Today

[happy daze john in oz]

Problem is Des that all our govs forget we need the essential services more than a high speed rail or some electric busses that when delivered will be out of date.

Without the nurses, ambos fireries and plod we will be in serious trouble.

[James Curry]

Well I suppose that a state that was a penal colony old habits die hard, so you need to keep the Bizzies well paid and happy.

[happy daze john in oz]

Well our state police just got a 4.5% pay rise after almost 12 months of trying.

Now they will have to clean all the divy vans, had them covered in graffiti condemning the gov for lack of action.

[Graham Shaw]

Whilst I agree with most of what you say James, the NHS has never been underfunded, it has been obscenely overstaffed in the management areas, where even secretaries have secretaries to deal with paperwork that has no need to be created in the first instance. I have a daughter who is a doctor in a large London hospital it frustrates the hell out of her. Just imagine the waste in Wales where every document and sign inside and outside the hospital building has to be in two languages and can only be processed further after it is translated into Welsh, probably delaying patient treatment or diagnosis but I suppose it keeps painters and sign writers employed

Whilst having great respect for the NHS,thanks to the way I and others I know of,being treated fairly promptly and with respect and care,I will add to Ivan's comment that,in the departments I receive treatment from at least,it is also the staff, who are,and forgive the pun,overstaffed. This may not be the case in every NHS authority area,but in my local ophthalmology department I regularly see(again no pun intended) as many white coated staff as patients,sometimes more, insomuch that some wait around chatting,not an isolated instance either. I have also noted that those 'not occupied' are of British white ethnicity,whilst it is their 'foreign' colleagues who scurry here and there with we outpatients. So much for lack of British recruits!.... It does make me wonder.

Mind you,my local large Tesco has at times seemingly more staff than customers-staff like personal shoppers with their large carts,fulfilling orders for home delivery customers.One often can't browse in an aisle for fear of being mowed down by one of those monster carts piled high with Mrs Woman's weekly shop for delivery,who judging by the laden cart of course must be fattening up before her next hibernation. It is also strange,and must be Sod's Law,that when I need a bit of guidance as to which aisle where the Unsmoked Finest Bacon Medallions are residing this week,then I look up and down those aisles,and don't see any of those personal shoppers and their carts !

Like the NHS. Hate Shopping.

[happy daze john in oz]

I wonder about the current situation with the UK NHS.

My brother in law lives down on the south coast.
Couple of weeks ago he collapsed and was taken to the local hospital where it was discovered he has a major problem with the sole of his left foot.
Taken to East Grimstead hospital where a skin graft was done on the foot. Told if it did not take he will lose the foot.

Has to go to the out patients three times a week, cannot drive on instructions of hospital so has to use a taxi at a cost of GBP150 return.

When he enquired about some form of 'hospital' transport he was informed he was not entitled!!!

Do you have a patient transport system in UK, either gov run or by volunteers?

[James Curry]

The NHS does operate what they call Non Emergency Patient Transport Services.
Think your brother inlaw needs to have a word. There are NHS Commiunity Ambulance to cover this service.
There is also Ageuk provide transport, services