Any luck with MPs or councillors?

[AdamW]

I, like many people, am perfectly prepared to sit in my chair and moan about politicians but rarely do anything to let the politicians know what I, one of their benefactors and bosses, think of them.

A couple of weeks ago I managed to cause some injury to my knee whilst doing the 3-peaks challenge, all procedes to a children's hospice. I was prepared, was fit and well, had been training by climbing Snowdon and going to the gym. Yet I still managed to knacker my knee at the top of Scafell Pike.

The doctor diagnosed it as injury to the cartilage in my knee, and advised resting it and considering a physiotherapist. So, I booked a private appointment with a physio. After a couple of appointments and mounting costs I realised the NHS should be paying for this, so went back to the doctor for a referral. Got the response "Unfortunately even if I do write this, they won't see you for months.". Obviously he would rather write a referral and have me seen that day, no doctor wants to tell a patient "you must wait".

I am so infuriated at this that I am going to speak to my MP AND Councillor, to see what they say about this. They are both Labour so should know, seeing as it is their party in power.

I was wondering if anyone else has bothered to complain to their MP or councillor? Did it do any good?

What makes me doubly mad is the fact that a mate of mine who is morbidly obese (through overeating, by his own admission) broke his leg by twisting on it funny. He had physio immediately on the NHS. I, someone who is slightly overweight but doing something about it, am forced to choose whether to pay £300 or so to get it fixed now, or suffer dodgy knees in a few years from now. And that is £300 I can't really afford.

So, any experiences on sticking it to The Man?

 

[masona]

I belong to a private hospital via my company which is run privately costing me arm & leg but I don't trust the NHS waiting lists, now imagine all the people coming off the private treatment and join the NHS waiting lists, this government would panic. I paying twice through national insurance & private insurance, so why should I pay twice and subsidise others ?
As you say it's not just overweight, smoker, alcoholic, it's also slim people who are eating unhealthy as well.

My son jumped off the trampoline and landed wrong on his ankle, now limping badly. Seen GP for referral for a X-ray,appointment 9 days, went back to GP and he wrote urgent on the note as it was. Down to X-ray department the next day ( 4 1/2 hour waiting ) and a nurse with broken english sent him home to rest as x-ray was not need. I then paid privatey for a x-ray and his foot is now broken and will take longer to heal because it was left too long.

Tony Blair 1997 : We have 48 hours to save the NHS, now we have MRSA problem.

I'm sick & tired of MP's running this country and they are all as bad as each others.

AdamW, Go back to GP and insist on having it done in France and tell him it will be a lot cheaper than NHS.

My family works for NHS (chemist, doctor & nurse) and they all said "the one that shout the loudest get seen to first."

 

[AdamW]

You see I had considered this.

If it went the way the Tories would like, with private everything, then most people would take out insurance and NI would (hopefully) go down accordingly. In that situation I would be prepared. But it is because I stupidly thought that all this alleged investment in the NHS that the government claims, would make this unnecessary.

I feel sorry for the doctors and nurses who have to go to work every day knowing they are going to have to tell people "There's a 6 month waiting list by which time you will be dead or crippled". I very much doubt they got into medicine for that.

 

[pipme]

Just a small point, if you go private and you are having, say, a routine op... Suddenly you have a heart attack !!! Yep, you've got it ... they will phone for an ambulance and toddle you off to the local NHS Hospital.
It is all a big rip off, just that some take longer than others to relieve you of your dosh.
of course the NHS is wasting a fortune .. I know of a 'non-clinical' manager ... with no one to manage ... salary £46,500 with retirement looming the poor devil is looking at 40/80 ths as a pension PLUS 3 times that annual pension as a lump sum !! £23,250 p/a (No NI payments required) plus £69,750 tax free lump !! Try that in your company pension, if you have one, you'll lose income to gain lump sum .... Oops forgot the OAP .. the couple both work ... so will get 2 single persons OAP on top !!!

What about the consultants then? Not all but many, spend majority of time doing private work, then later in life switch back to NHS ..... I hear the huffing of the pension gravy train here !! Just how f'ing much is enough ?

P

 

[masona]

I feel sorry for the doctors and nurses who have to go to work every day knowing they are going to have to tell people "There's a 6 month waiting list by which time you will be dead or crippled". I very much doubt they got into medicine for that.

