Is this government damaging your wellbeing?

Sadly this thread appears to have focused on hospital car park charges and the perceived differences between English and Welsh healthcare. Important to some, but I’m sure there are many other issues worthy of inclusion within the original content. To answer the original question, yes this government has negatively impacted my well-being. The corruption, deceit, incompetence and rise of populism it has engendered over the past 14 years has eroded my trust in those who govern. I am no longer confident that those who hold all the power over our lives actually have our best interests at heart - that creates uncertainty which, in turn, negatively impacts well-being.

Wales has the longest waiting lists for health care in the UK.
the number of incomplete patient pathways as a proportion of the population was about 14% in England as of August, and about 22% in Wales using the most comparable available data (or about 24% overall). fullfact.org/health/steve-barclay-wales-england-waiting-times/

It is a question of government choices. They think car parking and free prescriptions is more important than treating people with potentially fatal diseases.

IIRC parking at our local hospital was once free, but because it’s quite close to the railway station, there was endless abuse, so it had to end.

What I did find difficult when doing volunteer driving for people unable to use public transport, was trying to find a blue badge space - too few! - when the person needed help to go in and make her or himself known. More than once I had to park briefly and illegally right outside the main entrance. But nobody ever ticked me off for that, so I dare say it had to happen often.

We never thought of it when we bought the house (aeons ago!) but it’s only a 15 minute walk away - very handy for dh when I was in for 3 weeks last winter.

If the Buffoon promised that NHS car parks would be free to use them that's just another porkie to add to the list starting with having fixed social care costs, not partying in No. 10, etc.

We haven’t been affected personally, and for myself I am incredibly grateful for the excellent care I received (ambulance and hospital) when I was hit like an express train with pneumonia back in March.

Casdon

FannyFanackerpan

The Welsh NHS is not however a failure on car parking but it is a failure in providing adequate healthcare to its population of just 3 million people. Since 2010, Welsh performance on waiting times for planned hospital admissions, A&E, and ambulance response times has deteriorated significantly and Welsh targets, compared to English hospitals, have not been met for years. But the Welsh government is able to choose where, and how, to spend its healthcare budget and has chosen free prescriptions and free parking instead of prioritising healthcare. Horses for courses.

I’m not going to enter into a pointless argument about how the Welsh NHS spends its money and any relationship between
Car parking, free prescriptions and healthcare outcomes for patients on waiting lists.
The point I was making is that the government of each country has a choice, and the English Government has chosen to allow hospitals to charge for car parking. I think that’s wrong, you presumably think it’s fine.

So would you rather the care and maintenance for car parking comes out of the healthcare budget?
There are many ways people can be exempt for paying parking charges at hospitals. Just ask.

FannyFanackerpan

You might find this helpful DaisyAnn. Quite a long read but covers all areas of healthcare in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Very interesting and offers some insight on why Wales does struggle to meet targets.

www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/how-well-is-the-nhs-in-wales-performing

Thank you. Very interesting but I need to re-read it (smile).

Weren't your family migrants/settlers originally nanna?

In the five years prior to the pandemic, the average number of migrant arrivals was 515,000 per year with the majority arriving on temporary visas (307,000). For those who arrived with a permanent visa, the average was 92,000. For Australian and New Zealand citizens arriving it was 77,000 and 32,000 respectively.

In 2022-23, those on temporary visas (554,000) recorded higher volumes than pre-pandemic levels. Permanent visa holder arrivals (80,000) and Australian citizen arrivals (59,000) however, recorded lower levels. New Zealand citizens (41,000) recorded higher volumes than the pre-pandemic five-year average.

Temporary visa holders were the largest contributors to arrivals in 2022-23. Of the temporary visa holders, the largest group was international students (283,000). Other temporary visa holders include working holiday makers (70,000) and temporary skilled (49,000).

It doesn't seem at all surprising that your countries drive for an increase has gone up this year as it must have been low to zero during Covid.

You’re not alone. The health system here in Australia is pretty dire these days as well. OK if you pay, not if you don’t. My grandson recently got a deep long splinter in his leg ( he’s a carpenter) and had to wait 3 months to have it removed and stitched up. Risk of blood poisoning, septicaemia and goodness knows what in the meantime. Like the UK we have a continuous flow of migrants but nowhere for them to live, not enough schools, teachers or GPs. You know, sometimes I think us lot on here could run countries better !

I wouldn’t say my well being has been affected this year particularly. However two years of restrictions seriously affected my well being and it has taken most of this year to recover. Do I blame the government? Well they certainly aren’t blameless but there are other contributors too.

FannyFanackerpan
The truth is worse because so many people find they haven't even been put on the waiting lists when they try to find out why they have been waiting so long for surgical procedures.

You might find this helpful DaisyAnn. Quite a long read but covers all areas of healthcare in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Very interesting and offers some insight on why Wales does struggle to meet targets.

www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/how-well-is-the-nhs-in-wales-performing

Oreo

Understand you being defensive Casdon if you’re Welsh but really y’know it’s well reported that the NHS in Wales is doing poorly.

I wonder where you are reading this?

Inasmuch as all costs have risen and all services are in decline, this government has affected me.

Having said that, I think I am very lucky because we don't have a mortgage or have to pay rent and we have a good income and (touch wood) reasonably good health. I don't feel inclined to grizzle about my own circumstances when I know there are many people in this country who are having the most terrible time.

I am outraged that people are unable to feed and clothe their families properly, to put on their heating, to pay to see a dentist, to feed their pets, to bear the expense of travelling to and from their workplaces, etc, etc, etc. This government has been a catastrophe in every way imaginable and they are a disgrace to this country.

Oreo

Plenty of people in Wales are glad to go into England for surgery and procedures and its reported that there are many poor outcomes for people’s health in Wales.

Oh, how can I get on an English waiting list for surgery please?

I know the waiting list for the same procedure is 9 months in some areas of England but 4-5 years in Wales.

To know that Sunak has been trying to broker a deal with Cummings of all people, is surely a sign of his desperation.So much for integrity and accountability.
They really are beyond the pale now. The lives that they have damaged are incalculable.
Just go!

To respond to the OP, disappointed in some areas, worried about others, but my energy will be spent reading manifestos next year, then voting according to the conclusion I draw,

Why are people just concentrating on hospital parking? I’m a bit confused 🫠

I’m proud to say that our local hospital, opened to NHS treatment by Nye Bevan has NEVER charged patients for parking in England (Urmston). It was, back in the day, known as Park Hospital and is now Trafford General Hospital. I worked there for over 30 years. A 20 minute walk up the road from me.

How has the government particularly annoyed you this year?

Introduced 20mph in all towns and villages
The NHS is the worst in the UK and they lie about waiting lists
The teaching of mathematics, science, reading and modern languages is the worst in the UK

Oh, sorry, that is the Welsh Government

They make so much money that tbh I can’t ever see them being free in my lifetime.

Oreo

This thread is really about wanting things to be done in a new way by a different government and hopefully this is the year that will happen.
I don’t think that means the car parks in English hospitals will be free to use tho.

They won’t for a number of years. Many have long term contracts with private companies. It took 10 years from the decision being made to introduce free car parking in Wales to the final contract expiring.

I have read the word outcomes several times Casdon but pointless to continue a ping pong match about it.

This thread is really about wanting things to be done in a new way by a different government and hopefully this is the year that will happen.
I don’t think that means the car parks in English hospitals will be free to use tho.

On outputs Oreo, not on outcomes. I’m not defending the Welsh NHS, there’s a lot wrong with it - but the care provided to patients does not result in worse clinical outcomes than it does in England.