N.H.S.care to patients?

Question

have we got a post code lottery for care in this country.

15 yrs as mortuary tech and regional health and safety officer.i do know were the money goes.

Answer 1

I think half the waste in the NHS is down to the management. I have actually done admin on a part time basis for one of the large teaching hospitals in London.
Previously I had only worked for privately run business and am self employed. I was shocked at the level of inexperience and incompetence of the management.
People are often redeployed to dept.s they have no knowledge of, are given jobs they are not properly trained or adapted for. None seemed to have any idea about basic budgets, rotas, demand and supply, marketing or personnel skills.
Most would not have lasted 5 minutes in private based service industries.
Because it is costly to sack or make someone redundant, they are just redeployed to jobs they are not suited too. Jobs are also given to people to satisfy cultural statistics.
Personally, I despaired at the situation. Those that are capable are hindered by the incompetent.

The commitment and the quality of service given by consultants and their staff I would never criticise. What I would condemn is the conditions they have to work under.
We have highly qualified people working under the pressure of administration by ill trained management.

I admire the dedication of the hardcore. I was shocked at the compromises they and the patients have to endure. I understand the task is a difficult one, but it is hardly surprising to hear that in another goverment run sector 25 million names and their valuable info have gone missing.

Never mind the Nanny State, the NHS is being run by those who haven't left the nursery yet.

Answer 2

It all comes down to money, but if you actually had to pay for some of the common drugs that are used, you wouldnt believe the cost. People only pay £6.85 for a prescription item, sometimes that item actually costs about £10, somtimes it costs about £50 or £60 and even more. Its good value when you think about it that way.

I know someone who has a skin cream that has to be made up specially for her at the manufacturers. The cost is £160. She pays £6.85 for the prescription, the local health authority have to pay for the rest.

It is sad that certain areas wont allow doctors to prescribe certain drugs, if there werent so many people claiming benefits in these areas, the chances of getting these drugs would increase. People on benefits get free prescriptions, so the health authority bears the total cost of these drugs. If one person on benefit has to take a drug which costs £60 for 28 tablets, and he has to take two a day, thats £120 per month on just one person.

Multply that by all the thousands and thousands of people who get their prescriptions free in each local health authority, and you can see why they have to cut back. I work in a pharmacy and prescriptions are sorted by people who pay and those that dont, and believe me, the 'dont pay' pile is way way bigger than the 'paid' pile.

Health authorities dont do it to be mean, they do it to save money and stay within the budget they have been allocated. They only have limited funds from the government, and if they overspend they have to soak up the cost, which would in turn raise costs elsewhere.

I agree that all drugs should be easily available wherever you live, like the alzheimers drug.

Its £2.50 per day. Multiply that by 30 days a month, thats £75 per month. Now multiply that by 12 months, thats £900 a year for one person. Multiply that by however many people need that drug in any given area - say 2000 people. Thats £1,800,000 out of the budget on a drug that doesnt STOP alzheimers, it slows it down a bit.

I am not saying I agree with this reasoning, I am merely trying to show you how its worked out.

Answer 3

I've had no problems here in Wales -all prescriptions are free as well
BUT
as you say - yes, we must have a postcode lottery for care

Answer 4

im annoyed with the nhs , but i think i shoud be gratefull ..

have you tried living without any healthcare whatso ever, of any description ?

do you know what it like to die because you cant get a hospital ? no

they have problems, look at the population it serves ! im sure they would welcome serious contingable suggestions to improve, should you possibly have any.

Answer 5

my dad's got cancer and in hospital at the moment.the nhs has done a good job of taking care of him so far