Current Affairs 2017 General Election

[ashwuk76]

Definitely hubris here. It's also the first time May has admitted to something being a personal interest to her - and it's the brutal slaughtering of animals in an ultra-exclusive high society pursuit! Massive misstep

It's totally disgusting and shows a level of arrogance I've always known the Tories posses. If they get a huge majority the evilness will know no bounds and they will show their true face.

 

[flibbyflob]

I see our Tory overlord is on The One Show tonight, going to get some great grilling from farmer boy and Alex Jones on there.

 

[roydo]

In real terms I'm afraid they have mate. If you take inflation into account and the rising cost of services they have.

Spending is at record levels.

And the real term issue just doesnt wash with me. The measurement of inflation is such a random stat, that applies to literally no one, in reality.

True story. Mrs R, NHS employee, came home a while ago with a basic set of scales. From the surgery she worked at.

The reason? The batteries had run out, and the new battery supplier did not stock the ones needed.

Cost of new scales? £220. Why? Because they were called "Clinical Scales". They wernt. They were basic, digital scales Argos stock for about £19.99.

Drives me nuts.

 

[roydo]

Definitely hubris here. It's also the first time May has admitted to something being a personal interest to her - and it's the brutal slaughtering of animals in an ultra-exclusive high society pursuit! Massive misstep

I agree that it, foxhunting, as a political issue is a daft one to raise. Makes no sense.

But you are wide of the mark in thinking only ultra exclusive high society folk do, or did it. Still do anyrate.

Not all rural folk are rich landowners mate. The majority are not. The term rural poor crops up round these parts a lot.

 

[ashwuk76]

Spending is at record levels.

And the real term issue just doesnt wash with me. The measurement of inflation is such a random stat, that applies to literally no one, in reality.

True story. Mrs R, NHS employee, came home a while ago with a basic set of scales. From the surgery she worked at.

The reason? The batteries had run out, and the new battery supplier did not stock the ones needed.

Cost of new scales? £220. Why? Because they were called "Clinical Scales". They wernt. They were basic, digital scales Argos stock for about £19.99.

Drives me nuts.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...hunt-underfunding-spending-cuts-a7514626.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...-underfunded---taxation-will-never-provide-e/
https://www.theguardian.com/society...-funding-in-the-nhs-will-be-felt-far-and-wide
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36198952

Just a few articles on in mate.

sorry to disagree but inflation does affect every in reality, thats why there is two levels of measuring inflation, RPI and CPI, and its CPI that measures things like bread, milk etc that we all buy. So yes inflation affects us all.

Also dont get me started on those stupid outsourced contracts! they drive me nuts too, civil service is rife with them, but this is due to budget cuts and it being maintained it saves money when it doesnt!

 

[orly]

I agree that it, foxhunting, as a political issue is a daft one to raise. Makes no sense.

But you are wide of the mark in thinking only ultra exclusive high society folk do, or did it. Still do anyrate.

Not all rural folk are rich landowners mate. The majority are not. The term rural poor crops up round these parts a lot.

I'll concede that - but it's about perception here. I'm wrong as you point out but it is perceived as being a "toff pursuit" - and if Labour and Lib Dems have any sense whatsoever they will play that line for all it is worth.

 

[Clint Planet]

And the real term issue just doesnt wash with me. The measurement of inflation is such a random stat, that applies to literally no one, in reality.

What a bizarre thing to say.

 

[DanEFC92]

 

[Clint Planet]

VOTE LABOUR!

 

[flibbyflob]

Seems a bizarre thing to do just before an election. Foxhunting is so hated that if you were going to have a vote just deny it now and have a backbencher bring it up after the election. Going to lose a lot of voters over this one which is actually a good thing in my opinion as an all powerful government is a bad thing. Still can't see it altering the end result though.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

And why has it come to this? That's the question. And the answer is the Tories have been underfunding the nhs so it can fail so it can deliver it to the private sector as the saviour of the nhs.

Come to what? I've just shown you the strategy for the NHS for the next few years.

Thought at the time this was a pretty progressive update for the Forward View. It's not hysterical enough for some but it does capture the biggest issues and (thankfully) takes a generally positive outlook on the way forward. More about opportunities than threats.

