Do you want to discuss boring politics? (25 Viewers)

[Grendel]

My wife had questions about an X-ray she’d had after her GP referred her to have an additional scan, without saying why. Rang up the medical centre to be told the GP was unavailable and the next appointment wouldn’t be for another week. The receptionist cheerfully told us that if we really wanted an answer before then, we could head to A&E for another X-ray. Wouldn’t even refer us to an urgent care centre either. We didn’t bother but I’m sure plenty of people do.

Not a life threatening emergency but someone adding to the problem then and adding more cost

At least you admit you don’t give a fuck

 

---

[SBT]

Not a life threatening emergency but someone adding to the problem then and adding more cost

At least you admit you don’t give a fuck

Huh? Sorry for calling our GP I guess?

 

[Grendel]

Huh? Sorry for calling our GP I guess?

I would have waited

 

[PVA]

My most recent experience at A&E was pretty awful. Well actually it was children's A&E.

Took my 4 year old in at 11pm and we didn't get seen by a doctor until 6am.

A 7 hour wait with a child who was in distress and in pain, and repeatedly vomiting. Pretty awful.

They say it's not on a first come first served basis and instead is done in order of importance but it really didn't seem like it. She was in more distress than anyone else in there, and most were older apart from a baby that was brought in.

Not the staff's fault, but 7 hours to see a 4 year old in pain is pretty fucking awful.

 

[SBT]

I would have waited

Thanks for the advice. I’m willing to bet I’ve been less of a burden on the NHS than you have but keep the input coming.

 

[Marty]

I was in A&E a few weeks ago, was seen and out the door in a couple of hours, that was including having an x-ray.

 

[Grendel]

Thanks for the advice. I’m willing to bet I’ve been less of a burden on the NHS than you have but keep the input coming

Wow

How do you arrive at that conclusion?

 

[Grendel]

I spent 3 days in A&E a while back as they didn't quite know what to do with me. Was quite an eye opener. What you've highlighted here is essentially the problem, although it applies to far more than GPs.

Other services have had funding cut to such an extent that they, to any practical extent, don't exist. This means A&E is now the go to for anyone unable to get a GP appointment, as well as the homeless, those with addiction issues and those with mental health issues.

A&E policy is not to turn people away, you can imagine the response if they started turning people away and someone walked out and dropped dead. There’s also a policy that if you return within 24 hours you can’t be discharged immediately

The other services, such as walk in centres, that are supposed to take pressure off A&E don't work. You've got a large group of people who simply don't know they exist but there's no system for transferring people. If you go to the walk in centre, wait a few hours, and get told you need to go to A&E you're at the back of the queue when you get there. How many times do you think that has to happen before your mindset is I'll go straight to A&E?

And then we get to the GP service which is a complete shambles. I see my actual doctor I would say roughly 1 in every 10 appointments. As someone with ongoing health issues I’m often seeing another doctor at the surgery and it is very obvious they have no clue about those issues. This means both repeat appointments for things not properly dealt with the first time and things that should have been addressed at an early stage becoming a bigger issue that requires further treatment.

If I can’t get an appointment at my surgery I get sent across the city to another surgery owned by the same company, if they’re full I get told to go to A&E.

Finally you add in long waiting lists meaning things that could have been relatively easily dealt with become more complex, potentially leading to a point people feel no option other than to turn up at A&E as they feel they’re getting nowhere.

A&E has become the catch all for every other service that no longer exists or is at capacity.

You need to change doctors. I tend to get an appointment the same day even if I call midday

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

You need to change doctors. I tend to get an appointment the same day even if I call midday

Same there’s no reason to accept a rubbish service

 

[SBT]

Wow

How do you arrive at that conclusion?

I mean, you’ve said it can be upsetting if people get too specific about this stuff. But if you want to lecture people about using NHS resources then crack on!

 

[SBT]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/magazine/chatbot-writing-style.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

An equally insightful and depressing look at how AI writes, with this bleak data point about UK politics for good measure

And it’s very likely that A.I. has been caught smuggling cultural practices into places they don’t belong. In the British Parliament, for instance, transcripts show that M.P.s have suddenly started opening their speeches with the phrase “I rise to speak.” On a single day this June, it happened 26 times. “I rise to speak in support of the amendment.” “I rise to speak against Clause 10.” Which would be fine, if not for the fact that this is not something British parliamentarians said very much previously. Among American lawmakers, however, beginning a speech this way is standard practice.

 

[rob9872]

There’s loads across other social media Oete, it needs collating and cataloguing or it might just look a bit salty after a loss. I saw one list from a lady saying her grandson had lost teeth and others about being hit.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/magazine/chatbot-writing-style.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

An equally insightful and depressing look at how AI writes, with this bleak data point about UK politics for good measure

If they can’t even use humans to write speeches or communicate ideas they shouldn’t be in politics.

