Inside an NHS in crisis: every day like a 'horrific board game'

The NHS is facing an unprecedented crisis this winter.
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Thirty-three months since the pandemic was declared, the Guardian spent 33 hours in NHS services across south London and found crammed wards, burnt-out GPs, patients waiting hours for ambulances. Is this one of the toughest winters for the NHS yet?
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#NHS #NHSCrisis #SaveTheNHS #NHSStrikes #NHSWaitingTimes #NHSShortages

[@mrsapplez2007]

The guilt you feel when you leave due to stress is UNREAL. My health had to come first. Please, HELP US

[@TomNook.]

No guilt necessary. Always look after No 1, because no-one else will.

[@MatthewChapmanYT]

My mum left the nhs for a similar job nursing but not for the NHS. She earns £6.50 per hour more now or approximately £260 per week … £13000 a year…. Nhs wages are laughable

[@danielhooper8138]

@matthewchapman6996 i think that they should abolish the national insurance and reduce tax then just privatise the whole NHS as the govenment have messed the whole thing up. If they had payed you all fairly and made gp's actualy do there jobs instead of fobing people off to ather departments or refusing to see people altogether whilst removeing corrupt members of the NHS then maybe it could work again but thats all to much work for the government

[@rtyuio6215]

No need for guilt! No-one thanks you for being a martyr, and one person cannot prop up the NHS! All the best in your new life!

[@mrsapplez2007]

@@MatthewChapmanYT EXCACTLY

[@thycatalyst]

Just remember how quickly we bailed out bankers who paid themselves bonuses.

[@subcitizen2012]

EXACTLY it's the big money and it's hip attachment to the political class. It's a match made in hell. Look at it being unleashed. £600 billion of pandemic spending ended up in already deep pockets. But they pay for the influence and policies, more tax cuts for them. To have a real economy money needs to circulate, not accumulate.

[@lukemorgan6166]

Looking at the right areas but the masses of this damn country wouldn't do anything about the blatant corruption.

[@charlesm5080]

This is mostly a result of 20+ years of mass migration. Housing crisis, people waiting upto 6 weeks just to get a basic gp appointment, hundreds of people applying for the same low paid job. Our country doesn't have the infrastructure to deal with the level of people coming into the country its impossible to keep up no matter how much money you throw at it. Although this is bad and I do sympathise with those suffering, you only have the public to blame as they have allowed this to happen to their country by being complicit to bad management and terrible political decisions from both sides of the spectrum. You either get up and do something about it or you carry on with life and don't let anything get you down. Crying and moaning on social platforms doesn't help anyone with goodwill gestures and complaints that lead to zero action.

[@Doc.O.K.]

@@charlesm5080 A stupid comment. Most of the migrants are young people with skills who actually work and contribute by paying taxes which runs the whole system and funds the NHS ! Migration isn't the issue as 80 year old don't migrate in , it s young skilled people who pay for the elderly pensions by working and paying taxes

[@dougallwinship]

@@charlesm5080 that's oversimplified bs ... you've drunk the media coolaid

[@Kekistani]

Thank u guys. I had an allergic reaction last night and It took 10 minutes to get through to 999. They told me to get a taxi to A&E immediately. When I got there I thought I had walked into a war zone. There were no seats in the waiting room and a single nurse was triaging people. By some miracle I was still seen to quickly and they took me into major... every wall had someone in a bed either coughing, vomiting, pissing themselves, incapacitated or all of the above. The smell was rancid and the humidity felt like a jungle as the A/C was broken and wouldn't stop heating. They sat me down on a couple of chairs by an emergency exit, stuck me in the arse cheek with some steroids, gave me some antihistamine, then took me into a relatively peaceful waiting room to keep an eye on me. I was being checked on every so often by a doctor who explained everything they were doing to treat me and tried to establish what I ate and how I had my reaction. After 2 hours in hospital I was better and on my way home... Despite the working conditions, a nurse strike, the heaters being broken, the smell, the overcrowding, the low pay, a night shift, and everything else the NHS is going through, literally every single person who helped me that day both on the phone and in hospital were professional, easy to talk to, smiling & laughing, attentive, genuinely cared about me, and got me in, treated and out in just a couple of hours. I wish there was more I could do for these people than to profusely thank them because I don't know how the hell they do it. I hope some of you are reading this. Thank u for the 1000th time and if I have to say it again I swear to God I'm going to snap and start a career in politics because you are so appreciated and you are not nearly being recognised or supported enough for the things that you deal with daily. Please keep it up guys 🥰

[@bMedDeg]

I am a physician and the situation over the past few months but especially this month has been really bad. I do not know how we will cope. We do not want clapping, we do not want pats or a thanks. We just want the government to sort out the dreadful situation. We are overworked, and understaffed. I cannot remember the last time I had a proper lunch at work and most days I go without one. I cannot remember the last time I finished on time, and all the extra hours are unpaid and there is nothing we can do about it. We are also humans. We get paid peanuts for the work and responsibility we bear. One mistake can cost you your license and your name will be all over the news. Something has to give and if the government will not do anything then you will have doctors leave this country.

[@mimi64231]

​@@bMedDegI am polish doctor and I work in Poland. I can't speak English but please tranlate my history. W naszym szpitalu poznałam lekarza, ktory wrócił z rodziną z UK. On anestezjolog, jego żona GP, a ich dzieci skończyły medycynę. Po skończeniu medycyny za granicą, ich synowie wrócili do UK aby podjąć pracę w NHS. Oczywiście zdali IELTS, zrobili rejestrację w GMC. Następnie aplikowali o pracę przez agencję NHS- P. Ta agencja pośredniczy w znalezienia miejsca odbycia stażu dla absolwentów, ktorzy medycynę skończyli za granicą. Ci mlodzi lekarze przeszli jedniodniowy kurs, a potem już nikt sie z tej agencji nie odezwał, mimo, ze do nich chłopcy dzwonili i pisali. Po 2 miesiącach w agencji kazali im czekać albowiem mają bardzo dużo chętnych na staz fy2, a miejsc mało. Dlatego po kilku miesiacach czekania, ci mlodzi lekarze znaleźli prace w Polsce. Oczywiście, rodzice ich też wyjechali z UK. W UK system NHS jest okropny - zbyt dużo administracji, ktora zarządza lekarzami!

[@SD-vy7gj]

Low pay? The average nurse is paid welllll above the nation average.

[@NogHenson]

Doctors are vastly overpaid.

[@jamisu5467]

Kekistani: I'm sure you did not get that amazing service & kindness from any of the following disgusting hospitals: Whittington North Middlesex Northwick Park Uclh St Marys St Georges Newham

[@laurenanderson4712]

We had 24 nurses in our icu today. We are suppose to have 33 minimum. Everyone coming into the shift looked like they had already been battered. Over 20 have handed in their notices, most leaving the bedside. It’s a sorry state

[@pumpkinlyd4409]

If you need more nurses moaning about the job so much isn’t gonna draw people to the career is it….

[@jsss3257]

@@pumpkinlyd4409 there is no point drawing people to the career without making some changes - they'll only find out the problems and leave soon enough anyway. If a bucket has a leak it isn't sustainable to just keep the tap going in the hope it suddenly fills up, you need to fix the hole!

[@tams805]

@@pumpkinlyd4409 Why should people be drawn to a career that is bad for them? It wouldn't be good or ethical to lie to people that job will be fine only for it to cause them harm. Listen to yourself.

[@pumpkinlyd4409]

@@jsss3257 ever career has issues. I know, I've had a few different ones. Make people want the job and you'll get more staff, also, let's be honest, a lot of nurses could use a kick up the arse when it comes to working hard. I've had family in hospitals and the lever of care is sometimes truly atrocious. Bed side manner is shot! Some customer service training wouldn't go amiss! I've seen nurse chat about holidays for 45 minutes, the same day my mum waited 7 hours for her appointment... I've seen patients have to ask to have full bags changed. Also maybe have some money put into the food patients are given! Christ! A lot of people work hard for long hours and they get paid considerably less. Its them these strikes end up hurting.

