The Tories have screwed the NHS, and I experienced it.
Our stretched and disappearing NHS
The damage being done by deliberate under-resourcing
Yesterday I called NHS 111. It took me 40 minutes to get through to someone. After assessment they referred me to a medical walk-in centre at a small hospital 8 miles away out of borough, because my own GP had no remaining appointments, and they determined I needed attention within 6 hours. I drove the 8 miles to the walk-in centre, who turned me away because they were already at capacity (at 5 in the evening) and taking NO FURTHER APPOINTMENTS FOR THE DAY, despite the forward notification. I sat in the car and called 111 again, and took another 40 minutes to get through, before being able to explain the situation. Best they could offer was that I should go to A&E at my large borough hospital. I didn't consider my situation warranted taking up A&E time, so I went home leaving the 111 call open. I was woken by a telephone call at 4:50AM, and again at 9:00AM at which time I was referred to my GP (with just two referral slots remaining), who finally called me at 11:00AM.
Do I blame the call centre? No. Do I blame the walk-in centre? No. Do I blame anyone in the NHS? No.
This lies firmly at the feet of the Tories who have, for decades, deliberately under-resourced and under-provisioned our public health services to hold back on pennies in the pound taxes for the highest tax-payers and to underwrite a private health economy, the profits of which benefit those same people and their business pals. Don't blame the sick. Don't blame the strikers, who are over-stretched and under-paid, and fed up. Don't blame immigrants - many of whom actually staff the stretched service we have. Blame the people responsible - the Tories. The "get your nose in the trough; profit above consequence" Conservatives.
Incidentally, I'm fine. Once I spoke to the GP everything was sorted out quickly. But were I, say, a parent with a sick child and cash in the bank I might be driven to spend that money on attending a private walk-in. It should not be necessary. This is deliberate privatisation by stealth, except it isn't very stealthy.