Sadly 43% of doctor & nurse are a secret alcoholic from a recent survey.

Next time you see a nurse or GP give them a great big smile. It's not a easy job and I personally blame the government for pushing pressure on GP & nurse for target figures which the government adjust it to suit them anyway.

I have decided to deleted most of my post earlier here, didn't enjoy reading it.

 

[david and julie]

masona...... After speaking to my wife who works for the NHS I think you should write a letter of complaint to the hospital where the nurse told your son he didn't need an xray or treatment - address the letter to the Chief Executive explaining the whole incident and the outcome after taking your son to be seen privately.

In addition you should also see a specialist injury lawyer (one who specialises in medical negligence) as I feel you have a claim (they will advise you whether you have or not and the initial interview may not cost anything!!)

Adam..... What the politicians never mention is that any extra facilities are always PFI's. So if they say we have spent XXXXmillions what they mean is a private firm (often foriegn) have, and built an hospital or whatever. All the politicians do is sign away our future with expensive leases. I watched a programme a while ago about a PFI, the consortium running it got a quote for the work, added on finance costs, then a 25% profit margin. The gov spokesperson said it was a good deal for the public!!!!!! It would be interesting to see who owns these companies.

The MP's know this but are happy to live now pay later, because to the unthinking it looks like they are doing well and reducing the national debt. When really this is not the case, it is still there, but under a different name.

Even worse when they merge hospitals and the like, they then sell one site and do a PFI on the other!

Just to be fair, the tories started this and labour have shown them how to do it big style.

 

[AdamW]

Sorry AdamW gone off topic slightly, so please carry on replying from AdamW topic

No, that very much is the topic and reinforces what I said about how people go into medicine because they want to help people, and end up spending their working days seeing people get worse or go without treatment. Not a recipe for a happy chappy. Only half the story of course, there are the patients on the other side but everyone is suffering from this.

 

[IanDB]

Maybe you're suffering from the post code lottery syndrome, in which case it's definitely worth having a go at your MP - after all he is meant to be looking after your general interest.

I used to be in a private scheme which also covered my wife. She damaged her cartilige and was offered an op. within days. However once the tax increases began to bite I thought that I'd opt out as I was going to pay for everything twice (NHS & private). So I'm taking my chances with the NHS. Just recently my wife (again!?!) had an accident and thought she'd broken her ankle. We went and sat in our local A & E for a few hours until she had it X-rayed. What amazed me was that half the people in there didn't seem to have anything serious wrong with them - it was a Sunday afternoon. My wife was in agony but had to join the queue. Anyway getting back to the original point, she has had to "only" wait two weeks to see a physiotherapist. The inconsistency of treatment across the country is the real problem. To have to wait months to see a physio is outrageous.

 

[ZenStalinist]

I think the NHS needs a definite shakeup. If anything it's the PPPs that are a disaster. Howard's plans are a joke. Under his schemes, a broken leg would cost on average £5000 directly to the patient. What's the point in choice and improved services if noone can afford them? What Howard would do is what the Blairites are currently doing times five hundred. New Labour isn't great. But love us or hate us, we're the best thing going mwahahaha.*

*Actually, I'm more an old labour type, but I'm a member of Labour, therefore New Labour nontheless.

On another note, I think the NHS maybe even needs time to settle, all these initiatives and investment. They will only increase efficiency if they're given time, if things aren't constantly being changed with little reason.

 

[masona]

I think the NHS needs a definite shakeup.

Whatever it is, it cannot carry on as it is.I don't think it will make any difference what party's are in power. My private hospital plus France & Germany hospital don't have any waiting lists, so what is the problem ?
Why don't we copy them ? What are the politician's scare of ? too many pen pushers, interfering government, too many red tape, too many chief not enough Indian, not enough money, does any of you remember no waiting lists the last 40 years ? How can anyone say the NHS is free ? It's only free to people that don't pay anything toward it including prescription. I've now have to travel 8 miles to my new dentist as my ex-dentist is now on Denplan which you have to pay a monthy payment, but I should be lucky as there're over 9,000 clients without a dentist in my area.

Tony Blair 1997 : 48hrs to save the NHS and everyone will have dentist by 2001.

