| Hospital beds 13:33 - Jan 12 with 3885 views | DJR |
The graph on the following link tells you all you need to know. Only Sweden is below us, but they obviously have a much more healthy population than we do. As the article states, "bed capacity will remain a critical limiting factor in the ability of the NHS to recover." And it knocks on the head the Tory lie that Europe faces similar problems. Indeed, the German press is apparently full of stories about the collapse of the NHS.
https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/nhs-delivery-and-workforce/pressures/n
This from the article is perhaps key.
"Combined with staffing shortages, an insufficient core bed stock means that hospitals are less able to cope with large influxes of patients, for example during winter or periods of high demand.
This has ultimately impacted hospitals’ ability to provide safe and timely care and remains a major factor in growing backlogs."
So it is not really bed-blocking that is the problem, although that clearly adds to the problem and is itself a result of Tory policies. [Post edited 12 Jan 2023 13:40]
|  | | |  |
| Hospital beds on 09:06 - Jan 13 with 999 views | Darth_Koont |
| Hospital beds on 09:03 - Jan 13 by GlasgowBlue |
You’ll note that my link was from the Scottish Labour leader and not the Scottish Tory leader. |
Which would have made what difference? |  |
| |
| Hospital beds on 09:20 - Jan 13 with 973 views | OldFart71 |
Several things have lead to this situation. The Tories cutting the number of beds by 25,000, nursing and care shortages due to many leaving and poor wages, an aging population and the stupid decision to do away with convalescent homes. I fear for us as a Country because so much of it is in a mess. Towns left bare by closures, many struggling with bills and the highest rate of taxes. Transport and roads in a dire state of affairs. The pandemic obviously having a huge impact. But waste by Governmental Departments both before, during and in the future impact hugely on the ability of this Country to function. |  | | |
| Hospital beds on 09:21 - Jan 13 with 971 views | DJR |
| Hospital beds on 09:03 - Jan 13 by GlasgowBlue |
You’ll note that my link was from the Scottish Labour leader and not the Scottish Tory leader. |
I realise that but was just trying to make the point, in a jocular way, that a Scottish Labour leader video was hardly likely to include praise of the SNP.
Incidentally, I haven't seen recent figures, but the figures I have seen in recent years have tended to show the NHS in Scotland performing slightly better on various measures than the NHS in England.
The other way of looking at it is to consider whether a Labour Scottish government in recent years would have done any better on the NHS than the SNP given it is really the Tory government at Westminster which has controlled the purse strings since 2010. [Post edited 13 Jan 2023 9:22]
| | | |
| Hospital beds on 09:42 - Jan 13 with 953 views | DJR |
There is a lot in what you say, and you will note that my original post did not seek to blame any political party for the reduction in hospital beds.
Leaving aside the move to care in the community, there has been a philosophy in the last 20 or so years that there was less need for hospital beds because more patients can be treated as outpatients and so be in and out of hospital in a day, without the need for an overnight stay.
And when it came to people who actually needed hospital stays, the philosophy seemed to be based on similar principles to the "just in time" philosophy that operates in supply chains, with a limited number of beds and high occupancy rates which just can't cope with extra demand.
Many PFI hospitals were built on this basis, and we are stuck with what we have got, but in my view this philosophy, which included the closure of smaller hospitals, has turned out to be wrong, particular given a rapidly growing and ageing population.
Of course if we actually had built the 40 new hospitals Johnson boasted about things would be much better.
[Post edited 13 Jan 2023 9:59]
| | | |
| Hospital beds on 10:33 - Jan 13 with 925 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Hospital beds on 09:21 - Jan 13 by DJR |
I realise that but was just trying to make the point, in a jocular way, that a Scottish Labour leader video was hardly likely to include praise of the SNP.
Incidentally, I haven't seen recent figures, but the figures I have seen in recent years have tended to show the NHS in Scotland performing slightly better on various measures than the NHS in England.
The other way of looking at it is to consider whether a Labour Scottish government in recent years would have done any better on the NHS than the SNP given it is really the Tory government at Westminster which has controlled the purse strings since 2010. [Post edited 13 Jan 2023 9:22]
|
This is well worth a read
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23066285.truth-scotland-england-e-comparison |  |
| |
| Hospital beds on 10:47 - Jan 13 with 917 views | Darth_Koont |
"True, many of its current woes stem from Tory austerity which dictates how much money overall the devolved governments have to spend on public services"
Even that's an understatement.
You and others have been dodging the point that funding for the NHS and public services more generally is at a lower level as a percentage of GDP than it is for our neighbours. But instead both Tories and Labour are talking mismanagement in the NHS both in Scotland and England and Wales.
Let's just call it what it is – an austerity consensus in Westminster. | |
| |
| Hospital beds on 10:49 - Jan 13 with 914 views | DJR |
There are lies, damned lies and statistics but you do appear to only circulate things from those that are anti-SNP. Indeed, apart from the National, I don't think there is any Scottish newspaper which supports independence.