 

[Grendel]

I mean, you’ve said it can be upsetting if people get too specific about this stuff. But if you want to lecture people about using NHS resources then crack on!

I think it’s not acceptable people show up at an A and E service when it’s not an emergency or an accident and to use it as a way to get an immediate X Ray result is exactly why it’s fucked

 

[wingy]

Miss Malc here to help us understand!

 

[skybluetony176]

Dr Grendull is in the house with his super human powers of able to triage and diagnose a whole A&E waiting room with a cursory glance. Wasted as a security guard at JLR.

Meanwhile back in the real world the actual reasons why A&E’s all around the country are really fucked is surprisingly well documented and it’s not because it’s overwhelmed by people looking for an aspirin on prescription. It’s because of cuts to other areas of the NHS and social care services means A&E takes up the slack, coupled with a crisis in firstly training people to work in the NHS and the a crisis in retaining trained A&E staff. The NHS and Social healthcare systems need a massive long long overdue investment in services and staff. It’s taken 15 years of political ideology over the reality of requirement to get to this point. It will probably take another decade to reverse it.

 

[Grendel]

Dr Grendull is in the house with his super human powers of able to triage and diagnose a whole A&E waiting room with a cursory glance. Wasted as a security guard at JLR.

Meanwhile back in the real world the actual reasons why A&E’s all around the country are really fucked is surprisingly well documented and it’s not because it’s overwhelmed by people looking for an aspirin on prescription. It’s because of cuts to other areas of the NHS and social care services means A&E takes up the slack, coupled with a crisis in firstly training people to work in the NHS and the a crisis in retaining trained A&E staff. The NHS and Social healthcare systems need a massive long long overdue investment in services and staff. It’s taken 15 years of political ideology over the reality of requirement to get to this point. It will probably take another decade to reverse it.

oh dear

 

[Grendel]

Poor Tony who voted twice for austerity under Cameron and also denied Farage was a racist and voted for him.

What does a security guard at JlR even mean!

Do you want to discuss boring politics?

Fucking hell, 30p Lee. The Tory party really are trashing everything, including their own party, all to please a small number of frothing racists. Unbelievable.

www.skybluestalk.co.uk

 

[skybluetony176]

Here’s Dr Grendull doing his rounds




He’s the one on the left.

 

[Grendel]

Here’s Dr Grendull doing his rounds


View attachment 47605

He’s the one on the left.

This is an amusing sideshow Tony but are you feeling ok? You are the biggest supporter of austerity on this forum? Do you need a lie down?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

This is an amusing sideshow Tony but are you feeling ok? You are the biggest supporter of austerity on this forum? Do you need a lie down?

Fast forward to the 2030s, Tony will be back voting for Kemi or Farage.

 

[chiefdave]

perfect time for this thread

Thousands of patients in England at risk as GP referrals vanish into NHS ‘black hole’

Exclusive: Watchdog finds 14% of cases not put on hospital waiting lists, with many reporting worsening health and rising anxiety

www.theguardian.com

 

[Grendel]

perfect time for this thread

Thousands of patients in England at risk as GP referrals vanish into NHS ‘black hole’

Exclusive: Watchdog finds 14% of cases not put on hospital waiting lists, with many reporting worsening health and rising anxiety

www.theguardian.com

Given the lack of efficiency of the NHS that doesn’t seem that high

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Dr Grendull is in the house with his super human powers of able to triage and diagnose a whole A&E waiting room with a cursory glance. Wasted as a security guard at JLR.

Meanwhile back in the real world the actual reasons why A&E’s all around the country are really fucked is surprisingly well documented and it’s not because it’s overwhelmed by people looking for an aspirin on prescription. It’s because of cuts to other areas of the NHS and social care services means A&E takes up the slack, coupled with a crisis in firstly training people to work in the NHS and the a crisis in retaining trained A&E staff. The NHS and Social healthcare systems need a massive long long overdue investment in services and staff. It’s taken 15 years of political ideology over the reality of requirement to get to this point. It will probably take another decade to reverse it.

Theres certainly a lack of accountability as users when it comes to using the NHS

 

[Grendel]

Theres certainly a lack of accountability as users when it comes to using the NHS

It’s incredible when you look at it

NHS England » A&Es under siege from hiccups and ingrowing toenails

NHS England » A&Es under siege from hiccups and ingrowing toenails

www.england.nhs.uk

 

[Ccfcisparks]

It’s incredible when you look at it

NHS England » A&Es under siege from hiccups and ingrowing toenails

NHS England » A&Es under siege from hiccups and ingrowing toenails

www.england.nhs.uk

You dont even need to look at the stats to realise it. Go and sit in A&E for 8 hours and you see all sorts.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

It’s incredible when you look at it

NHS England » A&Es under siege from hiccups and ingrowing toenails

NHS England » A&Es under siege from hiccups and ingrowing toenails

www.england.nhs.uk

We really ought to establish charges for GP, A&E and even overnight stays in hospitals. Prescription charges were introduced because demand was too high and people would get medicines they didn't need e.g. paracetamol.