[@shanne-pearlgutierrez1651]

@@pumpkinlyd4409such a thing for you to say in a privileged position where you’re just receiving care and not the ones having to struggle to give it

[@farahlove9751]

As a nurse working in Acute Medical Unit where patients are admitted while they wait for their specialty wards, we ask for your help. We are all exhausted. We are handling more patients more than what we can handle. And this affects the care and safety that we provide. I feel so bad because I know my work is becoming riskier at the expense of my patients’ lives and my health. Please, this is not just about us, but this is about YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY.

[@leejones518]

Thank you for all you do xxx

[@yofinance1777]

More focus needs to be on society taking responsibility for their health and stop expecting the angels like you to bail them out. The nhs will never have the funds required to redeem a lazy and obese society.

[@MrDanisimon]

I am ICU nurse from Berlin, Germany and we are experiencing exactly the same challenges. Everybody are exhausted, there aren't any more bed free NOWHERE. Every day it gets worse and riskier and unhealthier, patients die like flies because we cannot take care of them properly anymore...I totally feel you, I'm solidarity with you.

[@mrsapplez2007]

EXCACTLY

[@danjames4086]

I've been a nurse for decades....but I take my hat off to AMU staff. If ever there was a place where people earn their money, it's you guys. X

[@budgetingdaddyuk6761]

Hats off to everyone working in the NHS. Big respect to them all.

[@Design_no]

For going on strike? OK.

[@brynspeed]

It's not hats off what they need It's the tories out

[@pumpkinlyd4409]

I mean some pretty bad people have worked for the nhs so let’s not generalise hey….

[@mrsapplez2007]

Thank you. From an ex nhs worker.

[@theorangecandle]

@@Design_no Yeah okay. This is why I'm leaving the NHS to make bank in America. I hope you realise how great you had it when the NHS eventually collapses and you're forced to hand over money to hospitals.

[@thesimplekitchen59]

I’m a NHS retired nurse 4 months ago and I was still couldn’t believe I survived all those stress , crying home from work , and health issues . I always tell the new staff to prioritise your work and try to be organised and it’s a 24 hrs care .

[@youubik]

And don't forget to tell them to strike if they don't get a 20% pay rise

[@pumpkinlyd4409]

What do you guys think most others people jobs are like? This stressful, this many hours at way less pay....they we can't get the train to work or medical appointments....

[@thesimplekitchen59]

@@pumpkinlyd4409 , nurses work are too much stressful when you works are to save life . Nurses want them speedy rehab and discharged home but some unfortunately when the ceiling of care has been reached and the team can’t do anymore , then that’s when you start to feel upset . Crying home from work with a very exhausted body then back to work again next day with the same scenario . Did these until I was retired few months ago . Nurses deserved to go on strike and I’m so proud they done that xx

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

@@pumpkinlyd4409 I don’t understand your comment but if it’s trying to imply other jobs are this stressful it’s just not true. 99% of jobs are not as stressful as this. They just aren’t. (Remember most people in healthcare have worked other jobs and have relatives/friends in a range of professions)

[@pumpkinlyd4409]

@@Bringon-dw8dx yes they are. They really are. I don't think you have a clear concept of how hard everyone works to make a living these days. Plus if you don't care about them and their struggles then why they hell should anyone care about yours?

[@thebody1001]

As a Ambulance clinician I’ve witnessed first hand the devastating consequences years of underfunding is having on the NHS. I’ve witnessed first hand patients dying as a result of Ambulance delays and the situation will only get worse. I fear that the NHS will no longer exist in years to come.

[@fuckbankers]

That's the Tory plan.

[@danielhooper8138]

Did you inform the relatives of the decided that they died as a resolt of the delays. If you did then i would hope that the relatives made a complaint. The govenment should be held accountable for every death that happens as a resolt of their pour decisions. But that can only happen if people that witness this going on speak up about what they know.

[@irenedavo3768]

Too many at the top!

[@irenedavo3768]

@@danielhooper8138the Complaints System is rubbish! I have been to NHS and Parliamentary Ombudsman

[@kdlofty]

Which is exactly the government's plan.

[@kevinhickson7301]

Keep running down a service and then government can justify escalating privatisation; a process that has been taking place for years in the NHS.

[@lollerskates1992]

The UK needs privatized healthcare like the USA. It would fix all these problems.

[@amh9494]

@@lollerskates1992 🤣 silly boy

[@justj8565]

@@lollerskates1992 - yeah solve the problems of those well off as they could afford it ... what about the rest. Or those in work where their company pays health insurance so what about those not in work, the elderly, those who can't work? So private health care would not solve problems for all.

[@Soraviel]

@@lollerskates1992 idiot 🙄, we do not need private healthcare

[@sodium7127]

@@lollerskates1992 yeah nah mate, i dont want to be paying a fortune just because i broke an arm

[@tomsimpson484]

It's in absolute tatters. I work in EOC and take 999 calls. We had as many as 600 "waiting" calls yesterday - that is 600 people who have called and are waiting for an ambulance. 600. We had 60 stacking 999 calls - that means 60 people who have called 999 for an ambulance and are waiting for their call to be answered. It's an absolute pisstake this government, this has been happening for years and they won't give a shit. I had a cat 1 call the other day for a severe asthma attack - it took 1 hour and 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive - the target response time is 7 minutes. I also saw a cat 3 call which was waiting 4 days for an ambulance, imagine calling for an ambulance and waiting 4 days for it to arrive. People to need to learn this government does not care for them at all, it never has and never will do.

[@snxx6636]

They are sending your tax money to Israel and Ukraine.

[@slooftaroof]

I'm an ICU nurse that has just been on sick leave for burnout and stress, and I know that there are so many others like me right now. It's impossible to do the job in a way that is safe and gives every patient the care they deserve right now, and that is taking a huge emotional toll on staff. Something needs to change

[@starlightbarking9495]

Don’t be afraid to move on for your health, they will find some young fit and capable migrant nurses to carry on the torch after you leave. I’ve been burned out twice and spent a year on a sickness benefit in 2017 because of the nursing jobs I stayed in, and am still trying to come off medication for chronic stress. I’ve recently started work in general practice nursing, and am really loving my job for the first time in my nursing career. It’s good to do a stint in places like ICU, but you don’t need to stay on when it’s no longer working for your health.

[@Vaibhav-z9z]

I m Doctor...

[@jacquig7118]

As a Discharge coordinator I understand the pressure of having a patient who can be discharged safely but has no support or anywhere to be discharged to (like a nursing home). Frustrating

[@mrsapplez2007]

I remember it well. I feel your pain mate I really do

[@pumpkinlyd4409]

Well social care doesn't get the funding the NHS does. They don't get the pay rises either

[@katfoster845]

@Rifle Eyez But at the same time, relatives aren't obliged to care for free. Many refuse point blank because they know if they say yes to one thing, everything will be dumped on them and they couldn't cope.

[@georgie2713]

I’m a trainee pharmacy technician in a busy London hospital. Watching this literally made me unexpectedly break down in tears. It’s beyond a tragedy really what’s happened to this once fantastic service.

[@anne-mariesamson9792]

Whatever. I just wish you and the other people on this forum would stop.

[@pumpkinlyd4409]

Over 2 billion paid out each year by the NHS is negligence claims.....

[@TheLogicalBeast]

@@anne-mariesamson9792 Try saying that if your health failed you or your family one day and one of you needed hospital treatment in the UK. These are valid concerns being brought up and any sensible management, any sensible government would resolve to solve these issues in a heartbeat rather than act so dismissive about it.

[@anne-mariesamson9792]

@@TheLogicalBeast I'm not trying to come across as being nasty towards you, but it really has nothing to do with you! I wasn't even talking to you, I was snapping at the other person who seemed to be whinging and rambling, because I was hoping they would shut the fuck up!

[@orchestraglobola]

Could you please tell me, when was it fantastic? I live in London 15 years. All I've seen is sloppiness, corruption, self assumption and no respect for human condition. Probably you refer to how a fantastic drug dealer the NHS is, but in that regard the Covid thing was a massive improvement.

