More cuts on the NHS?

[Hazel]

Further to Northerners thread "it could happen to you", I thought I would tell you about what is happening at my local hospital.

My DSN asked to take a year off to do research into diabetes. However she has been told that if she leaves, there will no position to come back to. So right away, that is one head down.

However of the remaining 5 in the diabetic team, 4 are due to retire at the end of the year.

Does this spell the end of the diabetic centre at my local hospital - could be another case to reverting diabetic care back to the GP, thus hospitals are saving money?

As I said on the phone to my DSN phone this afternoon, if my care does go back to the GP, as a type 2, her only advice will be, exercise more and lose weight - no longer will we get any help for the individual, just blanket bla bla bla.

At least, my HbA1c, came down 0.2% in a couple of months (still a way to go), but the urine/kidney infection they picked up has not responded to the first antibiotic, so now on a further, stronger set. Fed up drinking so much water to flush out my kidneys.

I have an appointment to see the consultant at the hospital, just before Christmas, when he will access my readings over the 3 months and decide if Byetta is an option.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Hazel, sorry to hear you are still having problems with the infection, I hope that you are feeling better soon 🙂

I think what you say is probably the way a lot of 'cuts' will be made and covered up - staff leaving simply won't be replaced. It's ludicrous, because there is a huge and growing shortage of DSNs - the shortage is getting worse because trained ones are being let go, fewer are going into training in the field and yet the number of people being diagnosed is on the increase - partly due to the improved testing and detection backed up by government campaigns. I suppose that, ultimately, the government will save if we send enough people to an early grave through lack of access to appropriate care and education...

 

[rossoneri]

Yes Hazel the circumstances you describe are very frustrating. Rather typical too of British business practice that someone who is going to the trouble to improve their insight and knowledge by doing research into their speciality is told that their reward will be the loss of their position rather than them being praised and encouraged.

It is strange that despite the clear recognition that diabetes is a growing problem that the specialists trained to provide the best treatment are being reduced. Reading Northerner's daily updates in the News section it is clear from the local newspaper reports that the Diabetes UK campaign to highlight that there are a large number of undiagnosed diabetes has been a success in getting the message across. Yet none of these reports seem to recognise that this issue will be made worse if resources and specialist staff are cut, let alone investigate why this is being allowed to happen.

I do hope Hazel that the specialist care available to you is not as significantly reduced as you fear and also that the stronger antibiotics are successful in treating your infection. 😉

 

[Marc]

Hate to say it but people wanted the Tories and this is what you get.....

Marc

 

[FM001]

It is rather sad that professional people in the nhs who want to gain new knowledge and a better understanding of the conditions they treat are being denied access or deterred. The forthcoming cuts that the coalition government have in mind will ultimately lead to job losses, ward closers and new developments put on hold or abandoned altogether, and these cuts will only be the start believe me. I remember back in 1979 when the Thatcher government came to power, within their first term they slashed jobs, funding and closed down wards, leading to major unrest in the nhs. When the ambulance service was cut and the staff decided to take industrial action to protect their jobs, pay and livelihoods, the then Health Secretary Kenneth Clarke said in a television interview on the bbc news that 'ambulance staff were nothing more than stretcher bearers' and dismissed there grievances. After this time I always knew what the true intentions were of a tory government with regards to the nhs, I mean how could a government minister for health call front-line ambulance personnel who save countless lives and administer life saving drugs 'stretcher bearers'!😡........... back to 1979 all over again by the looks of it! Toby.

 

[Copepod]

Lots of places, not just NHS, also medical research organisations, currently have recruitment freezes - so, if someone wants to leave, for whatever reason, they may be put under pressure by managers and / or colleagues, as no-one can be recruited to fill their place, so those left behind have to do more work with no more resources / pay - even if they haven't completed their contact. I speak from experience, but can't give further details.

Even in 1979, ambulance staff were more that stretcher bearers, but they weren't administering many drugs or using defibrillators in those days - more of a scoop and run to A&E (then called Casualty). The situation now is very different, reflected in their change of titles to eg ambulance technicians.

 

[Hazel]

My thanks to all who replied - looks like a hit on a nerve with you

Thanks too for your good wishes - I am hopefully now on the mend