A&E crisis.

[Inspector Knacker]

As it turns out, loss of A&E is a nationwide event with lots of them closing. We were told it was for the better and would offer a better service.
However,surely if you close lots of A&E's, the remaining A&E's will have their workload increased, it's basic maths. Yet, the patient is blamed and told to pop to the chemists, while they keep ignoring the obvious cause of the problem.

[ReturntoZenda]

Agree completely, but there was an interesting stat issued over Christmas (not by the government !!) that a frighteningly high proportion of visits to A & E were for problems that were completely unsuitable for that department, i.e hangovers, colds, minor ailments.  Sort that out and there's less pressure for a start.

Having said all that, the reduction in A & Es countrywide is a disgrace, none more so that the carve up perpetrated with our hospital at the bidding of our MP, his party and our clowncil.

[testing times]

non-joined up thinking. They used to tell us to go to our own GP but there are practices in this town where it can take 3 weeks to get an appointment. So
now we're being told to go to a pharmacist instead.

[Steely Dan]

Agree completely, but there was an interesting stat issued over Christmas (not by the government !!) that a frighteningly high proportion of visits to A & E were for problems that were completely unsuitable for that department, i.e hangovers, colds, minor ailments.  Sort that out and there's less pressure for a start.

Having said all that, the reduction in A & Es countrywide is a disgrace, none more so that the carve up perpetrated with our hospital at the bidding of our MP, his party and our clowncil.

Not true at all. Tory propaganda. A very small % of people attending AE have minor issues and they can be dealt with easily. The problem is treating the ones who need care. No doctors, no nurses, no money. Don't believe the hype.

[Exiled Poolie]

Not true at all. Tory propaganda. A very small % of people attending AE have minor issues and they can be dealt with easily. The problem is treating the ones who need care. No doctors, no nurses, no money. Don't believe the hype.

No, you are spouting Liebour propaganda. Who runs the NHS in Scotland? In Wales? Neither are under Conservative governance and yet their problems with A&E are worse than in England.

[mk1]

The problem is the same as one  mentioned a few days ago by a UKIP admirer when he suggested Pakistan should be castigated for spending money on weapons whilst seeking aid for its population.
The UK would rather spend £10 milion on a bomb to drop  on a camel in Iraq than  give the money to the NHS.
We should scrap our ICBMs and Aircraft Carriers and spend the money on the NHS.

[kevplumb]

I'm sure this will get some flack but
Bin the foreign aid or at least change the rules
you put your own house in order first then start giving handouts 

[Land Phil]

Many years ago, I remember attending A&E at St Hildas and the General that was.

First thing that happened was you were seen by a triage nurse.
The nurse took a quick look at you and decided on the course of action.
In my case it was a need for stitches to some cuts.
Waited for my turn, stitches done, tetanus jab, job done and sent on my way.

These days, go to One Life for something similar and they can't cope.
Apply totally inappropriate dressing and send you on to A&E (first hand experience backed up by comments from the A&E).
Of course you are driving out of town, bleeding and trying to stay calm.

..then you hear complaints about people that don't really need A&E going there.

They have broke the system and are blaming us for using it as responsibly as we can.

[mk1]

I'm sure this will get some flack but
Bin the foreign aid or at least change the rules
you put your own house in order first then start giving handouts 

What a good idea. Why not run a campaign where you faithfully promise that all the money saved will be spent on the NHS?
After making such a clear commitment you could not possibly walk away from it if you win because even your own fair-minded supporters would be outraged at your duplicity.

[akarjl]

The problem is the same as one  mentioned a few days ago by a UKIP admirer NORMAL PERSON when he suggested Pakistan should be castigated for spending money on weapons whilst seeking aid for its population.

Flawed logic yet again - the ills of the whole of the country appear...well in your world...to be down to UKIP.

Current Situation

UK spends money on defence....
Unfortunatley we also send money to a lunatic islamic state aka Pakistan which, it would appear they don't need because they they are spending a fortune on weapons....

Easy fix

Stop sending overseas aid.....use money at home AND be able to defend ourselves against the various nutters around the world.

http://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/scalefit_630_noupscale/57d95a521800006c32bd156d.jpeg

[Truthache]

There is a lot of confusion about when someone needs Emergency Care and I was shocked at the  figures quoted for the Christmas period (North East).  I have previously commented on a large information poster displayed in A&E at North Tees.  It describes the various medical situations and the BEST option for seeking help and treatment.  The information is excellent BUT I believe it needs to be more widely accessible to the public.  Once you get to A&E it is no good reading it then, the guidance needs to be widely distributed to raise public awareness in advance of any incident , so help is sought from the most appropriate healthcare option.  I have never seen the same information displayed at One Life.
I have offered this opinion to NTH Trust for consideration.  When offering the same opinion on this forum I was chastised for being patronising suggesting the public needed educating, but hey ho not everyone agrees with me.  Personally I would rather have the information in advance to help get the correct care first time.  Perhaps some people don't want to make the decision and just go to A&E as first option and expect them to deal with it. 
For those unfortunate enough to be involved in a major accident, or taken seriously ill, the decision is usually taken for them.  The STPs across the country mean in future the most seriously injured/ill will perhaps travel further to seek care BUT this is based on the philosophy that broad specialist expertise will be available 24/7 all year round and patient outcomes will be better.  Only time will tell.

[ReturntoZenda]

Agree completely, but there was an interesting stat issued over Christmas (not by the government !!) that a frighteningly high proportion of visits to A & E were for problems that were completely unsuitable for that department, i.e hangovers, colds, minor ailments.  Sort that out and there's less pressure for a start.

Having said all that, the reduction in A & Es countrywide is a disgrace, none more so that the carve up perpetrated with our hospital at the bidding of our MP, his party and our clowncil.

Not true at all. Tory propaganda. A very small % of people attending AE have minor issues and they can be dealt with easily. The problem is treating the ones who need care. No doctors, no nurses, no money. Don't believe the hype.

not convinced that's true but I am prepared to be corrected.  Agree wholeheartedly with your second point but am trying to remember where I saw the original statement. 

[akarjl]

I'm sure this will get some flack but
Bin the foreign aid or at least change the rules
you put your own house in order first then start giving handouts 

What a good idea. Why not run a campaign where you faithfully promise that all the money saved will be spent on the NHS?
After making such a clear commitment you could not possibly walk away from it if you win because even your own fair-minded supporters would be outraged at your duplicity.

Dear me once again......talk of campaigns running etc. What part of we have government all they need to do is stop sending aid to these loonies are struggling with?

let me ask if you had a child who needed very expensive medical treatment which was refused by you local health authority would you rather the child received the treatment or would you rather funds were used to build salons systems in Pakistan?

[mk1]

let me ask if you had a child who needed very expensive medical treatment which was refused by you local health authority would you rather the child received the treatment or would you rather funds were used to build salons systems in Pakistan?

I would rather the billions being spent on ICBMs and useless Aircraft Carriers was spent on the NHS instead.

Feel free to ignore that and continue your crusade against dark-skinned non-Christian people

[akarjl]

Feel free to ignore that and continue your crusade against dark-skinned non-Christian people

Actually I couldn't care less what colour/creed/fantasy belief system people have overseas- treat them all equally and stop all aid.