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Monday 7 February 2022

Look out for flying pigs



Covid: Tough new targets will tackle NHS backlog, Boris Johnson says

New "tough targets" will be set to tackle record NHS waiting lists in England, Boris Johnson has said.

The PM promised action after plans to tackle the backlog of people waiting for treatment were delayed.

It had been expected to be published on Monday but Mr Johnson said more details would be set out later this week.

A guy we know slightly, falls off his bike and breaks a rib. He's self-employed and can't work because his work involves heavy lifting, so he goes straight to his local hospital A&E. They turn him away, telling him he needs a referral from his GP.

It's the envy of the world you know.

6 comments:

wiggiatlarge said...

Locally we had the reverse when a man started to get chest pains, his wife was worried and drove him to his GP , the receptionist asked what was wrong and said there were no slots available, despite the wife stating he was in a bad way she still refused to let him see a doctor despite doctors being onn site.
They were told to go to A&E, worried she returned home and called an ambulance which took an hour to turn up, he died on the way to hospital.

I sincerely hope they sue the arse of the surgery but I doubt it, and I am sure this type of story can be replicated all over the country now.

My wife got an appointment last week for her steroid injections, she was one of three in the waiting area and as far as she could tell only one doctor out of seven at the practice was in the building and he is there Thursday and Friday only, the whole thing has reached farcical levels which eminates from the biggest employer in Europe that says it is understaffed!, so many things are so very wrong.

Doonhamer said...

So he will have agents trawling the commonwealth for doctors and nurses because he will never get enough natives qualified before the next election.
Unless he means that he will greatly increase the number of managers. To work from home.
But we really know that "improving" the NHS just means spending lots and lots of lovely lovely money. That is only way that pollies judge improving the NHS.
Not the poor cancer outcomes. Not the number of infections acquired in hospitals. Not the book your appointment for that sudden illness a week in advance. Not the "you can get the operation in two years time, if it's not raining. Or next week if you go private."
Or I am too cynical?

A K Haart said...

Wiggia - it's as if the whole institution of the GP is collapsing. Some seem to function okay but others appear to be basket cases.

Doonhamer - no you are not too cynical. Money and plenty of it is the only thing which tones down the screeching about lack of resources.

dearieme said...

I once walked into a GPs' surgery and told the receptionist that a man had fallen on the pavement outside and seemed to be having a fit. Two other passers-by were looking after him. Could one of the GPs please come and help?

She picked up the phone, had a word with one of the partners, and told me "no, it's better to wait for the ambulance."

Andy said...

The way people are going on anyone would think they expect the NHS to protect them. Surely it's our duty to protect the NHS!

(Snark off)

A K Haart said...

dearieme - that's dismal, at least one of them could have taken a look.

Andy - and that still seems to be the official angle after the pandemic.