16-01-15, 07:16 AM
The NHS came into being the same year as I did and, in my opinion, is the single most important thing ever created by any government-all the planning was done during the 2nd world war and I along with countless others owe a huge debt of gratitude for the vision of Aneurin Bevan & his colleagues.
I can only begin to imagine what it must have been like for our forebears who could only access healthcare if they had the money to pay.
Now at the time of life where my body has been "round the clock" I know that in future I am likely to need more frequent servicing/repairs!
Bri-I feel for you and all like us who have paid into the system over the years and hope you will get your op before long.
Noggy-Congratulations on your new family member(mini-Nog?). One of the downsides of living in a rural area is the cost/time involved travelling to hospital.
My eldest son was born in Bangor Hospital in 1979. We lived at Rhos on Sea & because he has premature they kept mum & baby in hospital until his weight went up to 5lb. So for 21 days I worked 8-5 then rushed home to change & then drive 25 miles to visit then 25 miles back. It was a difficult time but much better than nowadays.
IMO there has been far too much tinkering/messing about with this wonderful service which has simultaneously been abused by some service users.
I live in Brum-my old local hospital-Selly Oak closed a few years ago with the opening of the flagship Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
This is a wonderful establishment staffed by some of the best professionals you could wish to meet..However.. Parking costs are astronomical-even the staff have to pay if they park on site and the result is that all our local roads have been clogged up by staff & visitors vehicles. The planners failed abysmally to provide forthe number of vehicles using the site.
The government likes to blame NHS staff & its "customers" for their own incompetence & failures to meet "targets"
Simultaneously we have an ageing population, a rising birth rate and an ever increasing number of people with "self-inflicted" conditions (including those who are grossly obese & then expect the rest of us to pick up the tab for their treatment).
Ultimately I blame successive governments for failure to invest in the important areas that affect us all-eg Education,Jobs, Health.
Strange how they always find the money to fight wars the other side of the world-mind you these public school types probably beleive we still have an empire to "defend"
I can only begin to imagine what it must have been like for our forebears who could only access healthcare if they had the money to pay.
Now at the time of life where my body has been "round the clock" I know that in future I am likely to need more frequent servicing/repairs!
Bri-I feel for you and all like us who have paid into the system over the years and hope you will get your op before long.
Noggy-Congratulations on your new family member(mini-Nog?). One of the downsides of living in a rural area is the cost/time involved travelling to hospital.
My eldest son was born in Bangor Hospital in 1979. We lived at Rhos on Sea & because he has premature they kept mum & baby in hospital until his weight went up to 5lb. So for 21 days I worked 8-5 then rushed home to change & then drive 25 miles to visit then 25 miles back. It was a difficult time but much better than nowadays.
IMO there has been far too much tinkering/messing about with this wonderful service which has simultaneously been abused by some service users.
I live in Brum-my old local hospital-Selly Oak closed a few years ago with the opening of the flagship Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
This is a wonderful establishment staffed by some of the best professionals you could wish to meet..However.. Parking costs are astronomical-even the staff have to pay if they park on site and the result is that all our local roads have been clogged up by staff & visitors vehicles. The planners failed abysmally to provide forthe number of vehicles using the site.
The government likes to blame NHS staff & its "customers" for their own incompetence & failures to meet "targets"
Simultaneously we have an ageing population, a rising birth rate and an ever increasing number of people with "self-inflicted" conditions (including those who are grossly obese & then expect the rest of us to pick up the tab for their treatment).
Ultimately I blame successive governments for failure to invest in the important areas that affect us all-eg Education,Jobs, Health.
Strange how they always find the money to fight wars the other side of the world-mind you these public school types probably beleive we still have an empire to "defend"