps ‘the working population’ should have more facts fed to them rather than anti-Conservative rhetoric. Knowing more about how things have evolved isn’t living in the past.

Okay then, let’s blame it on John Major, it was his idea.

There was a doctor yesterday on the radio, describing the “squeezed middle”

So young just finished training doctors are leaving to go to more lucrative work, the older doctor is retiring early which leaves a squeezed middle under severe pressure because of lack of staff.

DaisyAnneReturns

Germanshepherdsmum

Blair’s PFI initiative has bled the NHS dry and continues to do so. I remember when some developers and contractors I acted for were desperate to get on that bandwagon.

Do you think this would be of any interest to the working population? They generally want to know what is happening going forward and now. Most haven't the time to live in the past.

Not everything can be blamed on the current government. Perhaps ‘the working population’ should have more facts fed to them rather than anti-Conservative rhetoric. Knowing more about how things have evolved isn’t living in the past.

These plans all look a bit pointless if the government doesn't intend to address pay and conditions as well. I can't see potential NHS staff being attracted to the professions under current pay and conditions.

Did anyone spot any short term goals in the Conservative plan? It seemed to be all aimed at the future but I may have missed something.

Germanshepherdsmum

Blair’s PFI initiative has bled the NHS dry and continues to do so. I remember when some developers and contractors I acted for were desperate to get on that bandwagon.

Do you think this would be of any interest to the working population? They generally want to know what is happening going forward and now. Most haven't the time to live in the past.