My love of the NHS
I have been banging a lot abt NHS, TTIP and in general rant abt the coalition govt. In particular- George Osbourne (Mr. That is not my job to chase tax dodger), David Cameron (Mr I can do what I want and wtf are you going to do abt it?) and Mr Jeremy Hunt (Mr homeopathy vs modern medicine and Mr Bully- http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/17/jeremy-hunt-nhs-bully-in-chief-health-secretary-staff). Ok, so some of FB friends might be sick of my status, but my status etc.
Anyway, as this is my journal, to record my insignificant day to day stuff, I am keen to have my say here too, on any issues I feel strongly about.
NHS, yes, the institution that swallows huge amount of money. In business sense it is difficult to see how it should work- to predict X amount for beds for different ailments/service at point Y time for Z amount of cash/budget for that year. It is weird because illness and crisis doesn't come in scheduled timetable, it just happens and we need access to healthcare. But NHS is awesome. Sure the bad press and statistics (though many were misrepresented) for "failures" but then bigger proves that whilst Cameron gallantly promised he would not touch NHS at last elections, he has. STH (Sheffield Teaching Hospitals) THIS annual budget is expected to make £40 million cut, which is £10 million more than they were originally told. I see this as divide and conquer for full privatisation. An old colonialism trick to gain full control of a territory, only this is use in business sense rather than administrative sense. Break it, sells off a bit of it, break it further, sell it all, money in hand, job done. The thing that gets me frustrated is a proportion of our taxes goes into NHS. *Our* taxes. NHS does not belong to Tories to sell it off to line their coffers with money and private contracts benefits. Yet they "speak" for us. No, they don't speak for me. We spoke up saying we do not want privatisation, yet they ignore us. How can we have confidence in them? How can they ask for my vote shamelessly??
And sadly Labour whilst using NHS as its political centre stage is all abt saving NHS, reversal of gagging law, the bite in voting for them is that 1) THEY ARE PRO TTIP (which is odd since NHS is STILL in TTIP deal). 2) Labour thinks if you are against TTIP you are against CAPITALISM and ANTI AMERICANISM- REALLY THAT STUPID?!) They are pro fracking (with some safe guards). So tell me, how their pledges is going to work?
The problem of TTIP deal is that it is being negotiated through EU as a whole, so if we are against it, we are against EU. This is a conflict because EU has been good in some respect- human rights for one and equality. Not so good for agricultural, fishing and farming- in fact their regulations on this have increased our risk to lose local business and sustainability and put certain local delicacies and jobs connected to that in decline. I am not anti EU, but it needs to reform some of its policies and it is more abt gravy train than actual working out on crisis and progression. If I am worried abt this issues, apparently I should write to my MEP. You see the irony? In fact 38 degrees have shown videos of what happened when 38 degrees members question the MEPs abt TTIP, and the result was pretty shocking. I have to wonder, how much at stake is on the line- ie how much money the individual parties and states stand to gain if they push through TTIP. Or what these companies have to threaten these ppl that they are too afraid to stand up against it. TTIP is one of those "complicated" thing that plebs like you and me don't understand. The scary thing is, I don't many of the MPs, MEPs, politicians understand it either, its impact. To be put simply, under TTIP, American companies can sue the govt for putting up minimum wages (to reflect economic inflation/standard of living), undermines food and drug safety laws (American FDA still allows certain pesticides and dangerous substances in some of their foods and I do not need to tell you abt the pharmaceutical practices in their healthcare system), undermines current health and safety laws. TTIP in its current toxic form is harmful and irreversible. And our NHS is in the TTIP deal. Are you not afraid? Well, I am. I fear for our futures under this. I already think I am screwed since I have so unfortunately develop a penchant of cell division going mutant. Believe me, I keep asking myself, what have I done to deserve that? Now that I am screwed for further life policies and any health care private policies, perhaps I have a bigger vested interest in these issues?
But I am interested in your views on all these issues. Whilst I have strong feelings abt them, I am willing to open my mind to debates, and if perhaps I got it all wrong. What say you on these or any of the subjects? Do we need TTIP? The NHS? Fracking?