[@Stephanie-lg1cm]

I used to work 12 hour shifts and couldn’t take a break off the ward because I was the only qualified one there most of the time. I rarely put hands on my patients, because I spent so much time filling in paperwork as I was the only qualified one to do this. The only time I saw my patients was when I did the medicine round and during the doctors rounds. I totally relied on my fantastic team of healthcare workers to ensure my directions were carried out. I was in the middle of an endless assessment form on my computer, I switched to email and sent my resignation.

[@lesleyrobertson5465]

I can relate to your experience. Nursing is unsafe. Getting through every shift is a miracle. Not compatible with life

[@AA00896]

As an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) it’s fantastic to see our name being represented, we’re a small and incredibly understaffed minority within the NHS and like all roles play an essential part within theatres, critical care, resus and many other branches. It is not uncommon with current pressures to see elective lists go down because of staff sickness, it is not uncommon to be told there is no lunch cover for our only 30mins break for the day, it is not uncommon for us to stay late because of pressures to complete surgical lists and it is not uncommon for there to be a daily plea from management to cover staff shortages. Like all of our colleagues within the NHS, we feel unstaffed, undervalued and abandoned - when will the government step up.

[@okn22921]

As a student in South Africa, I’ve always revered the NHS as something I could work in one day. From what I’m seeing here and in other documentaries I’ve watched (Hospital on BBC) - it’s getting to what we see here at home. Untenable. The Tories have ruined something that once held universal reverence. It’s a sad sight.

[@jessestam]

Come to the US. Excellent pay ($45/hr starting at my hospital), lots of flexible jobs with great benefits, nice people.

[@idiocrat3744]

@@jessestam it's not about high doctor wages, it's about universal access

[@ccclcsr]

@@idiocrat3744 who’s paying for those “universal access”

[@idiocrat3744]

@@ccclcsr The government.

[@idiocrat3744]

@@ccclcsr By the way, if you wanna bring "waaah it's the taxpayers paying for it!" then I've got a lot to explain for you, but only with your consent.

[@robeagleR]

My mother has worked in the NHS since before I was born, she has absolutely done everything she can- she runs an entire department BY HER SELF, so that’s 160,000 patients- to care for every year, by herself 36k a year not had a pay rise since 2004.

[@Morning404]

That's criminal. Your mom is a hero like all other NHS staff.

[@Angela-cc1hd]

It's appalling the people in the government however are getting huge amounts of money and pay rises every year for doing nothing to earn it????

[@lololop58]

Disgusting. Utterly shocking. People like your mum and everyone in the NHS deserves MORE.

[@lukemorgan6166]

Damn wish I was on 36k...

[@laurenanderson4712]

@@lukemorgan6166 sign up to become a nurse and you’ll soon realise for the work and responsibilities it’s not worth it. Better getting into banking or a trade

[@ziggystardust3060]

Bed blocking is a major problem. We used to have more Community Hospitals where patients could be transferred to aid in rehabilitation and onward care. It's more complex for those with mental health conditions because most care homes don't have the specialist staff to adequately meet their needs. Families are overwhelmed so are often reluctant to take them in because they feel unable to cope. Sadly this directly impacts bed blocking, as well as the safeguarding and wellbeing of such patients.

[@irenedavo3768]

Too many at the top!

[@paxundpeace9970]

Care homes are full too. We just don't have enough hospitals and care homes in the UK. We really gone need 15% more staff all ready. Then the UK would actually need 15% more hospitals and care homes (including staff, wards departments, technology) and staff.

[@paxundpeace9970]

@@irenedavo3768 You sound like a broken record.

[@xsentfromuk8938]

Plus decent pay 👌 RETAIN STAFF

[@Angela-cc1hd]

They should never have got rid of homes that dealt specifically with mental health patients ?????

[@shefelldown1]

The NHS saved my life when I was in uni in the UK. Wonderful people and they have my utmost respect. I'm so sad to see what they're having to deal with. It's inhumane.

[@dai649]

I was NHS nurse, and I decided to leave my job due to mental health deterioration. It has been impossible to manage so many problems.. I love NHS, but I had to think about my wellbeing first. I am so sorry for that.

[@lesleyrobertson5465]

I can empathise with u. I suffer from mental health problems so with extra stress at work and not being able to pay my bills it’s too much

[@starlightbarking9495]

It’s ok to leave, they will employ young fit and capable migrant nurses to carry the torch after you. I learned this the first time I got burned out in 2017 as a nurse here in New Zealand and had a year off on a sickness benefit to recover.

[@TheTeddynavarra]

I called the unit and went for offsick for a day instead of 2-3 days of rest for physical/back pain and stress, but since our unit is always under pressure and you feel the guilt of having your colleagues suffer without you in numbers, i called again that i can work back the next day even if you aren't feeling well. the amount of pressure in nhs is really overwhelming

[@fuckbankers]

First they clap the Nurses; the next minute they slap them.

[@CBEEBLE]

Those who heroise get set to sacrifice . Socrates

[@Robert-cu9bm]

Leave your bedroom stories at home.

[@lukemorgan6166]

And the masses do what they're told as usual

[@sid2751]

Someone called Farage promised the NHS will be much better once out of EU….

[@anshumanjha3138]

My grandfather and my father were both doctors in the NHS and they say it was the best experience of their lives ;so it breaks my heart to see the finest healthcare system in the world crumble like this .

[@stephenroberts8890]

Conservatives to blame - they despise the Nhs

[@anthonyfaucy2761]

The NHS has been claimed to be dying for decades. If you have some old newspapers in the UK or search and find some old articles on the internet you can find decade old claims similar to now how tbe NHS is dying blah blah blah

[@chelseahopkins1540]

What happened to the billions of pounds that was going to go to the NHS, because the UK wasn’t paying the EU anymore? Pretty sure NHS was going to get an extra 350 million pounds a week? At least that’s what it said on the bus.

[@amh9494]

Real original

[@tomvsn9350]

pss...ad from the bus long gone : |

[@paxundpeace9970]

What about national insurance they charged additional 1.25%p. During summer but the Truss government abolished it effective november this could have paid for it.

[@joannesaltfleet2071]

That was all a load of lies!

[@lukemorgan6166]

Straight into politicians pockets and the mindless masses will never revolt

[@delbroox]

I’ve been living here for close to 8 years now, and I’ve found very competent and kind people working there. Hats off to you all. I hope things can improve soon

[@peterorszagh2762]

I am a teacher in Hungary. I wish we were as brave as you are. We should let our voice heard too. Praying to you. God bless your work.

[@vanessasimmons1175]

We’re living longer with complex medical issues. We’re curing and treating many more diseases and illnesses. The NHS when created had no idea it would come to this. One issue that always comes up is bed blocking. This needs addressing asap. People are living far beyond what their physicality’s are. Councils everywhere closed their homes and the private sector opened up hotel like homes charging the earth with very few places for those on lower incomes. I remember the old geriatric hospitals and rehab places for the elderly. All gone, instead everything now has to take place in hospitals. But it will get worse and I don’t know where the money will come from. Someone once said…..we’re not living longer, we’re dying longer.

[@paxundpeace9970]

That is a really piece of information. People get older and are even more ill. A person known to me just survived his 8th heart attack has diabetes and needs twice weekly dialysis for his kidneys.

[@yofinance1777]

Wonder how many beds would be free if society wasn’t so obese and dependant on the NHS. Shameful. No respect for the hardworking NHS staff.

[@Lela-plants]

@@paxundpeace9970 so you think he should just be made to die?

[@youubik]

NHS is working on that problem ... they knock 'em off left right and centre

[@Kikiconsilience]

Absolutely! I have experience of organ transplant waiting lists where majority in waiting list are 60+! This creates massive backlogs, organs are in massive shortage. So young people who could live long lives pass away as their time runs out on waiting lists. The system is crazy and doesn’t make any sense. We need more live donors with kidney transplants otherwise young people like me will die or clog up NHS for the rest of their lives.

