... A FORUM TO STIMULATE DEBATE ... ... JUST ADD A COMMENT AT ANY ENTRY BELOW... ... FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TOWN AND VALLEY ...

Saturday 21 January 2017

The future of health services in Devon: "We are underfunded, understaffed and desperately overstretched."

A few things have been happening with the NHS of late, as reported by the EDW blog:
And, yes, our LEP does have a hand in health cuts – and not in a good way | East Devon Watch
BBC Spotlight: Independent councillor Claire Wright on NHS crisis | East Devon Watch
BBC Radio Devon: EDA Leader Cathy Gardner on NHS crisis | East Devon Watch

And now it's actually happening:
Four Devon hospitals should close, say health chiefs | Plymouth Herald
Hospital bed closures are set to begin in Devon | Exeter Express and Echo

But it need not:

NHS needs money, not meddling politicians, says Devon consultant

By WMN_MartinF  |  Posted: January 20, 2017


It's a black alert, a humanitarian crisis, a major incident, exceptional measures are demanded. I this Syria? Sudan? Or perhaps a terrorist attack in a major European city?
No, it's a normal working day at your hospital in January. No one, even those of us who have served the NHS for a long time (38 years for me) have witnessed anything like it.
We are underfunded, understaffed and desperately overstretched. In comparison with other European countries we have fewer beds, fewer doctors and nurses and fewer scanners. But when challenged the prime minister and the health secretary repeat the mantra about the huge amounts of extra cash the NHS is receiving.
NHS needs money, not meddling politicians, says Devon consultant | Plymouth Herald

Here's a very insightful piece from 2014:
The billions of wasted NHS cash no-one wants to mention | openDemocracy

And Prof Allyson Pollock, Head of Public Health Research and Policy 'Privatisation of the NHS': Video of her TEDX Talk at Exeter Uni in 2014. 

Published on Apr 29, 2014
This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. The 1948 Act establishing the NHS gave the Secretary of State for Health the duty to provide universal health care.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 removes this duty and introduces a market. Allyson Pollock describes why we need to worry.



Plus a recent video: "Sell Off'--The Full Movie"

Meanwhile, the East Devon Alliance is organising a coach to the National Demo in London Saturday 4th March.
E-mail  coach@eastdevonalliance.org.uk  to reserve seats. Early booking advisable!  
Details, including modest cost, and pick-up places, to be announced shortly.







National NHS Demonstration 4th March 2017 | Keep our NHS public Greater Manchester
HCT - Health Campaigns Together
NHS Crisis – the big national demo – 4 March 2017 | East Devon Watch
.
.
.

No comments: