Horace Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 I don't know why people are complaining about the NHS. My recent experiences of it have been OK. Observer may have a point when he says the dedication of the staff is helping to keep things going, but isn't this true of every organisation ever put together by Man? Every firm I ever worked for was kept going by the dedication of the staff - not ALL the staff, of course. There are always a few who don't pull their weight and I am afraid that is as true of the NHS as any other organisation. But by and large, people don't go in for one of the caring professions unless they are caring people. This is the problem with the banking industry. People there tend to be motivated purely by money - they don't care about anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 That is what I heard Wolfie. Possibly because surgeons aren't operating over the weekend they can be called in case of a complication occurring with one of their "Friday jobs"? Just guessing really as I haven't the foggiest idea what goes on in hospitals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egbert Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Why ARE there fewer staff in hospitals at weekends? It's time we got away from this "weekend" culture where everyone expects to be off on a Saturday and Sunday - particularly in the health service. Surely it doesn't matter what days you have off? Lets work towards a system where every day is the same in hospitals, health centres, doctors surgeries, etc. Indeed, it might be an idea to work towards that in all occupations. I would be quite happy to have my "weekend" on two other days - doesn't really matter which. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 I quite agree with you there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Bennett Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 " a failure to rescue the patient could be due to well-known issues relating to reduced or locum staffing and poorer availability of services over a weekend. " This is my experience. My husband had brain surgery in Addenbrookes on a Friday, he had complications which took far longer to recognise and address because of the shortage of staff. The only Drs available were on-call junior Drs who were clearly inexperienced, the scan operator had to be called in from home and it took about 10hrs to organise, even the ward staff were depleted, they didn't even notice anything was wrong, thought he was just 'asleep', it was us relatives who alerted them (over and over again) to that fact that he was unresponsive. It was really frightening, long before this report came out we would tell people to avoid having an op on a Friday. (He's fine now by the way) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Whilst I agree with Egbert, we should moving towards a 24/7 culture in public services; I think it might involve some expensive renegotiation of contracts?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Why should it be expensive? It shouldn't mean more hours for anyone, just a re-organisation of shifts. Accentuate the positives as the song goes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Assuming workers still get time and a half Saturday and double time Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Well you would have to unassume that and adjust everyone's salary to compensate. It's difficult but not impossible. It would just take strong will and co-operation from all parties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Co-operation from both parties, would be the problem, the government aren't going to up the wage bill for the NHS, and I can't see the surgeons forgoing their 18 holes at the weekends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Well the last Gov dug a hole with the GPs contract; so it'll take some digging out of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 There's a whole host of bureaucrats out there, paid several multiples of my salary to sort this out. Over to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 You mean the same the same "bureaucrats" (plus politicians), who got us into this mess in the first place?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 It's not difficult to go 24/7. Just add the 5 days and Sat rate plus Sunday rate and create a flat hourly figure. Slight hourly increase, which could be saved by sorting out a few perks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 You mean the same the same "bureaucrats" (plus politicians), who got us into this mess in the first place?! You are obviously an experienced politician, who knows how bureaucracy works, why don't you enlighten us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 The secret is, being secret Asp - if everyone knew how to do their job, we wouldn't need them ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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