[@mr_exia]

"We send the EU £350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead." Apparently the plan didn't work.😂

[@itsweb1584]

The NHS now receives billions over and above that 350 million tbh. 350 million a week is a drop in the ocean.

[@m1515]

It was propaganda - for a regular person £350M is unimaginable about of money, for the government it's close to nothing. You all got played.

[@British-Hauntings-and-History]

I was a nurse in first A&E and then Theatre - both scrub and anaesthetics... i threw in the towel because i couldn't cope with the unrelenting pressure, the understaffing, being sent to other hospitals in the group because they were even further understaffed.... the unceasing tiredness, the working of unpaid hours again through understaffing, - oh you'll get your time back - yeah right... its not just nurses, junior Doctors work stupid hours, i've seen them almost dead on their feet trying to make decisions of healthcare, Ambulance staff - unsung heroes of the NHS and lets not forget the support staff in hospitals - they are all giving 110% because they believe in what they do any strike in the NHS comes down to political underfunding and the general thought that the staff won't go on strike so we can treat them like shite... congratulations to all the politicians who have caused today's strikes.... we'll clap for Nurses but we wont value them

[@htee7426]

Agree 100 per cent.

[@lesleyrobertson5465]

Totally relentless and unsafe for patients and all staff involved. Enough is enough

[@justaguy7517]

NHS funding increased by 166% in the last 12 years and it still doesn't work, and you still blame funding? Pour as much money as you want into the service people just don't want to work in it anymore. Privatisation is coming and these strikes drive it closer and closer.

[@eloiinvestigates]

@@justaguy7517 it's all going to boomers and bureaucrats. Voracious people who cry out for more. None of this is being seen by the staff working on the coalface. Agreed re privatisation.

[@raylevi5343]

​​@@justaguy7517If the problem was only labour shortage, why is their pay so poor? Why is it difficult/expensive to get homegrown medical professionals?

[@veinssupreme]

i feel bad for all the nurses and hospital staff, the NHS are literal heroes and they need more funding, without them GB would have fallen apart earlier

[@TomNook.]

UK Nursing hasn't been worth it for years. Either research abroad for higher income, lower workload, lower stress opportunities, or leave, retrain in another profession who will welcome former nurses' skillsets.

[@lordkorner]

As someone who has used the german health system over the last 10 years, I've never seen anything to compare with what's going on in GB, unless it's deteriorated in the last two years. I live in potsdam and am near two GP'S with little or no waiting times. I've been hospitalised twice in Berlin and couldn't have had better experience. Maybe since covid-19 its under pressure, but I'm not aware of it.

[@Robert-cu9bm]

Nope the rest of the civilised world has decent health care

[@justj8565]

@lordkorner - where the US leads the UK follows and unfortunately the running down of the NHS is deliberate as the powers that be want it to fail so it strengthens their case for privatising health care and opening it up for US health care companies to come in and take the contracts. This started with the libdem-tory alliance and I read an article that listed how many of these politicians were investors in these care companies. This is about making money for the few rather than providing free health care for all, especially for those unable to afford it. But the general public voted in this conservative again so they could get Brexit rather than think about other issues like having affordable health care for all. Since COVID lockdowns the General Practioners (doctors you see first when you are ill) have barricaded themselves in their offices and getting appointments is very difficult. Before could book an appointment by calling or on an online system. Never took that long for the phone to be answered and an appointment given. Now the online booking is gone, calling on the phone and getting through to talk to someone takes hours or days unless you just sit and call and wait and call and wait until you get through. Finally when you get through you get all sorts of questions and then told to go and see your local pharmacy as they did not have any appointments and see if they can help! I want to see my doctor not a pharmacist who dispenses medicine! The Pharmacist says he does not diagnose but will try to help. Else back to calling. 1.5 hours later you get through and then given a phone appointment to talk to your doctor. To date any phone appointment I have had I never received a call. So back to calling. Finally get through only to be told that the doctor did call but got no response! Eventually you may get to talk to the doctor who may decide there was no need for an appointment as 'its a virus and can't give medicine for this', 'its arthritis just take painkillers' - the diagnosis done without even seeing the patient. By this time, if you are not totally fed up and if you keep insisting you may get an appointment to see the doctor face to face. This is why people are turning up at Accidents and Emergency to try and see a doctor.... so adding extra burden to the hospital's and this could have been handled by their GP if they are not barricaded behind phones. Before surgeries used to be full and now if you go you may be the only one there or one other person waiting. As you are not allowed to come to the doctors to make an appointment I guess they are on their phones trying to get through to get an appointment. You can see your GP, you can't get a referral to a hospital and people are really ill before they are able to see a doctor.

[@andywilliams7323]

That's because Germany has a massively better funded, resourced and managed healthcare system than the UK.

[@Robert-cu9bm]

@@andywilliams7323 So let's take those immigrants that set up and runs their system, instead of the boat people.

[@andywilliams7323]

@@Robert-cu9bm You assume that those who run Germany's significantly better health care system would be willing to work for the NHS. They are not. They are well aware of the bad state the NHS is in, and how extremely poor and unsatisfactory the working conditions in the NHS are. The only reliable staff immigration the NHS can receive is primarily from 2nd-world Asian and African countries, with equally poor health care systems and working conditions, who are enticed to work in the NHS by better financial and living conditions in the UK. Without that immigration, the NHS would've already long collapsed.

[@missatato2099]

I’m a student nurse and hopefully qualifying next year. I’ve been on various placements and although most of them have been great learning experiences, you see the strain the NHS is going through due to human factors which affect student experiences. I don’t get paid whilst on placements but I do it to apply my knowledge to practice, learn key skills and achieve the required competencies for my future registration. I applaud all NHS staff. They are all working so hard to keep up with the demand and stress, understaffing… 😊

[@yofinance1777]

Thank you for your services and good luck ok your career. Society needs to stop being so lazy and take a long hard look at itself. Obese, lazy and dependent on the nhs. It’s disgusting

[@lukemorgan6166]

Nobody is doing It for the feel goods. You're doing it for the money

[@missatato2099]

I chose to do nursing not based on the money but because I enjoy making a difference to people’s lives! Nursing is a rewarding job in promoting health, preventing illness and the care of the ill, disabled and dying. Nurses and other healthcare professionals are the backbone of healthcare provision in the NHS. It’s becoming dangerous in settings where there are insufficient staff, lack of various equipment/ old equipment and poor working conditions.

[@MaiDay01]

@@lukemorgan6166 get a life ? doing it for money would mean she's an investment banker not a nurse

[@elipa3]

You dont get paid???

[@BilgeBrigadeBangerRacing]

The NHS is not 'close to breaking'. It has broken before our eyes. [I am an NHS pharmacist]

[@BilgeBrigadeBangerRacing]

@welcome welcome I'm an advanced pharmacist practitioner working on the front line of intensive care, and have done throughout the pandemic. So I see no cash. Jog on

[@eloiinvestigates]

@@welcomewelcome5829 I think she's the kind of adv pharmacist practitioner that goes around writing pink stickers on people's charts, saying please chart Levoflox instead of Ciproflox. Another Brave NHS worker. Please note, this advanced pharmacist practitioner gets better paid than the medical and surgical and anesthetic registrars. No wonder we can't find any more Doctors. People were eating off their plate!

[@Chopper8472]

@@BilgeBrigadeBangerRacing You might as well pretend being a veteran 😂

[@BilgeBrigadeBangerRacing]

@welcome welcome are you UK or USA-based? In the UK, every Intensive Care Unit has pharmacists based on the unit. I partake in consultant-led ward rounds every day, at the bedside, reviewing pharmaceutical care issues for around 50 patients. I spend no time in dispensary. You are conflating the role of a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician, which may be very different in the NHS to where you work. So no, I'm not talking crap

[@BilgeBrigadeBangerRacing]

@@Chopper8472 would my opinion be more valid if I killed people for a living rather than saved them?

