NetFlix, normal telly and the NHS

18 March

Last night we sat and watched a film on NetFlix; we're certainly getting our money's worth out of it. We also watched two episode of Jericho, a series we didn't know about. It's not bad you know, we're enjoying it anyway. The result of that is that I recorded a number of programmes that are on normal telly on Monday. This morning we watched two of them. Despatches on C4 was a bit of an eye opener even though I was well aware of what some of the food companies are up to. It was a surprise that at least one company in Holland was supplying beef/horse meat mixes to British companies. It seems that the penalties are so mild that the supplier can safely ignore the rules.

Panorama is the other one we watched this morning. Most of us will be aware of bad A&E is in most areas of the country, remember, I wrote on this yesterday. It seems it's these damned targets that have been applied that are causing a lot of the current problems there. Patients are suffering because of them, as well as all the other changes made to the NHS over the last few years. The previous government also had problems with the NHS so it's not just the fault of latest lot. But you know something? If we want a NHS which is free at the point of delivery, then we have to pay for it. It must be fully funded and not farmed out to others and the current competition game is just not on.

The programme we watched today interviewed two A&E consultants who have voted with their feet and left A&E. One remains in the NHS as a GP but the other one has moved to the same job in Australia at a higher salary and less stress. These people are not dummies for Pete's sake. They don't train for years and work their way to the top of their part of the tree and give up on the A&E for nothing. There is now a real shortage of staff in A&E, one that can only worsen the patient experience for those we turn up for treatment.

One guy on there yesterday was admitted to a ward for the sixth time in the last month. Such patients need help but A&E is not the place for them but having them in there delays treatment for other patients who need treatment. The other issue that was highlighted again was bed-blocking. The hospital concerned had three elderly patients who were fit and well enough for discharge but can't be because county council social teams don't work at weekends.

At what point will the powers that be really listen to those on the front end of delivering the service and get it sorted properly. Yes, it will cost more money, of course it will. But what is more important to the whole of the UK, the NHS or HS2? And do we really need to replace Trident 2 nuclear missiles; do we actually need a nuclear deterrent in this day and age? Cost alone suggests that we don't. HS2 and Trident seem to me to be vanity projects; projects that the muppet persons can point to and say, 'I helped bring that in!' Perhaps they might end having to add, '... but I wish I hadn't!'

Chester Zoo has some really beautiful birds, like this one ... 

Sorry, I don't know what type of bird it is.

And today's funny ...

An old retired sailor puts on his old uniform and
heads for the docks once more, for old times sake.
He engages a prostitute and takes her up to a room.
He's soon going at it as well as he can for a guy his age,
but needing some reassurance, he asks, 'How am I doing?'
The prostitute replies, 'Well, old sailor, you're doing about three knots.'
'Three knots? he asks. 'What's that supposed to mean?'
She says, "You're knot hard, you're knot in, and your knot getting your money back