The NHS

Generali

I'm sure many remember this from 2000:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/320/7229/205

Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair, pledged more money for the NHS this week, promising on television to raise the proportion of the UK gross domestic product spent on health from the present 6.8%to the European national average, 8%If he carries out his pledge, spending on the NHS will rise by at least £9bn ($14.4bn).

It must be good if the Government is spending more on health, right? There's nothing more important than health, apart from the kiddies perhaps. Well, as ever, it's not quite as simple as that:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/mar/03/primary-care-trust-nhs

"Between 1997 and 2007 NHS inputs – by that I mean cash – went up by 60%," he said. "But NHS outputs went down by 4%. Two thirds of the money we put in just went into pay."

Hmm, you put in more money but get less out. That's not so good. Why spend so much extra on wages though?

Unison, the public sector workers union has 2 members on the Labour Party's ruling committee and sponsors (pays for) 78 MPs (including cabinet ministers) and 5 MEPs.

http://www.unison.org.uk/labourlink/pages_view.asp?did=86

Of course the money also flows from the taxpayer to Unison, courtesy of the Labour Government:

http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/18673.pdf

Government funding was made available in the third round of the Union Modernisation Funding for projects aimed at providing protection for vulnerable workers.

As announced at the TUC, UNISON has been awarded the maximum available for a two year project to provide support for vulnerable contracted out workers.

purch

Unison, the public sector workers union has 2 members on the Labour Party's ruling committee and sponsors (pays for) 78 MPs (including cabinet ministers) and 5 MEPs.

Does your middle name start with an A :eek:

peterg1965

It needs more than cash to sort the NHS out. By and large it does what it says on the tin.....but.....

- It is hugely inefficient
- Panders too much to the desires of doctors
- suffers from management 'behavioural' issues bought on by Govt targets driving actions not the desires/wishes/needs of the people it serves on a local basis.
- needs RADICAL reform and national political leadership to 'sort out'.

ALL of these have not been addressed by 13 years of Labour mismanagement.

Radiantsoul

Are people that work for the NHS really an overpaid lot?

purch

Are people that work for the NHS really an overpaid lot?

No, but there are too many of them, and they are very badly managed.

aelitaman

Radiantsoul wrote: »

Are people that work for the NHS really an overpaid lot?

I have a friend (you may be surprised) and there job is to book appointments for operations at a hospital. i.e take emails from doctors, write to patient offer dates patient writes back with date, friend books operation on computer system, writes back to confirm with patient.

How much do your think the salary should be for this job. Have some suggestions and then I will tell you.

Generali

Unison are quite happy to use funding of the Labour party to get their own way:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/2282053/Unison-union-leaders-threaten-to-withdraw-Labour-funding.html

Union leaders have threatened to withdraw funding from Labour MPs who refuse to give their backing to striking council staff.

(July 2008)

http://soccernews.bigsoccer.com/article/00NPcJB8dM1TK

Mr Prentis said there would be no more 'blank cheques' for Labour The union says it is not breaking its alliance with the party, but it is concerned with the direction of policy, particularly the part-privatisation of Royal Mail

(July 2009)

http://www.innovation.cc/scholarly-style/shaw-finance.pdf

Unison...reducing affiliation funding to the party...calling for a moratorium on any further PFI projects

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/apr/16/tradeunions.labour

Unison, the second largest union...gave £2.12m to Labour last year

markharding557

Radiantsoul wrote: »

Are people that work for the NHS really an overpaid lot?

generally not overpaid but there are too many people employed doing non jobs that don't need doing,layers of management etc,etc

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Unite........... http://www.unitetheunion.com/resources/political_department/unite_and_the_labour_party.aspx

• Resources
• Political Department
  • Unite and the Labour Party
    • Labour Party Policy Forums
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    • Trade Union Labour Party Liaison Organisation (TULO)
    • Unite the Union urges members to “Join the Party!”

Unite is proud of its strong links to the Labour Party. The Labour Party was created over 100 years ago to promote the values and aspirations of trade union members. More than a century later that need is as strong as ever.
We recognise the importance of a robust relationship with the Labour Party as we continue working together to tackle low pay and exploitation, unfairness in the workplace, inequality and to improve people’s lives especially as we tackle the global recession.
The union has and continues to be influential in the Labour Party and at the ballot box. Unite members’ votes in the next General Election will be pivotal. We are determined to do all we can to secure a fourth term for Labour in government.
We encourage all members of Unite to play their part by also being members of the Labour Party. By being active at a local level, in particular as delegates from your union branch to your local constituency Labour Party (CLP), you can play your part in pushing forward Unite campaigns and policies and so help develop the new manifesto to deliver that fourth term.
Unite believes Labour in government offers the best chance for you and all trade unionists to develop the better, fairer society we all want to see. We are not uncritical but we do contrast what has been achieved in the last 12 years with Labour with what was destroyed in the previous 18 years under the Conservatives.
Just follow the links below to find out more about the work of the union with the Labour Party and how you can get more involved.

joolsybools

aelitaman wrote: »

I have a friend (you may be surprised) and there job is to book appointments for operations at a hospital. i.e take emails from doctors, write to patient offer dates patient writes back with date, friend books operation on computer system, writes back to confirm with patient.

How much do your think the salary should be for this job. Have some suggestions and then I will tell you.

£16k to £18k?

aelitaman

joolsybools wrote: »

£16k to £18k?

Higher

zzczcx