So what is the answer ? If a private hospital can do it why can't the NHS.

 

[AdamW]

*Actually, I'm more an old labour type, but I'm a member of Labour, therefore New Labour nontheless.

Well, let's just say if you cut me down the middle I would be blue all the way through! But I wouldn't mind so much Old Labour. At least you know what you are in for with old red, rather than trying so hard to appeal to the middle classes one minute and screwing them the next.

Why does every government always blame the last government for every problem? We have had labour for 7 or 8 years now, the excuse is wearing thin!!! The Second World War was fought and won in 6 years. Now they can't sort out a freakin' health system (amongst other things) in more time than that.

Edit: I have just read about the proposed shake-up of the rail system. Yet they aren't proposing nationalisation. They're upsetting the balance, you need to have labour on the socialist side, tories on the capitalist side and the lib dems sitting in the middle. Doesn't work if everyone runs over to the right of centre!

 

[AdamW]

I've now have to travel 8 miles to my new dentist as my ex-dentist is now on Denplan which you have to pay a monthy payment, but I should be lucky as there're over 9,000 clients without a dentist in my area.

My parents' town has a lot of OAPs in it. The dentist there has gone completely private so no-one can afford new dentures or care for those who still have their own teeth.

I fear the American stereotype of English people with bad teeth may come true. It's only fair I suppose, all of our stereotypes of them have done already

 

[mildmanneredjanitor]

One of the problems with Mp's is the typical knee jerk reaction to whatever is happening in the media at the time.

This week it is MRSA, so MP's are bull shi*ing us about measures that they are taking to address this problem...

Now the root of the MRSA problem in my opinion is the following:

1 - Statistical targets - In other words, staff are pressured to treat patients within a certain time limit and send them on their way because of this stoopid patients charter!

2 - Hygiene - In order to reduce costs private companies are used for domestic cleaning etc. In other words someone paid minimum wage who couldn't give a sh*t about anything doing the work (badly) while a private individual lines their fat pockets with the profits.

3 - Cutbacks - With less beds available (streamlining I think it's called ) people can be placed in unappropriate wards, then moved around when beds become available!

4 - Training - Where do all of the doctors, surgeons and nurses that work privately come from, that's right trained for years under the NHS system! How much does it cost to train a Doctor?? £1 million??? Why spend all this money on training medical staff to then say, off you go - go work the private sector we are supporting!!! Surgeons that work for the NHS also moonlight in private hospitals

I could go on and on. But I gues like most people, I don't feel I would make a difference, so do nothing...

As for the whole railway privatisation malarky.... Spend billions making it look like a good private investment, then subsidise it.... Why?

Is it because they knew they were incapable of making it profitable themselves??? Is the railway system costing us less now than when national??? I doubt it!


Finally, all these reports. What a joke! Was it the Turner report - about the bogus Iraq war?

Summary, no-one was really to blame - cos everyone was doing a very hard job you know. So our illustrious leader says, Yes I take the blame, knowing nothing will come of it!!!

My summary:
US was pi**ed after 9/11 and wanted revenge and to kick ass... Anyones.
Iraq, being a moslim country with Saddam still in power made a good target.
UK, not wanting to miss out joins in.

The end

 

[AdamW]

Well, despite being the real-life embodiment of "Tory Boy" on Harry Enfield's old series, I reckon nationalisation is the way forward with certain things, the railways one of them.

Although I would never become a politician, I'm not allowed... my parents were married, and I can't prove insanity runs in my family. Plus I would feel guilty about wasting everyone else's money. And I have a soul. I'd be rubbish at scandals too. Satsuma in the mouth? Not my style.

 

[pipme]

To be fair, I am sure a large number of MPs start out with great intentions ... the system overwhelms them !!

Is everything just too complex now ? That is surely where change is needed .... simplification !!!
For example, with taxation, I am sure I read somewhere if everyone paid a low fixed % of earnings ... Do away with all tax free 'allowances' companies and individuals ... The admin cost would fall through the floor and the revenue would shoot skyward.
Ok we could still entice companies into specific areas by means other than tax breaks.
Do we need all the complexities of this system ? Or does it just keep a relative minority in highly paid jobs administering the beomoth ?

P