Incidentally, the newspaper coverage of the SNP in the English editions ranges from very hostile (Express, Mail, Telegraph etc) to less obviously anti (the Guardian), but I suppose it's not surprising given no national paper supports independence.
And it was obvious to me during the 2014 referendum campaign that there was a concerted campaign by the establishment (including the BBC) to prevent a Yes vote. In the case of the BBC, it's not surprising because none of its Scottish reporters support independence.
Anyway, as I think I've said before, the media coverage around the referendum turned me from an agnostic to a supporter of Scottish independence. [Post edited 13 Jan 2023 10:53]
| | | |
| Hospital beds on 11:14 - Jan 13 with 896 views | DJR |
Incidentally, when you, me and Darth get going on the situation in Scotland, I'm sure most other TWTDers glaze over! | | | |
Login to get fewer ads
| Hospital beds on 12:11 - Jan 13 with 878 views | Darth_Koont |
| Hospital beds on 10:49 - Jan 13 by DJR |
There are lies, damned lies and statistics but you do appear to only circulate things from those that are anti-SNP. Indeed, apart from the National, I don't think there is any Scottish newspaper which supports independence.
Incidentally, the newspaper coverage of the SNP in the English editions ranges from very hostile (Express, Mail, Telegraph etc) to less obviously anti (the Guardian), but I suppose it's not surprising given no national paper supports independence.
And it was obvious to me during the 2014 referendum campaign that there was a concerted campaign by the establishment (including the BBC) to prevent a Yes vote. In the case of the BBC, it's not surprising because none of its Scottish reporters support independence.
Anyway, as I think I've said before, the media coverage around the referendum turned me from an agnostic to a supporter of Scottish independence. [Post edited 13 Jan 2023 10:53]
|
GB is a bad faith actor who sees politics and debate as way too much of a game.
You need to get used to it. | |
| |
| Hospital beds on 12:25 - Jan 13 with 849 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Hospital beds on 10:49 - Jan 13 by DJR |
There are lies, damned lies and statistics but you do appear to only circulate things from those that are anti-SNP. Indeed, apart from the National, I don't think there is any Scottish newspaper which supports independence.
Incidentally, the newspaper coverage of the SNP in the English editions ranges from very hostile (Express, Mail, Telegraph etc) to less obviously anti (the Guardian), but I suppose it's not surprising given no national paper supports independence.
And it was obvious to me during the 2014 referendum campaign that there was a concerted campaign by the establishment (including the BBC) to prevent a Yes vote. In the case of the BBC, it's not surprising because none of its Scottish reporters support independence.
Anyway, as I think I've said before, the media coverage around the referendum turned me from an agnostic to a supporter of Scottish independence. [Post edited 13 Jan 2023 10:53]
|
Taking aside the negative financial implications for Scotland being independent, I think travelling across the whole of the country has reinforced my view that independence is not the answer.
The issues people living in Glasgow experience and their needs are completely different to those living in the Very north of Scotland.
Likewise,the people living in Dumfries and Galloway have far more in common with people who live in the Lake District. And they have the same needs and issues.
My view is that the UK as a union of 4 countries is no longer workable. We would be better off with a federal system of smaller states with more devolved power. This would also involve integrating the north of Ireland into the ROI. | |
| |
| Hospital beds on 13:52 - Jan 13 with 827 views | DJR |
| Hospital beds on 12:25 - Jan 13 by GlasgowBlue |
Taking aside the negative financial implications for Scotland being independent, I think travelling across the whole of the country has reinforced my view that independence is not the answer.
The issues people living in Glasgow experience and their needs are completely different to those living in the Very north of Scotland.
Likewise,the people living in Dumfries and Galloway have far more in common with people who live in the Lake District. And they have the same needs and issues.
My view is that the UK as a union of 4 countries is no longer workable. We would be better off with a federal system of smaller states with more devolved power. This would also involve integrating the north of Ireland into the ROI. |
What you propose in the last paragraph would be a great improvement on the current situation not least because it would lessen the feeling that we do not have a union of equals, but I don't think there is any appetite on the part of the main parties for true federalism in this country. Instead, we seem to end up with token things like the Northern Powerhouse. And whilst the devolution of powers to the mayors of major cities has been welcomed by people like Andy Burnham, it is rather ad hoc and still dependent on central government largesse. [Post edited 13 Jan 2023 13:54]
| | | |
| Hospital beds on 14:16 - Jan 13 with 814 views | Darth_Koont |
| Hospital beds on 13:52 - Jan 13 by DJR |
What you propose in the last paragraph would be a great improvement on the current situation not least because it would lessen the feeling that we do not have a union of equals, but I don't think there is any appetite on the part of the main parties for true federalism in this country. Instead, we seem to end up with token things like the Northern Powerhouse. And whilst the devolution of powers to the mayors of major cities has been welcomed by people like Andy Burnham, it is rather ad hoc and still dependent on central government largesse. [Post edited 13 Jan 2023 13:54]
|
As you said, these moves to decentralise, devolve and level up are pretty token. Northern Powerhouse is a perfect example of how little this stuff actually means once the rhetoric evaporates. And they're even dangerous moves for our democracy if the responsibilities are being pushed onto the devolved/regional/city/local authorities while they continue to be hamstrung by low funding.