A Government serious about 'fixing' healthcare provision in the UK needs to consider getting as many younger people on PHI and incentivised via employers or tax rebates and so on. This government is already doing by the back door by getting private sector practices to fill the gaps - at significant cost to the tax payer.

 

[Grendel]

We really ought to establish charges for GP, A&E and even overnight stays in hospitals. Prescription charges were introduced because demand was too high and people would get medicines they didn't need e.g. paracetamol.

A Government serious about 'fixing' healthcare provision in the UK needs to consider getting as many younger people on PHI and incentivised via employers or tax rebates and so on. This government is already doing by the back door by getting private sector practices to fill the gaps - at significant cost to the tax payer.

But it’s all down to austerity?

 

[Ccfcisparks]

We really ought to establish charges for GP, A&E and even overnight stays in hospitals. Prescription charges were introduced because demand was too high and people would get medicines they didn't need e.g. paracetamol.

A Government serious about 'fixing' healthcare provision in the UK needs to consider getting as many younger people on PHI and incentivised via employers or tax rebates and so on. This government is already doing by the back door by getting private sector practices to fill the gaps - at significant cost to the tax payer.

i agree without it being privately owned.

A simple charge of £10 per A&E visit should suffice

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

But it’s all down to austerity?

lol - even though the budgets were never actually cut. 'The Left' blames everything on 'austerity' when in reality its been an exercise to reduce the rate public expenditure was increasing. The bigger issue is that public bodies are spending money like drunk sailors and there's usually v little accountability on where the money is going.

One such example is the NHS spent £1.3bn on decarbonisation and it's yielded no results. Or, the massive increase on middle managers on 5 figure salaries (e.g. Directors of DEI on £100k+).

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

i agree without it being privately owned.

A simple charge of £10 per A&E visit should suffice

It's pretty normal in social insurance based systems (e.g. France/Germany) to have symbolic charges in place. Like most things that are completely FOC, people take the piss.

It's like the whole £10 'no show' fee the Tories tried to introduce, if you just charged that for a GP appointment, who cares if someone turns up or not?

 

[Ccfcisparks]

It's pretty normal in social insurance based systems (e.g. France/Germany) to have symbolic charges in place. Like most things that are completely FOC, people take the piss.

It's like the whole £10 'no show' fee the Tories tried to introduce, if you just charged that for a GP appointment, who cares if someone turns up or not?

I'd charge it for A&E only.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

We really ought to establish charges for GP, A&E and even overnight stays in hospitals. Prescription charges were introduced because demand was too high and people would get medicines they didn't need e.g. paracetamol.

A Government serious about 'fixing' healthcare provision in the UK needs to consider getting as many younger people on PHI and incentivised via employers or tax rebates and so on. This government is already doing by the back door by getting private sector practices to fill the gaps - at significant cost to the tax payer.

So make it more like the American excuse of a system then, no thank you. Charges for hospital stays as well? So you incentivise people to discharge themselves before they’re fit to go home? I don’t get that at all.

Healthcare provision should not be run with a profit incentive in mind, but what’s best for the patient.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

So make it more like the American excuse of a system then, no thank you. Charges for hospital stays as well? So you incentivise people to discharge themselves before they’re fit to go home? I don’t get that at all.

Healthcare provision should not be run with a profit incentive in mind, but what’s best for the patient.

Look at how France manage it. It's capped at a low level so it's not exclusionary but equally, stops overconsumption of services.

Continually bringing up the boogeyman of US style, purely privatised healthcare is genuine barrier to reform and risks the long term future of the NHS imo.

For example, I'm happy for prescription style exemptions/refunds be in place for pensioners, children, low/no income individuals.

 

[SBAndy]

So make it more like the American excuse of a system then, no thank you. Charges for hospital stays as well? So you incentivise people to discharge themselves before they’re fit to go home? I don’t get that at all.

Healthcare provision should not be run with a profit incentive in mind, but what’s best for the patient.

I don’t disagree with the concept of charging for services to dissuade misuse but it also runs the risk of stopping those poorer individuals/families accessing healthcare as they may not have a tenner spare if it’s towards the end of the payday month and something happens. Could you run a recharge through the NI system for misuse possibly?