What will be really interesting is if Jeremy Hunt finally gets shuffled out of the Health Sec position. He's basically ignored by all senior NHS execs (much more reference to the DH than him in every senior presentation ) but would be great to see that change with a new person in role

I come at things primarily from a tech point of view, and it's still woefully conservative in that regard. It was mentioned in the Guardian piece about a two tier NHS and I can really see that happening due as much as anything to people getting tired of the NHS and the outdated technology at its disposal and taking matters into their own hands.

What media attention is that, then?

Not sure any politician has touched on that document as far as I'm aware. I'm not even sure it's mentioned in the manifestos either, which is quite enlightening as to just how relevant they and their tub-thumping ways are.

 

[roydo]

sorry to disagree but inflation does affect every in reality, thats why there is two levels of measuring inflation, RPI and CPI, and its CPI that measures things like bread, milk etc that we all buy. So yes inflation affects us all.

Also dont get me started on those stupid outsourced contracts! they drive me nuts too, civil service is rife with them, but this is due to budget cuts and it being maintained it saves money when it doesnt!

Of course inflation affects everyone, but the point I was making is that everyone has their own inflation level. And it is well known that the trick they use is to put in the fabled basket items they know, well hope, will fall in price, like the latest gadgets and that.

Point is, the NHS does not help itself by almost generating their very own inflation levels, by either being forced to, or, more likely in my experience, not being that arsed, to just buy stuff without exactly thinking it through. Hence the true scales tale.

Oh, and on those outside contracts; one came to the surgery Mrs R works at, who does the purchasing, representing their group of surgeries they had joined to together to get better deals, and presented their cost savings to her.

She then showed them her cost savings; 22% better than theirs.

Only 1 smallish surgery, granted, but lobbing more and more money at something is such a blunt, but politically expedient, instrument, it does my head right in.

So, go ahead. Commit to CPT/RPI, whatever, plus 10%, per annum, on a 5 year plan.

Nothing will actually change.

I would rather make the NHS better.

 

[ashwuk76]

Of course inflation affects everyone, but the point I was making is that everyone has their own inflation level. And it is well known that the trick they use is to put in the fabled basket items they know, well hope, will fall in price, like the latest gadgets and that.

Point is, the NHS does not help itself by almost generating their very own inflation levels, by either being forced to, or, more likely in my experience, not being that arsed, to just buy stuff without exactly thinking it through. Hence the true scales tale.

Oh, and on those outside contracts; one came to the surgery Mrs R works at, who does the purchasing, representing their group of surgeries they had joined to together to get better deals, and presented their cost savings to her.

She then showed them her cost savings; 22% better than theirs.

Only 1 smallish surgery, granted, but lobbing more and more money at something is such a blunt, but politically expedient, instrument, it does my head right in.

So, go ahead. Commit to CPT/RPI, whatever, plus 10%, per annum, on a 5 year plan.

Nothing will actually change.

I would rather make the NHS better.

I do agree with you mate things can be done a lot better, too many mangers I think as well doesnt help. Too many people telling others what to do and not enough doctors and nurses to care for patients.

it will never be funded at whatever inflation figure they want plus a percentage, you are right it wont change.

Also i do wonder what affect brexit will have on the staffing in the NHS

 

[orly]

I come at things primarily from a tech point of view, and it's still woefully conservative in that regard. It was mentioned in the Guardian piece about a two tier NHS and I can really see that happening due as much as anything to people getting tired of the NHS and the outdated technology at its disposal and taking matters into their own hands.

I think that's usually a lack of technical understanding rather than unwillingess from the policy writers - you've sat in a room with these senior execs, even things like a QR code can require ridiculous amounts of explaining and yet a primary school kid will understand how it works intuitively. We've got a 30 year old nominee for the safest Labour seat in the Country but forget getting into the highest tiers of the Colleges or Professional Bodies before you are 60+ (ok, there are exceptions but generally speaking).

Smartphones - the most powerful diagnosis tool available to the general public

 

[roydo]

I do agree with you mate things can be done a lot better, too many mangers I think as well doesnt help. Too many people telling others what to do and not enough doctors and nurses to care for patients.

it will never be funded at whatever inflation figure they want plus a percentage, you are right it wont change.

Also i do wonder what affect brexit will have on the staffing in the NHS

Agree with every word.

Brexit? Heavens only knows.

Which chimes with my point that this election will be decided by who appears best to deliver a half decent result.