That's basically what's happened with local authorities over the past few decades and there's been little to no appetite to reverse that into funding them anywhere near adequately. | |
| |
| Hospital beds on 09:55 - Jan 14 with 754 views | DJR |
| Hospital beds on 12:25 - Jan 13 by GlasgowBlue |
Taking aside the negative financial implications for Scotland being independent, I think travelling across the whole of the country has reinforced my view that independence is not the answer.
The issues people living in Glasgow experience and their needs are completely different to those living in the Very north of Scotland.
Likewise,the people living in Dumfries and Galloway have far more in common with people who live in the Lake District. And they have the same needs and issues.
My view is that the UK as a union of 4 countries is no longer workable. We would be better off with a federal system of smaller states with more devolved power. This would also involve integrating the north of Ireland into the ROI. |
Following on from your observation about the people of Dumfries and Galloway, I am not sure if you ever saw the following programme which showed the similarities between people on both sides of the border, in the area of what was once the ancient kingdom of Northumbria.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0404r3t
Of course a cynic might say that it was a very subtle part of the campaign to say that we had more in common than divided us, given it was aired a few months before the 2014 referendum, but I found it a fascinating programme. [Post edited 14 Jan 2023 9:56]
| | | |
| Hospital beds on 10:18 - Jan 14 with 739 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Hospital beds on 14:16 - Jan 13 by Darth_Koont |
As you said, these moves to decentralise, devolve and level up are pretty token. Northern Powerhouse is a perfect example of how little this stuff actually means once the rhetoric evaporates. And they're even dangerous moves for our democracy if the responsibilities are being pushed onto the devolved/regional/city/local authorities while they continue to be hamstrung by low funding.
That's basically what's happened with local authorities over the past few decades and there's been little to no appetite to reverse that into funding them anywhere near adequately. |
I'm not suggesting tokenism though. I'm suggesting giving areas 'US State' style powers. But some of those states would transcend the English/Scottish border.
As I have said before, the people of Wick and Thurso have little in common with the people of Glasgow. They have a different culture and different spending priorities.
I'd have another state that included Inverness, Dingwall, Nairn, Elgin and Aberdeen, which reaches down as far as Aberfeldy. A state that included Perth, Dundee, Stirling and Fife would be another. | |
| |
| Hospital beds on 10:42 - Jan 14 with 712 views | Darth_Koont |
| Hospital beds on 10:18 - Jan 14 by GlasgowBlue |
I'm not suggesting tokenism though. I'm suggesting giving areas 'US State' style powers. But some of those states would transcend the English/Scottish border.
As I have said before, the people of Wick and Thurso have little in common with the people of Glasgow. They have a different culture and different spending priorities.
I'd have another state that included Inverness, Dingwall, Nairn, Elgin and Aberdeen, which reaches down as far as Aberfeldy. A state that included Perth, Dundee, Stirling and Fife would be another. |
Where is the central UK government in all this? Still tightening the purse strings?
Of course, people around Scotland have different priorities but we need to address this at the UK level first. And an understanding of people’s local needs was more enshrined in EU politics than it ever has been in the UK.
The UK is the most centralised country in the OECD. That is the underlying problem with our society, economy and the pointless politics that sandbags that power. | |
| |
| Hospital beds on 21:03 - Jan 17 with 570 views | HARRY10 |
Here's evidence of mismanagement
"A multimillionaire dementia home boss paid himself at least £21m in five years despite inspectors finding multiple breaches of staffing, safety and leadership rules, with residents left in dirty incontinence pads and staff accused of rough handling."
"Another beneficiary has been the former chief executive Nadarajah Logeswaren, 59, who was paid £15.8m in 2018 “in relation to a long-term incentive scheme”, accounts show. Directors’ salaries and dividends drawn from the company totalled £57m over five years."
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jan/17/owner-of-uk-care-home-group-paid
Yet, because this is the private sector we have to accept lower standards and higher costs.
You will note that no where in the article does in mention any dividends paid to red wallers or cap doffers. No, money that should used to pay better wages and deliver a higher standard of care is leeched out by these shysters.
This is going on up and down the country. Old folk suffering, to line the pockets not of simple minded Tory voters, but of well connected Tories.
Perhaps the 'ever so 'umble' might just care to pause next time before doffing their cap as they vote, and ask themselves what they really are voting for. | | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
