NHS

[buctootim]

27 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

Nursing is now a degree level course with all the costs that entails, they've sold off the cheap accommodation and wonder why it is difficult to recruit....... 

......issue of an ageing population so we should be increasing the comparatively low level of spending which has already led to a low number of GPs based on population. Related to that is the level of bed blocking in that older patients can't be discharged for lack of care options.

Exactly, two great examples of counter productive previous reorganisations. 

Nurses used to learn on the job and be released for blocks of college, gradually progressing at work based on passing vocational exams. That meant they got paid, a bit, while they learned and benefitted from low cost accomodation. Now they have to pay tuition fees and take out subsistence loans for three years, build up massive debt and pay sky high private rents. Meanwhilst trusts have lost their low cost labour and instead have to employ HCAs who tend to be transitory and less motivated because there is no clear career progression. Why work for peanuts doing difficult work if there is no payoff in a few years?

As for bed blockers its always been an issue, but one made worse by current government policy, not eased.     

 

Edited 17 July, 2022 by buctootim

[Whitey Grandad]

Has anybody mentioned the limit on pension funding and how this is causing GPS to retire early?

[Weston Super Saint]

18 hours ago, buctootim said:

Exactly, two great examples of counter productive previous reorganisations. 

Nurses used to learn on the job and be released for blocks of college, gradually progressing at work based on passing vocational exams. That meant they got paid, a bit, while they learned and benefitted from low cost accomodation. Now they have to pay tuition fees and take out subsistence loans for three years, build up massive debt and pay sky high private rents. Meanwhilst trusts have lost their low cost labour and instead have to employ HCAs who tend to be transitory and less motivated because there is no clear career progression. Why work for peanuts doing difficult work if there is no payoff in a few years?

As for bed blockers its always been an issue, but one made worse by current government policy, not eased.     

 

It depends where you go.  My daughter is looking to do a nursing degree starting in 2023.  Cardiff University will apparently sponsor her for the full tuition fees, pay for all accomodation and pay wages whilst on placement.  You need to commit to working in Wales for 2 years once qualified but I don't see that as a huge turn off.

[Patrick Bateman]

On 17/07/2022 at 21:31, suewhistle said:

There's a few significant points nobody has mentioned: the number of vacancies particularly of doctors, nurses and specialist medical staff. Nursing is now a degree level course with all the costs that entails, they've sold off the cheap accommodation and wonder why it is difficult to recruit. I was chatting to a nurse the other day and we both agreed that our local MP was a gurning idiot who was basically lobby fodder who voted against pay rises for nurses,  and they told me they hadn't had a pay rise for 5 years.

There is also the issue of an ageing population so we should be increasing the comparatively low level of spending which has already led to a low number of GPs based on population. Related to that is the level of bed blocking in that older patients can't be discharged for lack of care options.

So whilst I'm sure there may be an excess of middle managers common to all large organisations, it's a bit simplistic to say that getting rid of them will be more than a minor saving, and lack of cost controls may well end up being shafted by suppliers. PPE anyone?

 

Exactly this. You do not need a degree to be a Nurse, it's ridiculous.  Like many jobs it should still be on the job training, best way to learn, with accommodation by your hospital and the occasional classroom / tuition session. The push for so many people doing degrees has completely messed up the balance of the workforce.  Apprenticeships, on the job training - most careers should start that way.   I didn't need a software engineering degree to do my job, could've just taken my hobby and learnt on the job with a mentor. Was it Tony Blair and his "50% of people should have degrees" nonsense? 

No wonder there is a lack of tradespeople, HGV drivers, nurses and so on.  I've said this before but the soft sods now think they have a degree in some random subject, they all want to get into marketing rather than just leaving college and cracking on with a career from the off.