Your N.H.S. Experiences

[j.sabourn]

Brian you could of described it a bit better, perhaps like a haggis. Didn't see any of your remarks to the post so you must of been incapacitated. ( Cappy thinks that means getting beheaded). Could of wheeled it out behind the bagpipes. Take care get well and enjoy the Pacific Islands, did you ever see the film the Blue Lagoon, just think of it, as soon will be there. Cheers and all the best John S.

[Red Lead Ted]

Well, Lads this very subject was debated on channel 5 this evening, It seems the majority of the British public after doing a telephone vote would you pay a little extra to save our N.H.S. Went in the way of yes. Similar consensus to charge the 18 to 30 year olds to pay for their own treatment when admitted comatosed with alcohol. Which I also agree with these young people know the consequences of binge drinking the dangers it can lead to and the time wasted in our A@E Units the country over. Time that should be spent treating the real sick, How many of us on this forum went through the same in our youth drinking to much, But how many can remember going to hospital with the hang over you fell back to your ship got a shake the next morning and got over it. If they want to take £5 a week direct from my allowance a week to save the N.H.S. Front line services for the sick and genuine needy go ahead and take it with my blessing. But get every youth aged 18 to 30 years to sign a contract to pay for there binge drinking the A@E Will soon free up which will have a snowball effect on the N.H.S. And free up much needy treatment that is wasted. I would also agree with the doctor who spoke of the guy who showed up in A@E With a sore thumb after hitting it with a hammer, I am sure you all get my drift get a pair of glasses. Its not rocket science just common sence. Regards Terry.

[Lou Barron]

Ah Terry they are not Merchant navy types

[happy daze john in oz]

Terry, Lou we have similar problems here in Oz. An aging population applying pressure to the system and not enough money to fund it going forward. The medicare levey at 1.5% brings in less now in a year than the cost of running our health system. This system was introduced by Labor back in 1983, but the level of the levy has remained constant. The currebt gov, on the advise of senir staff, wish to raised extra funds by one mean sor another, Labor will not agree and if this continues then within 56 years the system will collapse. Additional funds, either by an increase in the levey, or other must be introduced or we are cactus.

[Jim Brady]

!8 to 30 year olds have the same right to use the NHS for free just like us all.This age group are not all out of work and have a good deduction made from their wages/salary each week /month to support the upkeep of the NHS for all those unemployed and pensioners just like we did when we were young.A young lad out drinking last week was punched by a yob,the lad fell and cracked his head on the floor.He got up went home went to bed his father went to call him for work the next morning and he was dead.He had a fractured scull and bleeding on the brain,he'd been drinking it's a pity he never went to A&E.A very liberal minded doctor was on TV last week,he said people come to A&E because they need to see a doctor or feel that they need to see a doctor and they are quite entitled to visit A&E if there is no alternative open to them.Many young people could be visiting A&E because they have suffered injuries from an attack by a third party and do need treatment,the amount that are there for drunkenness only is quite small.The problem with A&E which I have suffered myself is the chaos caused by young people who have been drinking and you do feel in a vunerable situation.It is not normally the "patient" that is causing the problem but the gang that they have brought along with them.The solution is restrict the "patient" to one minder,they are not so clever or loud when not in a gang this would soon alleviate some of the problem.
Once you start bringing in charges for one thing it's the thin end of the wedge and will lead to other charges,keep the NHS free.
Regards.
Jim.B.

For those who have had to much to drink introduce the "drunk tank" even in town centres (enough empty shops) stick them in there and keep them away from A&E.

[Captain Kong]

On TV last night they were blaming the "Aging Population" for the woes of the NHS.
That is disgraceful,
It is the aging population that worked for 50 years payin NI Contributions that pay for the NHS.
It is the aging Population that paid the Taxes to the Government that helps to pay for the NHS.

When I go to hospital it is full of immigrants who have never ever paid a penny in to the system. They come in with diseases unchecked then go to our hospitals. TB once eradicated in UK is now in epidemic proportions in certain parts of the country, also on TV last night.
If people have never paid in then they should not get free treatment.
Brian.

[robpage]

in the twelve weeks i was in Portsmouth and Petersfield hospital they were full of immigrants ,they were nurses and very good ones too

[Jim Brady]

Further to young people binge drinking and ending up in A&E, what happened to the law of being arrested for being "Drunk an incapable"and thrown into the slammer for the night,appearing before the magistrate the following morning and paying a fine.That makes more sense to me but maybe with the police resource's that we have now it cant be done.The only time I have seen a young person in A&E through binge drinking they were sitting in a wheelchair in the alleyway sleeping it off causing no hassle or receiving any treatment.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[robpage]

the experiences that i and everyone else in this area has is that the Queen Alexandra hospital at any time in a 24 hour day has is in a permanent 3 to 4 hour queue of substance abusers. This hospital has an area of around 500 square miles catchment but most of the substance abusers are from a small area of Portsmouth itself. In any other country these people would be put in a jail cell. In Portsmouth the hospital care for them , they're over night in an assessment ward and the doctors set them out the next day. Some of the Doctors and nurses will tell you most of these re appear every week; some almost daily . The biggest Problem is probably cheap cider and heroin . If we are forced to look for someone to blame then the biggest problem is closure of four major psychiatric units within a 10 mile radius. This means that people who would have been sectioned or inpatients are now in a totally failed care in the community system care in the community has failed absolutely. The accident and emergency unit is now paying the price. You take yourself or a relative to the emergency unit then you will wait for hours and pay the price care in the community failure

[Jim Brady]

Care in the community Rob, this is why old people are being called "bed Blockers".These people are not receiving treatment in the hostpital but they are not able to look after themselves if they are sent home.At one time they would've had district nurses,home helps and meals on wheels to look after them now through all the cut backs these services have gone.There's a man 92 just received his Ushakov Medal last week,he just spent 36 hours on a trolley in the hostpital corridor waiting on a bed,you can't blame that on binge drinkers.
Regards.
Jim.B.