[@erikschaepers]

Does anyone remember the opening of the 2012 Olympics ? As a German, I was utterly shocked that - instead of putting on a powerful and flashy show - they had nurses pushing beds around. I thought that was the weirdest thing I'd ever seen ... They later explained that this was meant to show how proud the UK is of their NHS. That checks out, yep.

[@QemeH]

I know this is random, but when I saw the lady with the blond locks in the first few seconds, I immediately went "oh, I know her!" without ever having been to the UK or having hosted NHS staff in my country. It took me a couple of hours, but I finally figured it out: She's one of the hospital directors in the BBC documentary that was kinda "accidentally" filmed (as in: they were there for a different reason originally, when it happened) about the London terrorist incident where a car hit a class of french school children - or more specifically: about the incident response at that one hospital she worked/works at. I know that documentary almost by heart, because I watched it five times by now: Once when I started to be interested in a medical career, once in paramdeic school, once in a mass cass recurring training cooperation with our local hospital and then twice more with new paramedic students because their teacher didn't show it in class (probably for their lack of english skills). Still freaky, though, to see a documentary from a foreign country about random people and go: "I know her!" :D

[@williamofhler5613]

This is why you rarely see a healthy health care worker. People need to be able to take care of themselves to maintain their own health if they are going to be any good

[@thevortex7075]

I just started medical school at King’s and this is a somewhat chilling video to watch. As was said in the video, we need more doctors, nurses, paramedics etc. Pretty much every healthcare profession is in deficit at the moment. However, as a student, seeing the state of the system we are going to be put into the situation seems pretty bleak and it really makes you consider whether it will be possible to bring the nhs back from the brink. Is this where we want to spend our careers?

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

Considering 70% of doctors aren’t going into training after their foundation years the answer is legit no. I’m an FY1 and i urge you to rethink becoming a doctor. Or at least gear your medical school years to doing foreign exams like the USMLE so you can go abroad

[@zainahmad1111]

@@Bringon-dw8dx Are you going to quit working as a doctor?

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

Im thinking maybe new Zealand as an option, I’m hoping to finish foundation training and then relocate

[@zainahmad1111]

@@Bringon-dw8dx nice, I've just done my medschool interviews but would you recommend reapplying next year to a different course then? what makes medicine so bad in the UK?

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

@@zainahmad1111 id recommend medical students work in the NHS as HCA’s prior to committing to a lifetime in a monopoly healthcare system. It’s just beyond understaffed and underfunded, patients and their relatives constantly get angry at you being bad when realistically you are trying your absolute best. Everyone is very burnt out

[@therange4033]

It's a never ending circle. People leave through stress, less staff left to pick up the care, then they are leaving through stress.....

[@Py16777216]

I'm so thankful to live in the US. I have instant access to health care total potential cost around $3000 a year. Typical cost around $300.

[@Genesis-rn5jz]

I use to work in the A&E and I do not remember having any bed empty. I think we need to focus on prevention, in education, to prepare the population to avoid what can be avoidable like heart disease which is at the top of the problems that overwhelm us. We need to teach our children and the whole population to have healthy lifestyles, to avoid many of the problems that we have. I think this is one important aspect of many other aspects, that could we improve. Where is going to come the resources or money to cover at least a minimum of the needs? Instead of investing in wars and paying agencies, we need to invest in the NHS, in more workers, in real prevention like lifestyle changes.

[@youubik]

Why were you looking for an empty, to get you head down

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

@@youubik to put a patient in it

[@jwatson9732]

They never shut up about healthy lifestyles when I was at school, even in the 90s. What more do you really want them to do? Jamie Oliver even went on his epic crusades to rid school dinners of turkey twizzlers and have them take the sugar out of Irn Bru rendering it utter shite now.

[@raylevi5343]

Begging people even more to live heal healthier will be ineffective and it will take a long time to see results. Nhs simply needs more funding and management restructuring. Everything else will follow.

[@Age_Of_Aquarius84]

I had to take my 2 year old to an urgent treatment centre in my local hospital yesterday, and you could see just how overwhelmed the staff are. As a chronically sick adult, I owe my life to the NHS, and I think it's tragic how the government are doing nothing to rescue this much needed institution. Please invest in the NHS and give it the much needed boost it deserves.

[@beehard44]

They're not going to because privatizing healthcare in the UK will make the rich people even more money, and the only way they'll make the public swallow that is by making the NHS look like it'll be better off privatized. It's sad to see such an amazing system be brought to its knees through politicked greed

[@markwebster4996]

Sad to see this happening in the UK. In the US some used to think the system across the Atlantic made more sense. Fundamentally I think it does having a NHS if properly supported. Here care is good if your employer covers it. Those without are left with massive bills that essentially ruin people financially. Healthcare is a mess everywhere in 2022 it seems.

[@envisionformula4007]

thats what happens when people put money before others

[@eliastalks7411]

even if you do have good insurance through an employer, not all doctors or hospitals are "in network" so an emergency procedure can suddenly unexpectedly cost hundreds of thousands or millions. the number one cause of debt and bankruptcy in the US for individuals/families is medical debt

[@marielonsdale1765]

Why people lie about our health care in the States. First if your employer doesn't cover or the person is 65 is Medicare if you're poor is Medicaid. Also, most hospital they have *financial support*.

[@e.turduckeny630]

@@marielonsdale1765 No one's lying about it. Medicare without decent supplemental coverage can be quite crappy, especially with drug costs. And many employers don't offer coverage, especially if you're part time. And many types of jobs don't even offer full time anymore. Medicaid is available to the very poor, but not the working poor. There's millions of people who make just a little too much to qualify, but don't make enough to afford an independent plan thru the market place. Then there's people who have to retire before 65 due to an accident or other health reason. Too young for Medicare. I had a co-worker come back a year after early retirement because he said he couldn't afford insurance otherwise. And plenty of hospitals version of support is a slight reduction if you pay in full or a payment plan, that's only available after you've disclosed all your household's financial information (with no guarantee that the information will remain secure). People who think there's nothing wrong with our medical system either have rarely used it or don't work in it.

[@emilyb5278]

It is good it the government not taxing the super rich , we lack h housing too.

[@operaforlife6551]

It really is criminal, everyone knows who the criminals are too, whether they will ever be brought to justice.. Thanks for shedding a light on this, I feel really bad for Brits now, hang in there guys. ❤

[@peninsulageneralgoodsstore]

Those MPs on both sides of the aisle are not in it for the country but for themselves . Red, blue, green or yellow I don’t trust you

[@irenedavo3768]

Where are you?

[@operaforlife6551]

@@irenedavo3768 Eu, Belgium, y? If you're going to tell me its the same here.. it really isn't.

[@necromancer2367]

@@peninsulageneralgoodsstore No they're not the same. Saying both sides is a way for lazy people to sound profound and intelligent, instead of bringing the effort to educate and inform themselves. Credit to Michael Kats

[@necromancer2367]

Everyone has their interests of course. But it's better to vote for those whose interests align with yours.

[@xsentfromuk8938]

It's about time home care staff, residential staff, nursing homes staff as well as assisted living staff got paid a decent wage for their hard graft , ONLY then will bed blocking 🚫 STOP . No staff no care...... Pay a living wage .......

[@anitastanley8986]

Nz is now offering residency if you come here to nurse . It’s sad, so sorry for you wonderful people. Best wishes.

