O/T. The Government's handling of Covid

[Ram59]

So the shortage of nurses (around 50,000 vacancies) has absolutely nothing to do with Tory government then? You know cutting the financial assistance for training, worsening their salaries and working conditions? I know a number of medical staff who have left the NHs, because they were fed up by May and Hunt's high handed unsympathetic handling of their issues.

Then its clear from the effects of Covid-19 and where it has hit hardest that this and previous Tory governments austerity policies, lack of a cohesive and meaningful social care and health policies, cutbacks in local authorities and other public services have all contributed to a worse situation than it would have been.

So its wrong to say the lack of staffing is down to absenteeism, it isn't its down to lack of qualified, experienced medical staff, I mean even this government admitted it was around 50,000 nurses short!!

I agree to a certain point Swale, but you would assume that the government knew the staffing levels when making the decision to build the Nightingales and thought that there would be enough staff. What they didn't anticipate was the very high level of absenteeism in the NHS, whilst the pandemic was on. What I have been told is that in one department at Heartlands hospital there are a number of staff falsely staying off work and if this is replicated throughout the NHS, this would explain the shortage of staff for the Nightingales.

Although, the media would never dare to investigate anything against NHS staff. In an interview today, a nurses leader said that her members had all been rushed off their feet since March, which is simply not true. Throughout the summer hospitals were begging people not to avoid going to A&E. I know from personal experience and that of a number of friends, including the last few days, that many departments of our local hospitals are half empty with many nurses standing around with not a lot to do. Surely, spare staff on these non covid wards could be used in the Nightingales. The organisation at local level seems to be very poor. Only today, I heard of a local nurse who recently left the service for a 'better' post, only to realise she missed the work at Heartlands and applied to return to her old post, she's still waiting a reply six weeks later.

[swaledale]

I agree to a certain point Swale, but you would assume that the government knew the staffing levels when making the decision to build the Nightingales and thought that there would be enough staff. What they didn't anticipate was the very high level of absenteeism in the NHS, whilst the pandemic was on. What I have been told is that in one department at Heartlands hospital there are a number of staff falsely staying off work and if this is replicated throughout the NHS, this would explain the shortage of staff for the Nightingales.

Although, the media would never dare to investigate anything against NHS staff. In an interview today, a nurses leader said that her members had all been rushed off their feet since March, which is simply not true. Throughout the summer hospitals were begging people not to avoid going to A&E. I know from personal experience and that of a number of friends, including the last few days, that many departments of our local hospitals are half empty with many nurses standing around with not a lot to do. Surely, spare staff on these non covid wards could be used in the Nightingales. The organisation at local level seems to be very poor. Only today, I heard of a local nurse who recently left the service for a 'better' post, only to realise she missed the work at Heartlands and applied to return to her old post, she's still waiting a reply six weeks later.

You'd assume that they would know the PPE they were ordering was fit for purpose?

You'd assume that the test and trace system they spent millions on was fit for purpose?

You'd assume that the phone app they paid to be developed would work?

I mean either there is a shortage of 50,000 nurses or there isn't and if there is, then thats a fact.

Also its not just staff numbers, but staff who ahve the right training to be able to staff the wards, handling seriously ill patinets , some on ventilation in ICU is not your average nurses job.

Its true that from June onwards, hospitals were Ok, and patients were avoiding hospital for routine treatment.

Its a little dangerous to deduce conditions across the country based on local experience, some areas are overstretched, others are not.

Yes NHS could work better, though to be fair my experience over the years has been very good, however, again look at the never ending series of "reforms" funding cuts and part privatisation which successive Tory governments have inflicted on it which is a big part of the reason its not as efficient as it could be.