FB post:
I know my status is full of NHS, TTIP, elections topic/rant and it is probably a big turn off for a lot of people. However, we are standing on the brink of no return with NHS and privatisation. There is no guesses why I feel strongly on this subject despite a few ppl telling their stories on how NHS have sadly failed them (admin fail, treatment fail etc- should not happen, agreed) , I don't think a privatised healthcare is going to be *any* better- I am convinced it will be worse, biased and poor service. Sure, atm if you have a BUPA or whichever extra insurance on top of your NHS to get extra scans and get to see someone quicker, it may seem like no big deal, however, that supplement will not be adequate at all under privatisation for a complete care at that price.
My main teeth gnashing is that the Tories and indeed the coalition as a whole does not own the NHS to sell it to their friends in return for "a bit extra" in their pockets/party coffers whilst in power. It is corruption. I don't care if such practice is deemed "normal" in political circuits but vested interests creates corruption opportunities that is detrimental to everyone else and shakes confidence in having these people "speak" for us. Democracy and capitalism indeed should not intermingle so blatantly for the sake of the 1% richie rich in this country. We pay taxes and some of THOSE taxes go into NHS, surely we have a say to whether we want our NHS or not??
I have seen first hand the staff dedication in my local teaching hospitals, at ever shrinking budget, the ever increasing pressure and frustrations to deliver care and service and the continuous bad press by affiliated media to the current party that affects that morale. It is for them and everyone else I owe my dedication to stand for NHS even till the bitter end if it comes to it. It can be efficient again, if it was not subjected to political interference and scapegoat for politicians to make money with, with some modifications of course.
Anyway, this short letter from an American in regards to her love of NHS hits all buttons (even if it was a support letter for NHA candidate, I think it is worth a read on her opinion).
https://nhaswsurrey.wordpress.com/…/local-press-letter-tod…/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-31631461 (Leaked documents on NHS not excluded in TTIP)
https://www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/john-hilary/on-ttip-and-nhs-they-are-trying-to-bamboozle-us
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/23/us-germany-trade-ttip-idUSKBN0LR1DS20150223 (Germany warns that without TTIP, Europe will decline).
Anyway, as this is my journal, to record my insignificant day to day stuff, I am keen to have my say here too, on any issues I feel strongly about.
NHS, yes, the institution that swallows huge amount of money. In business sense it is difficult to see how it should work- to predict X amount for beds for different ailments/service at point Y time for Z amount of cash/budget for that year. It is weird because illness and crisis doesn't come in scheduled timetable, it just happens and we need access to healthcare. But NHS is awesome. Sure the bad press and statistics (though many were misrepresented) for "failures" but then bigger proves that whilst Cameron gallantly promised he would not touch NHS at last elections, he has. STH (Sheffield Teaching Hospitals) THIS annual budget is expected to make £40 million cut, which is £10 million more than they were originally told. I see this as divide and conquer for full privatisation. An old colonialism trick to gain full control of a territory, only this is use in business sense rather than administrative sense. Break it, sells off a bit of it, break it further, sell it all, money in hand, job done. The thing that gets me frustrated is a proportion of our taxes goes into NHS. *Our* taxes. NHS does not belong to Tories to sell it off to line their coffers with money and private contracts benefits. Yet they "speak" for us. No, they don't speak for me. We spoke up saying we do not want privatisation, yet they ignore us. How can we have confidence in them? How can they ask for my vote shamelessly??
And sadly Labour whilst using NHS as its political centre stage is all abt saving NHS, reversal of gagging law, the bite in voting for them is that 1) THEY ARE PRO TTIP (which is odd since NHS is STILL in TTIP deal). 2) Labour thinks if you are against TTIP you are against CAPITALISM and ANTI AMERICANISM- REALLY THAT STUPID?!) They are pro fracking (with some safe guards). So tell me, how their pledges is going to work?
