South West NHS union's 'grave concern' at finance plan

“Oh come on Nick, Labour poured millions of pounds into the public sector but couldn't be bothered to reform it. If the NHS is failing today it is because of comrade Brown being stuck in the 1950's , even real communists had five year plans, comrade Brown couldn't manage five minute plans.”

“MisterDonut:
Do you mean the 13 years when we had a Tory government masquarding as New Labour,when we saw the gap between rich and poor widening,where we read in Hansard reports of the constant bickering of the real Tory front bench of New Labour carrying out their policies and ideas, one would be hard pressed to squeeze a cigarette paper between ANY of the todays partys, so at the next general election we, the great British electorate will have the same choice we had the last time, we can vote Tory,Tory,or Tory, and the misery of ordinary folk will continue, where it is deemed quite acceptable for our elderly,who cannot afford to heat their homes to die from hypothermia,at the same time as those that created the mess this country is in continue to take 6 figure salarys,and award themselves multi million poud annual bonuses.”

“Of course nick, 13 years of Labour policies seen to have slipped your mind.”

“uquip:----------"Something is very wrong with our NHS."
I agree, all caused by the ruling class who do not use it,the only people who do are us plebs.”

“I think we all love and cherish the founding principles of the NHS. And lets not forget that we all pay for the NHS. But today a newspaper (not the Herald I might add) has exposed that elderly patients are being starved to death on some wards through neglect (if you or I had suggested that on the Heralds site, our comment would have been removed). Add this to the fact that a mid staffordshire hospital is going into administration after a higher than usual death rate because of patient neglect and you realise that something is very wrong with our NHS.”

“I don't work in the NHS but know plenty that do. By and large they are not well paid, they are constantly reorganised or have yet another initiative forced upon them.

the members of this group invested £10000 each in setting it up and have spent more cash on meetings and other activities involving managers that are not going to be low paid to discuss what - how they can make the lowest paid even more low paid. As for a gold plated pension, if your pay is low, then so is your pension, something you pay for throught your working life.

If you have no pension, then the likelihood is you need to relay on state benefits later in life.

It's just a thought, but wouldn't it be better if these experts in saving money could find efficiencies elsewhere and spend cash on healthcare rather than cuts to staff pay and other terms and conditions?

NHS employees, like other public sector workers, spend their cash in the local economy. If they have further cuts, then local businesses will suffer also.

Everyone knows someone with a bad tale to tell about hospitals, but the truth is the majority of us are really thankful for the wonderful care and attention we receive from the overstretched staff in the NHS delivering healthcare based on need, not ability to pay.

If you have strong opinions and ideas that can constructively improve the NHS, then become a member of a foundation trust and participate in the governance of the NHS, don't sit on your backside and complain about others”

“There used to be a time when cleaners and cooks etc. were employed by and part of the lifeblood of the hospitals. They were a proud team and were well respected by the patients. If they were passing by and saw that a patient needed water they would go and get water. Their cleaning was exemplary and if the bed needed moving out to clean all round it, including between the bars at the bedhead end, then they would move it. Matron would occasionally follow behind just to make sure everything was as it should be. Woe betide the nurses if the sheets weren't done properly. The workers on all levels took pride in what they were doing and if you said you were going to train to be a nurse you were envied. The patients were treated with respect.

Nowadays it seems to be all about money and I mean from all quarters. The hospital trusts don't want to spend it, the staff don't want to earn it. It is like a merry-go-round where the patient, at the end of the day, is treated like an inconvenience.”

“With regards " Bugs in Hospitals " Prior to the privatisation of hospital cleaning my partner was employed as a cleaner at Frenchay Hospital Bristol, her and a colleague were given 2 wards to clean during their 8 hour 20 minute shifts, now she works on her own, and must clean 3 wards during a 7 hour shift, and had her pay reduced by 35p an hour,she now tells me that her job ,in the main involves pushing a damp mop (which spreads germs really well) from one part of the ward to the other,she also says that it is IMPOSSIBLE for one person to clean 3 wards PROPERLY in the time given,it would seem that this privatisation has been as sucessful to us as the privatisation of the Water,gas,electricity,and Public transport industries.”

“Yes well judging by the abysmal stories of neglect, negligent doctors, bugs caught in hospitals etc. etc. it is about time somebody stopped all pay rises and perks until staff of all grades can prove that they are doing their jobs properly. If the NHS ever goes private as it inevitably will, these sort of things will not be tolerated. The unions have a lot to answer for. Of course the union bosses are sitting pretty with their huge salaries, but, if things continue downhill in the NHS as they currently are, they will be out of a job. Its is about time things got back to how they were with a ward sister having her desk in the ward and not outside where they stand and natter. Oh and bring back matron, she used to know how to keep order, with doctor's also.”

“You can guarentee that the public sector unions alternative business case will protect their pay and conditions, protect their extra holidays, perks etc, gold plated pensions but have little to do with patient care. Yet it will all be wrapped up in 'protecting the NHS for the patient' and any strikes will be for your benefit.”