[@mydogky]

that will never happen because they are all private homes and the greedy owners are only out to line their own pockets, people are reluctant to go into those places because if you are elderly and got a home you have to pay through the nose yet Joe blogs in the next bed dont pay a penny because they never worked in their life been playing the corrupt system and get it all free ,a bit like the illegals who have never put a penny into our nhs system yet they get full on treatment for free its a bloody unfair system.when you worked your ass off for 55 years paid into that system for all those years when you try to get some kind of treatment its no there for you its down right terrifying

[@jenniferfreemanhudson9468]

Thankyou soooo much for this comment, as an owner of a homecare company we cannot help take the strain off bed blocking as we have limited staff due to our pay which is so very low for the work we are needed to do it goes above what most people think our job is we are required do more and more with no pay increase!! People are leaving as aldi pays more than we can..... my company is small and we pay above minimum wage but its still so low..The care system as a whole needs to change x

[@xsentfromuk8938]

@@jenniferfreemanhudson9468 It's time that social care staff all got way more pay. Those outside of the nhs are treated financially so much worse. Government know this and ignore. Now I really hope the staff get valued with financial gain and not taken for granted for much longer. I can only hope that the social sector gets recognition as a whole service and not as broken down into peices like it currently is. They need to flow and support each other to improve staff and patients long term. Now is the time that Government have to hear the message that good will does not provide wages. The homecare staff do vital varied levels of work to enable patients to remain as independent as possible within their own home environments. I know I've been their and done the job. ❤️ 💙

[@xsentfromuk8938]

@Chris Viking If you are referring to the nhs . Then yes I am totally aware of home work balance life.. agree 👍 I am healthcare assistant nhs. My band for start should be 3 not a 2. My comments are also in support to other staff outside of nhs as they have been denied a proper wage also. Whole sector needs overhauling

[@ameliamackie475]

as a medical student working as a medical receptionist rn, it is so sad to know that when i graduate its going to be like trying to sail a sinking ship :(( bless all the nurses, doctors and other medical staff who are trying their best to give every patient the best possible care in these circumstances

[@hvacdesignsolutions]

I sympathise with these professionals. Prolonged work-related stress and burnout is no joke. If you manage to recover, you are simply a broken version of your former self, never the same person. That's why many professionals leave the NHS and can't return. It's really a question of self-preservation. The system is not going to change for one person.

[@suzybabyyeah]

If anyone is for getting rid of the NHS then you are absolutely mad. I am British but I work in private healthcare in the USA and it is the same situation, this isn't about capitalism. SUPPORT THE NHS, support nurses and all the other disciplines who are being overworked and underpaid.

[@beaddy101]

These guys are heros they need all our support

[@matthewandrews7726]

I prepare patients notes for clinics an obtain patient notes from around the hospital, I have worked for NHS for 3 years, started as an apprentice back in 2020, worked all the way through COVID, it has been absolutely horrific, there's such a lack of staff, so many people have left whether it's Medical OR Admin based. Staff struggle with mental health, The struggle is real.

[@MM-fq6tr]

It’s especially tragic because some politicians are willing to squeeze the system and deprive it of funding due to its “inefficiencies,” thereby causing near collapse and serving their goal of pushing for privatisation and increased costs. No matter that those who can afford more can already access better care options - it’s always profit over people, namely people who are already struggling to survive and beat difficult circumstances.

[@faraazahmed7461]

As a medical doctor having come off a 14 hour on-call shift covering 8 medical wards, bedding 30 patients each ward, a+e referrals and attending cardiac arrest calls, I’m burnt out. Staff shortages have meant I’m physically unable to provide the appropriate level of individualised care. I have reviewed over 50-100 patients today ensuring acute needs are met at a salary of £13 per hour.

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

Yeah the £13-14 pay is a joke God I hate medical on calls, especially overnight. It’s just so unsafe and it takes so long for me to recover after a row of these. Worse one I had on the last rotation had 3 peri arrest calls at the same time, with the one team, meaning SHO’s were running peri arrests at 4am. Absolute joke. Other on calls I’ve been on people ended up answering bleeps whilst crying. Because there just didn’t feel like time to full ourselves aside to get a grip

[@dg7183]

bruh that’s like £2 more than a primark salary, you absolutely deserve FAR more.

[@EliasFabricius]

Thank you Guardian for making this and drawing more attention to this enormous crisis! I hope Sunak will recognize the urgency and decide to give a shit and try to repair the damage the Torys are responsible for.

[@Andrew-rc3vh]

Rubbish. The Tories are at work, these people are going on strike.

[@loop6946]

Spoiler: He won't.

[@jesseshadrack9326]

banker Sunak?

[@deedee46x]

Don’t hold your breath! It’s planned to make the nhs private

[@andrewhannaford2995]

@@Andrew-rc3vh yeah they’re on strike because the tories “work” is making their friends richer the quickest at the expense of this country and the lives of incredible nurses, doctors, paramedics and other healthcare workers. If you can’t see that then you are part of the problem.

[@monique6075]

I have an appointment within 36 months.

[@Christinebanks11]

Are you being sarc!stic ? That's theee years !

[@adrianagil729]

Watching videos like this is disheartening. I'm a FULLY qualified GP living in the UK because I got married to a English citizen; I've been waiting for 13 MONTHS only to take the first exam (out of two) to be able to work here as a doctor. Of course, I'm not complaining about the exams, I'm concerned about how many foreign doctors like me are waiting long periods only to be able to book or take an exam while every day in the news they talk about how much the NHS is suffering due to the shortages of staff. Simply don't understand.

[@noramaddy4409]

Does the UK not have an independent commission against corruption that provides oversight of government departments and their ministers. Government ministers represent the constituents and must be accountable in their management of infrastructure and services.

[@patrickvennard838]

I have worked for 8 NHS trusts since 1993 and I think the NHS is broken and may be beyond repair. I am a Paramedic people are dying as it takes us so long to get to them. The government needs to sort out Social Care and pay all staff fairly to attract new recruits or there will not be an NHS without the staff.

[@paxundpeace9970]

Nobody wants to work for near minimum wage in a care home ans those who did are leaving the UK for Germany or Poland.

[@yofinance1777]

Thank you for your service. Could society not take more care of their health too? It’s always blame someone else and not pointing the finger at the problem, a lazy, overweight and dependent society.

[@u12nnas]

I'm working in the NHS. First, I would like to say working in the NHS is an honour for me personally. That said one issue that I personally see is that their is a lot of unnecessary red tape. For example, I am working towards becoming a HCPC biomedical scientist. The problem is that I need to start my portfolio. The problem now is that - for me - there aren't that many positions available that can help me with that. The other scientist that I have talked have all faced the same problem. Many of these scientists have a BSc and a MSc in their respective fields, but because they don't have the opportunity to even start the portfolio, they are now looking to go private or even abroad! This is just one case where, due to a lack of resources the NHS is losing a lot of young people who - given the opportunity - would *love* to work anywhere in the NHS for the rest of their lives - myself included!

[@Sara_C_14]

Hi, I'm a HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist (and now trainee clinical scientist on the STP) and I completely agree. I have seen that also. People with lots of knowledge and experience who COULD work as a biomedical scientist but can't because they lack a qualification. The trainee jobs where you can do your portfolio are very limited and are very competitive. Pathology laboratories (particularly Histology) have a backlog of cases and all of them are busier than ever, some so busy they may argue that they "don't have time to train". I've been working as a BMS for a few years now and I would like to help or advise if I can. Let me know and we can exchange details :)

[@soggyjungle6065]

Same here in Canada. Why is our health care system seemingly one paycheck away from faulting on services. Oh yeah, over paid politicians have their own private health care doctors and clinics/hospitals. While the rest of us pay with lack of service. Anybody notice those politicians and the medical lobbyists having lunch the other day?!

[@lukemorgan6166]

Nobody will do jack shit about it. Best get used to it, any ideas of grand revolution will never happen now, people too fat and lazy

[@strzelec82]

And who voted for these politicians? Elections have consequences. Always and everywhere. It’s doesn’t matter which country you live in.

[@AbdulSalam-xe4md]

I remember after I had my stroke and surgery i was in the stroke ward and there was someone who had been on the wrong side of the law, he had hurt his head. They had to keep him isolated in a room with perhaps 4 beds all to himself.

[@paisleylfc6367]

I was a nurse in the NHS for about 20 ears, I now live in USA and am paying about $16000 a year for health insurance and that is on top of tax, the NHS needs to be protected.

[@paxundpeace9970]

Thanks for your kind support.

[@Soundpj]

Amen to that. United states is a dystopian example of where we could head.....

[@yofinance1777]

Thank you for your service. Agreed, both Tory and labour or any political party are too dangerous with the NHS. Look at PFI and Tory in U.K. and Labour in Wales.

