Why people are dying in the backs of ambulances

[SirGalahad]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/15/people-dying-ambulances-javid-health-secretary

Today, with new revelations of the plight of people who die in the back of ambulances and the up to 160,000 more a year who come to harm because they are stuck outside hospitals unable to be admitted to A&E, we all see the extent to which the NHS is struggling in the face of extraordinary pressure.

Let me share with you my perspective from the frontline. The NHS is running on empty. The staff are physically and mentally exhausted. And yet we are constantly asked for more.

I recently worked 54 hours in four days. I had five hours of unplanned overruns at the end of my shifts. My 30-minute break, which I am entitled to in a 12-hour shift, was eight or nine hours into the shift every time. That is nine hours of work without a break. That is due to the sheer amount of calls we are receiving as an ambulance service.

This is not a sustainable way of working. I finished my shifts physically and mentally drained, and considering resigning from my job. I love my job. I love working as a paramedic, but in recent times, I am starting to consider the physical strain that it is putting on my body, and the stress and tension I am carrying around with me even on my days off. My time away from work is not downtime any more, because I cannot relax from the strain of the job. We are being worked into the ground. This will lead to more resignations and more strain on an already stretched service.

 

[Odds]

Every winter you can be assured someone from our glorious Health Service will say the same thing; as predictable as geese flying south for the season.
There's never enough money.
"Please sir, can i 'ave some more?"

 

[diy_fun_uk]

I wonder to what extent these issues are caused by inefficient management/planning.

 

[AngleEyes]

I wonder to what extent these issues are caused by inefficient management/planning.

To do with strategic planning by government? All of it!

 

[Notch7]

Every winter you can be assured someone from our glorious Health Service will say the same thing; as predictable as geese flying south for the season.
There's never enough money.
"Please sir, can i 'ave some more?"

perhaps NHS money should not be siphoned off into private companies where it ends up in the hands of Tories and their mates.

where do you think Owen Patersons £500k came from -it came from lucrative NHS contracts with Randox

thats why the NHS hasnt got any money

 

[Mottie]

I wonder to what extent these issues are caused by inefficient management/planning.

Mrs Mottie works for the NHS and from what she tells me, the management is shocking. She has four managers above her. One is off on maternity leave and two have left and haven’t been replaced leaving one to do it all. It wouldn’t happen in the commercial world.

 

[Mottie]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/15/people-dying-ambulances-javid-health-secretary

Today, with new revelations of the plight of people who die in the back of ambulances and the up to 160,000 more a year who come to harm because they are stuck outside hospitals unable to be admitted to A&E, we all see the extent to which the NHS is struggling in the face of extraordinary pressure.

Let me share with you my perspective from the frontline. The NHS is running on empty. The staff are physically and mentally exhausted. And yet we are constantly asked for more.

I recently worked 54 hours in four days. I had five hours of unplanned overruns at the end of my shifts. My 30-minute break, which I am entitled to in a 12-hour shift, was eight or nine hours into the shift every time. That is nine hours of work without a break. That is due to the sheer amount of calls we are receiving as an ambulance service.

This is not a sustainable way of working. I finished my shifts physically and mentally drained, and considering resigning from my job. I love my job. I love working as a paramedic, but in recent times, I am starting to consider the physical strain that it is putting on my body, and the stress and tension I am carrying around with me even on my days off. My time away from work is not downtime any more, because I cannot relax from the strain of the job. We are being worked into the ground. This will lead to more resignations and more strain on an already stretched service.

I don’t know what to suggest or say to that other than thanks for all that you do and you have my total respect for the vital work you carry out.

 

[securespark]

I wonder to what extent these issues are caused by inefficient management/planning.

I have always said there are too many managers in the NHS and not enough doctors, nurses and clinicians.

Plus, there are countless numbers who train under the NHS then promptly bugger off.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

I'm in Scotland so our NHS is separate from England's, however part of me does worry about the future of the NHS with the almost constant underperforming in many areas. It plays into the hands of those seeking ground-up reform. Whilst that might not be a bad thing, I do wonder if the door (as part of that process) would then be opened wider to the possibility of more privatisation. Hence the side debate about is part of this intentional from government perspective. Throttle funding etc so the NHS doesn't perform, then say 'we need to change this as it isn't performing.'

 

[securespark]

I am very worried about this "trend".

 

[gas112]

Retired mate a midwife does 8 bank days a month for something to do. Done 3 night shifts other week and cleared just under a grand. Money is there but bad management is wasting hundreds of millions

 

[Lower]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/15/people-dying-ambulances-javid-health-secretary

Today, with new revelations of the plight of people who die in the back of ambulances and the up to 160,000 more a year who come to harm because they are stuck outside hospitals unable to be admitted to A&E, we all see the extent to which the NHS is struggling in the face of extraordinary pressure.

Let me share with you my perspective from the frontline. The NHS is running on empty. The staff are physically and mentally exhausted. And yet we are constantly asked for more.

I recently worked 54 hours in four days. I had five hours of unplanned overruns at the end of my shifts. My 30-minute break, which I am entitled to in a 12-hour shift, was eight or nine hours into the shift every time. That is nine hours of work without a break. That is due to the sheer amount of calls we are receiving as an ambulance service.

This is not a sustainable way of working. I finished my shifts physically and mentally drained, and considering resigning from my job. I love my job. I love working as a paramedic, but in recent times, I am starting to consider the physical strain that it is putting on my body, and the stress and tension I am carrying around with me even on my days off. My time away from work is not downtime any more, because I cannot relax from the strain of the job. We are being worked into the ground. This will lead to more resignations and more strain on an already stretched service.

From your perspective, how many call outs are to people that are calling an ambulance as a result of a failure to be able to see a GP or slow referral?

I have a guy at work with a bladder problem. It is causing him a lot of pain and his GP has referred him to a specialist for a uroscopy. He was told he get an appointment in 6 weeks. 6 weeks later, no appointment, and the number he's been given for the department goes to answerphone. He's left messages every day for 2 weeks without a call back. He went back to his GP who managed to contact the urology department who told him they had no idea when he'd get an appointment, but he could have an appointment with the nurse who would show him how to catheterise himself.

He's ended up paying to see a specialist privately. I don't blame him as the above sounds like a shambles.

 

[SirGalahad]

Mrs Mottie works for the NHS and from what she tells me, the management is shocking. She has four managers above her. One is off on maternity leave and two have left and haven’t been replaced leaving one to do it all. It wouldn’t happen in the commercial world.

Enron, Lehman Brothers, Worldcom etc

You really are a world class ****.

 

[gas112]

Nothing up with privatisation if we still pay the same and it stays free at point of use. Too many bad managers and money wasted left right and centre, needs overhauled I so many areas

 

[Mottie]

Nothing up with privatisation if we still pay the same and it stays free at point of use. Too many bad managers and money wasted left right and centre, needs overhauled I so many areas

Privatisation would get rid of half of the management and based on what I've seen, that wouldn't be a bad thing. It needs somebody to go in and run it like it was a commercial enterprise so that the taxpayers get better value.