Public satisfaction with the NHS has dropped to 20%  (lowest ever), so it’s time to make our voices heard – not delay action with “consultations” 

When Labour returned to power after the last election, Keir Starmer tasked the eminent clinician, Lord Darzi, with producing a report on the NHS.  This was on Starmer’s desk seven weeks later.

‘Then the momentum ground to a halt/  Months later, nothing has been done.  All we get are promises of more consultations.  WE DON’T NEED THESE.  What we need is someone to look on the shelves of the Dept. Health (DH) dust off reports that have come from umpteen committees, and act on their recommendations.

This week,  I received yet another email from some organisation, asking for my views on Labour’s 10-year plan for the NHS.  Well, they can’t have them, because my views are unprintable.

Amanda Pritchard (late CEO of NHS England) has resigned, followed by the shock announcement that NHSE (NHS England) was being dissolved, and then we learn NHSE was to be taken over by DH.  So same old-same old.

Wes Streeting (Minister of Health) seems to be trying to sweep Whitehall clean of the old mess – but I can’t see anything changing for the better. 

Streeting speaks of giving local leaders the tools they need to deliver on the government’s three shifts for the NHS. “this move is intended to “liberate” NHS staff and local NHS leaders, “setting them free from over-centralisation”.

And I have just seen pigs flying past the window.

 Whitehall and its politicians must realise we don’t need them and all their impractical ‘initiatives’ creating paperwork and confusion. We need Clinicians in charge, who will provide what WE need from the NHS – not airy fairy  “innovations”.

Don’t let bureaucrats make more cuts, to pay for “new” initiatives;  the Civil servants will come up with more crazy ideas to fill forms,  meanwhile, the PBP (poor blxxdy patient) i.e us, will suffer even more.

Unless we PBPs take matters into our own hands

 YOU know what services are needed – so ASK 

Now is the time to demand these.  Patients know what is needed locally,. Anyone who already had set out a plan for NHS services could find that the Dept. Health will look favourably on funding and setting it up. They know that action is needed, just don’t have any plans. So anything that will make them look good in the eyes of the voters could be a winner.  So if you know a service is needed locally, from Falls Prevention Cliinic, Early Diagnosis Unit, etc. etc. and someone has delivered a report – put in a request, bring it out again and get support from

• Your MP
• Your GP and / or their surgery
• patient Groups (PPGs)
• charities

.

What is already happening

The King’s Fund is pushing for us to get more involved, and for the NHS to GO WITH us – rather than telling us to DO WITH what they suggest.    Over 800 people signed up for their video conference on the subject.

Most MPs have dedicated researchers on the job, who often need Case Studies from their Constituents.

My GP surgery was told by an NHS Jobsworth I couldn’t have Hydrotherapy (even though it has been proven to keep me mobile) “because she has had it before”. Luckily, my wonderful GP thinks this is nonsensical.  Their Social Prescriber is coming to me this week to plan what we do next.

If. like me, the NHS didn’t give you proper care, and you were given a benefit, or are waiting for one, to pay for private care, you might be waiting for Social Services to pull their finger out.  If so, join Silver Voices – whose Dennis Reed is a tiger when it comes to fighting for our rights.

His latest info says A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Government from Silver Voices has exposed further foot-dragging by Labour on the setting up of the Casey Commission on the future of social care. Already under intense criticism for the leisurely timetable, with no final recommendations until 2028, the response from the Department of Health and Social Care raises further questions about the priority being given to this issue by both the Government and Baroness Casey. Showing proper fighting spirit, it’s  well worth becoming a member  https://silvervoices.co.uk/

 SO IF YOU NEED SOMETHING GO FOR IT ~ AND MAY THE BEST PATiENT-FOCUSSED PLANS WIN.