[@Lela-plants]

@@Soundpj We don’t wait over 2 years for surgeries

[@JWSoul]

United States is an awful place to live for this reason and many more. Backwards and not moving forwards in many ways. I think living with Europeans is better for many British people we have more in common. Just language barriers really and they can be overcome.

[@raymundbonghanoy148]

As a nurse who used to work in NHS , I feel so sorry about the current situation. It is really heartbreaking to see. I left my job as a nurse in UK because I felt that the government dont want to listen with our needs and difficult working conditions especially during the 1st and 2nd wave of covid. Having 8 or 10 patients with almost half of them confused, is really difficult. It was really stressful /helpless with the short staffing, thats why I left UK. I realised it wasnt only me feeling this way , and lots of nurses in UK are leaving as well.

[@Soraviel]

The NHS has been on its knees since I was in secondary school and that was a very long time ago (I'm 28 btw). This comes of no surprise, we are not generous at all (Tories are not generous) in keeping the system in good condition at all, Tories seem to deliberately allow institutions to crumble all the time.

[@yofinance1777]

It’s beyond party politics, labours record in Wales along with the Tory NHS tells that. Society needs to stop being overweight, lazy and dependent. To stop eating too much food costs £0 yet all people like you do is say the Gov need to extend the NHS blank cheque 😂

[@IrishMarty]

You’re delusional if you think swapping to a labour government is going to make any difference to this. Both parties sit close together on either side of the spectrum.

[@shalomodom]

@@yofinance1777 slash of public funding has led to less/ poorer public health promotion. Leads to parents being less educated on health and well-being. Along with the poorer only being able to afford cheaper, highly processed foods for a “full meal”. £1 for a packet of spinach or 70p for a steak pie. All in all, ignorance is bliss and you can spout shit without seeing this first hand or living through being poor

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

Tbh it was on its knees before, it’s broken now. We have weekly announcements where we KEEP breaking records for wait times

[@MotoTvWoodsFarm]

The NHS is not in crisis however the government plundering of the NHS budget and diverting it to friends and family needs proper investigation worthy of involvement by the police

[@cocotiks]

junior doctors are also overworked and understaffed, some being pulled to other hospitals that are even more understaffed. You have to remember that at junior level we can't make all the final decisions/are still in training. On call shifts (12 hr long) there's only four doctors covering a 14 ward hospital ( two senior, two juniors drs) , that's almost 600 patients in the district hospital im currently at. Sure, some days are not as busy, but if there's many patients acutely unwell/emergency you can imagine that we cannot get to everyone as fast as we'd like to and be safe doing so/also be allowed our break time to recuperate before facing the storm again. I just worked 9 days , with only one day off inbetween (2x 12 hr shifts, 7x8hr shift), yet our salary continues to remain the same despite rising cost of living. Then when I pick up a locum shift here and there to earn more/help because there's no Dr cover, I am taxed at extortionate rates for it. We just can't win.

[@craigbosch8298]

Crisis by political design...

[@Clodhopping]

From friends and family in the NHS (pharmacy, nurses x 4 and a GP), there's plenty of money in your NHS but it's badly spent and the organisation systemically broken - e.g. very little coordination to between teams, units, etc. My friend who's a forner hospital pharmacist would incinerate £100k of drugs a week when it was misprescribed/overprescribed by doctors, and none of that can be returned to the pharmacy. Pouring in more taxpayer's money won't fix that.

[@lesleyosler6153]

My lad hurt his hand. He rang the doctors didn’t wants to know. Went to the hospital was turned away and he was told to go to another hospital they didn’t have an xray machine so he had to go to an out of hours place that said he needed an xRay and he had to come back the next day !! I am one hundred percent behind the nhs. The government needs to get there fingers out of there arses and sort this out !!!!

[@lesleyosler6153]

@@welcomewelcome5829 you have to have a form to go to the x ray machine !

[@gailcrowe727]

I’ve heard someone in NHS management say that the NHS isn’t in crisis, it’s finished.

[@leejones518]

Says it all and from a leeching manager

[@joannesaltfleet2071]

Yes it was finished years ago!

[@fianna2981]

Just as the tories planned

[@gailcrowe727]

@@fianna2981 Yes but only for British people, there’ll be plans in place for the immigrants I’m sure!

[@fianna2981]

@@gailcrowe727 yes, blame the poor people who have no power, not the rich bastards who made this happen

[@Mark-hb9xy]

The NHS now consumes 95% of income tax revenue. Virtually every single year, more money gets poured in but the service gets worse. People should be allowed to claim back their income tax, on condition that they take out private insurance such that they be fully covered and no longer use the NHS. Even with only half their income tax rebated, for tens of millions of people this offer would be a no brainer. PS Erect a portacabin in the car park. Move the bed blockers into to it so that beds can be freed up.

[@originalunoriginal4055]

Instead of throwing billions on overseas foreign commitments, how about the British government invest that money in it's own land and people first! Looking at the current downhill of the UK economy, which allie of Britain will be coming forward and assist in rescuing this country ?? Absolutely none will!!!

[@EleanorRoseP]

I work in a GPS surgery. I'm doing about 5 people's Jobs by myself. Even though I'm not a nurse etc every department is stretched. I'm so proud of all the nurses and doctors for what they do. It's exhausting.

[@helenafish7645]

I am a social worker in adult social care, also massively underfunded and chronically under staffed. We try to work with hospitals to move patients on to care or back home when they are ready for discharge but there is very little appropriate care available which causes a backlog. It’s a never ending struggle and social workers work constant over time, but don’t get the recognition from the public that medical staff do. Yet again 12 years of Tory party in government has decimated social care, as well as health care.

[@pumpkinlyd4409]

Thank you!!!! Nhs staff seem to think they are the only ones.

[@elizabethstevens4160]

I'm a nurse and it annoys me as well that you guys don't get the same publicity we do. In fairness its our unions that create that publicity, they advocate for us on a massive scale and make sure the media cover it. Are your unions doing that for you?

[@smith2354]

It's all going as according to their (the Tories) plan. The Tories keep gutting the NHS so you have situations like these, to which they can point their fingers towards and say "see! public healthcare doesn't work!" The Tories are fully responsible for this.

[@JezzaTrades]

Even before these strikes the service for the NHS and ambulance was dreadfully slow and inefficient. Instead of complaining about it I decided I would simply go private. It's been 2 years and I'm very glad I did so. Well worth every penny.

[@truth-hurts3089]

I'd love to retrain as a nurse. But as someone in their 30s with a mortgage and children I just cannot afford to give up my current job to go back to university. Totally impossible.

[@MaiDay01]

tbh its not financially worth it maybe look at real estate?

[@fianna2981]

Don’t do it’s a miserable punishment

[@amemelia]

You can train as a nursing associate, similar to nurse but im sure you can get an apprenticeship with that

[@kyrusinek]

@@amemelia Its a 36hr a week study time. Not doable if you have prior pay commitments. I know I am in the same boat.

[@NSankeerthUrkec]

That much stress. ... God Bless NHS staff for their work

[@suedenim6590]

Ahh the NHS, where everyone gets an appointment within a month....then it gets cancelled and re-booked then cancelled and re-booked then.... well, you get it We SUPPORT the strikes 🙌

[@Tanpossible]

I'm a doctor working in an A&E, and not a day goes by for me on which I do no experience these horrific things!

[@silhouette3562]

Standing with all health workers choosing to strike. They deserve to have good working conditions and pay, but even beyond that it is so clear they are striking because of the horrendous conditions in the NHS for patients and going on strike is the only way they can effectively protest that. Thank you all

[@kimmy542]

Been to my placement to look around before starting the first one soon. Already feeling so pressured. There were so many patients and the staff there were unable to take their break. So unfair the NHS staff are left and forced to deal with shortstaffing themselves. £25-27K after qualifying as band 5 and running round all day with no break dehydrated and not going to toilet? Explotation that is. Clapping is so hypocritic tapping on their shoulders and taking advantage continuously. Resolve shortstaffing issues and retain staff please!