The problem of TTIP deal is that it is being negotiated through EU as a whole, so if we are against it, we are against EU. This is a conflict because EU has been good in some respect- human rights for one and equality. Not so good for agricultural, fishing and farming- in fact their regulations on this have increased our risk to lose local business and sustainability and put certain local delicacies and jobs connected to that in decline. I am not anti EU, but it needs to reform some of its policies and it is more abt gravy train than actual working out on crisis and progression. If I am worried abt this issues, apparently I should write to my MEP. You see the irony? In fact 38 degrees have shown videos of what happened when 38 degrees members question the MEPs abt TTIP, and the result was pretty shocking. I have to wonder, how much at stake is on the line- ie how much money the individual parties and states stand to gain if they push through TTIP. Or what these companies have to threaten these ppl that they are too afraid to stand up against it. TTIP is one of those "complicated" thing that plebs like you and me don't understand. The scary thing is, I don't many of the MPs, MEPs, politicians understand it either, its impact. To be put simply, under TTIP, American companies can sue the govt for putting up minimum wages (to reflect economic inflation/standard of living), undermines food and drug safety laws (American FDA still allows certain pesticides and dangerous substances in some of their foods and I do not need to tell you abt the pharmaceutical practices in their healthcare system), undermines current health and safety laws. TTIP in its current toxic form is harmful and irreversible. And our NHS is in the TTIP deal. Are you not afraid? Well, I am. I fear for our futures under this. I already think I am screwed since I have so unfortunately develop a penchant of cell division going mutant. Believe me, I keep asking myself, what have I done to deserve that? Now that I am screwed for further life policies and any health care private policies, perhaps I have a bigger vested interest in these issues?
But I am interested in your views on all these issues. Whilst I have strong feelings abt them, I am willing to open my mind to debates, and if perhaps I got it all wrong. What say you on these or any of the subjects? Do we need TTIP? The NHS? Fracking?
FB post:
I know my status is full of NHS, TTIP, elections topic/rant and it is probably a big turn off for a lot of people. However, we are standing on the brink of no return with NHS and privatisation. There is no guesses why I feel strongly on this subject despite a few ppl telling their stories on how NHS have sadly failed them (admin fail, treatment fail etc- should not happen, agreed) , I don't think a privatised healthcare is going to be *any* better- I am convinced it will be worse, biased and poor service. Sure, atm if you have a BUPA or whichever extra insurance on top of your NHS to get extra scans and get to see someone quicker, it may seem like no big deal, however, that supplement will not be adequate at all under privatisation for a complete care at that price.
My main teeth gnashing is that the Tories and indeed the coalition as a whole does not own the NHS to sell it to their friends in return for "a bit extra" in their pockets/party coffers whilst in power. It is corruption. I don't care if such practice is deemed "normal" in political circuits but vested interests creates corruption opportunities that is detrimental to everyone else and shakes confidence in having these people "speak" for us. Democracy and capitalism indeed should not intermingle so blatantly for the sake of the 1% richie rich in this country. We pay taxes and some of THOSE taxes go into NHS, surely we have a say to whether we want our NHS or not??
I have seen first hand the staff dedication in my local teaching hospitals, at ever shrinking budget, the ever increasing pressure and frustrations to deliver care and service and the continuous bad press by affiliated media to the current party that affects that morale. It is for them and everyone else I owe my dedication to stand for NHS even till the bitter end if it comes to it. It can be efficient again, if it was not subjected to political interference and scapegoat for politicians to make money with, with some modifications of course.
Anyway, this short letter from an American in regards to her love of NHS hits all buttons (even if it was a support letter for NHA candidate, I think it is worth a read on her opinion).
https://nhaswsurrey.wordpress.com/…/local-press-letter-tod…/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-31631461 (Leaked documents on NHS not excluded in TTIP)
https://www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/john-hilary/on-ttip-and-nhs-they-are-trying-to-bamboozle-us
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/23/us-germany-trade-ttip-idUSKBN0LR1DS20150223 (Germany warns that without TTIP, Europe will decline).