[@nextinstitute7824]

This is so important... Never let go of NHS...!

[@henrydemonfreid1985]

yes but definitely let go of the tory scum

[@elisehewitt9546]

I'm a sterile technician. Our staff turn over this year has been crazy. The work load we get from theatres can be really overwhelming when we are really understaffed

[@Lolaaestereo]

Super sad. The pressure on the nurses and medical staff. But where is the £350 million, Boris and Nigel promise the NHS during tht Brexit campaign. People should protest outside the house of this 2 for months so they don’t get night sleep

[@banksiasong]

Why do Britons continue to vote for an austerity government, the clear raison d'être of which is the complete privatisation of the NHS to replace it with the failed American 'healthcare' model? I grew up hearing that the NHS is the closest thing to a religion in the UK. Seems that no longer the case.

[@jamiehobson6336]

Because we haven't really had a proper election in god knows how many years. Every primeminister we have had since David Cameron has resigned. in And it is scary how some people are adamant to vote Tory because they don't want Labour even when the choice of other parties are available. This country really needs a shake up in democracy and it starts with kicking the labour and Tories out and moving away from this 2 party controls all bullshit.

[@Yelluz]

The majority of the British electorate are brain-bypassed mouth breathers with the intellectual capacity of a jellyfish. If the Sun or the Daily Heil tells them to vote for upper clarseholes, they'll damn well do it. The "pandemic" demonstrated how easily people are prepared to swallow whatever they're told.

[@paxundpeace9970]

Yeah, that's the problem austerity!

[@Robert-cu9bm]

Ummmm because they understand there isn't a magic money tree.

[@mrennie5158]

​@@Robert-cu9bm unless it's for bankers bonuses, Tory cronies or pointless railway tracks

[@Andtewt]

An unacceptable embarrassment

[@macsmiffy2197]

We have the added stress of a hospital roof literally collapsing around our ears. 3,500 props holding up a failing roof. 4 out of 7 theatres out of action because they are unsafe. Government has prevaricated on new build decision for well over a year now. We were promised a decision before Christmas in 2021 and they are still kicking the decision making down the road. If we don’t get a new build, we wont have any services for a community which covers half of Norfolk and parts of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire, including the constituents of Liz Truss and Steve Barclay. We need the national press to support us. We are The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn.🙏

[@stevenhowe6677]

WHO was it that said ''Only a FOOL would keep doing the same thing, over and over again but each time expecting a different outcome'' ??? It really is time to STOP habitually voting Lib/LabCon ...... Let's hope REFORM UK do very well indeed.

[@amh9494]

You think reform are going to fix the NHS? Seriously?

[@Robert-cu9bm]

But people argue they wouldn't know how to run a country. So they vote for the people they definitely know don't know how to run a country. 🙄

[@stevenhowe6677]

@@amh9494 Are REFORM going to fix the MESS that Tory/Labour/Libs have made of the NHS? That remains to be seen, it's better than voting for the people that CREATED the mess surely? Voting Tory/Labour/Libs is a wasted vote, it's meaningless ....... I will be voting REFORM.

[@amh9494]

@@stevenhowe6677 why are you intermittently SHOUTING?

[@stevenhowe6677]

@@amh9494 I LIKES IT

[@ravindranarayanaswamy768]

UK must support their health workers rather than spending arms money on Ukraine and supporting NATO. Take care of your Nurses!

[@owenthomas5103]

We can do both (NHS established during cold war) it's a political choice to let it fail.

[@ryant9876]

As an NHS worker at a Major Trauma Centre. The pressure is unreal. I feel for the patients and every single NHS employee wherever they are . It is literally like a constant board game, every day, every hour. The government need to be held accountable, either step up right now and do what is right for patients, staff or the public need to get rid of them at the next election. We won't have an NHS if we don't.

[@engineeringvision9507]

It's pointless blaming the government. If the party you vote for was in control they would have the same amount of money as this party or any other. The problem is a lack of money in general.

[@MonikaRijal]

The NHS recruiting process is so slow, there are so many news about being short staffed and I get it, it gets exhausting with so many patients and no one to take care. But there are nurses qualified outside the UK, patiently waiting a month or even longer to hear back from NHS. I understand that the recruitment of international nurses gets expensive for everyone, but a qualified nurse should shouldn't be sitting for months to hear from you. Most of nurses I know who have given CBT, have chose to work in Private hospital cause NHS recruitment is so slow.

[@oyaatay1046]

Same for international graduate doctors... İt takes months to get an interview invitation mail from the trusts

[@HA-fl6we]

It’s so annoying because as a young person who achieved all As at GCSE and A level, universities are still rejecting me when I apply to medicine or nursing or midwifery but then they say they’re short staffed

[@MontyCantsin5]

What grades are the university courses you're interested in looking for?

[@HA-fl6we]

@@MontyCantsin5 for medicine you generally need AAA at A level and other courses can be that or AAB, ABB etc. I got A*A*A and it was super disheartening when I never got in

[@MontyCantsin5]

@@HA-fl6we: If you achieved the necessary grades, there must be other reasons why your applications were not successful. Do you need some kind of hands-on experience? A better personal statement? Better skills when it comes to being interviewed? Maybe look into courses where application numbers are lower so that there's less competition?

[@sreddy9889]

Im glad nurses are explaining what they have to go through in extremes in the hospital while dealing with extremely stressful pts and unsafe working environments on a DAILY basis. Healthcare system woildnt be anything without dedicated nurses and doctors. I believe you all did something really difficult and i feel like most of the population doesnt see it...Oh well..

[@Angela-cc1hd]

Why when the NHS is in such turmoil, are we the general public constantly getting messages on our phones and the constant adverts on TV asking us to go or ring the nhs if we have any little thing wrong with us, when they cannot deal with the influx of patients they already have??????

[@SimplyErinful]

Thank you for showing how this impacts Pharmacy. It feels like we’re very often ignored in this discussion but we are underfunded and struggling like everyone else

[@k_a47]

If you voted for this Tory Government, I am sorry but you must hold yourself accountable for self inflicted suffering. Unbelievable, the warning signs were all there.

[@psps2034]

I didnt realise there were no waiting lists or patients waiting for beds under Labour.

[@mrmrmrcaf7801]

@@psps2034 You didn't understand, the Tory Government is too Americanized.They want to slowly destroy the system and do it in a more American style ,just for profit . You don't see outside investments and the Tory corruption?That's how a system is destroyed, you complicate the public system and get the private sector to help.When the system is on its knees, then the biggest maneuvers are made . You know to justify privatisation.Another Brexit disadvantage, they also targeted the NHS... much easier now.I bet that if they stay in power the NHS will dissolve in a few years. it will be impossible to finance

[@Morning404]

@@psps2034 far LESS under Labour. Stop deflecting and own up to your vote tory boy.

[@brenglover72]

Far less under Labour. Do some research and save the sweeping generalisations.

[@andrewhannaford2995]

@@psps2034 Labour hasn’t been in power for over a decade, what’s currently happening now is all conservative greed.

[@hannun618]

I am an Italian nurse, I graduated 12 years ago, I'm living in UK . NMC leaves me at home because they want me to pass a language exam that not even the English people can pass. There are hundreds out there like me.

[@vmoses1979]

Does the British voting public not bear responsibility for this situation too? Who goes to their MPs' surgeries and says NHS funding must be increased? Money can always be found as in the financial crisis of 08/09 and covid lockdown but sustained public action is required to force politicians to act. The Brits are apathetic - you should learn from the French and have massive demonstrations. The medical establishment should have gone on strike long ago to force the massive underfunding as a serious political issue. To wait until this level of crisis to strike has meant years of less than adequate service for users.

[@yuyukawa9104]

Clap for the NHS heroes, all while voting for a party that forces austerity upon the NHS. A nurse cannot feed his children with clapping.

[@annabates6367]

It's the same in Canada. It's more chaotic here though because there is a separate health care system in each province and territory, and continual squabbles between the provinces and the feds about money for health care. In some of the provinces the people at the top seem better suited to a job at Walmart. Scary times.