NPR

tc27 wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:30 am Strangely enough I just had a really smooth experience getting my passport renewed.

Also always found the DVLA web services really easy to use and quick.

Ymx wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:42 am

tc27 wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:30 am Strangely enough I just had a really smooth experience getting my passport renewed.

Also always found the DVLA web services really easy to use and quick.

DVLA might do a better job than the home office issuing passports then ??

Ymx wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:46 am Actually I had to renew my passport before summer hols.

There were stark warnings of 12 week delays.

It took two weeks.

Online process was easy. I say this as I thought I’d use the post office who charged for it, and then just filled in the online form for me very quickly.

Think it would have been even faster had I not needed to issue an extra photo (head was slightly leaning). But even that was efficient and easy.

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:30 am You must have a very good GP service. Lucky bastard.

Mine is a rude, money-grabbing, "Sorry the doctor can't see you this year..." or "Why are you calling us about your health.....?" nightmare from start to finish.

Tichtheid wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:27 am We, well I, am/are very quick to complain or moan our faces off about things, here's a chance for positivity.

I had to cancel a blood test appointment today. I rang the surgery and it was a simple case of choosing option 1 and leaving a message.

A few minutes later I was sent a text offering a chance to reschedule, I clicked the link and made another appointment for a week later, I had the choice of several days after my initial appointment or the following week.

That is how it all should work, Dog Bless the NHS.

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:52 am

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:30 am You must have a very good GP service. Lucky bastard.

Mine is a rude, money-grabbing, "Sorry the doctor can't see you this year..." or "Why are you calling us about your health.....?" nightmare from start to finish.

Online automation in the NHS is somewhat dependent on how automated your GP practice is. My GP practice was an early adopter of technology so is very well integrated with the NHS services - so text notifications, all my medical records online etc.

On the downside, they don't like seeing sick people and getting an appointment is a lottery.

Tichtheid wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:27 am We, well I, am/are very quick to complain or moan our faces off about things, here's a chance for positivity.

I had to cancel a blood test appointment today. I rang the surgery and it was a simple case of choosing option 1 and leaving a message.

A few minutes later I was sent a text offering a chance to reschedule, I clicked the link and made another appointment for a week later, I had the choice of several days after my initial appointment or the following week.

That is how it all should work, Dog Bless the NHS.

Ymx wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:46 am (head was slightly leaning)

Gumboot wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 11:07 am

Tichtheid wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:27 am We, well I, am/are very quick to complain or moan our faces off about things, here's a chance for positivity.

I had to cancel a blood test appointment today. I rang the surgery and it was a simple case of choosing option 1 and leaving a message.

A few minutes later I was sent a text offering a chance to reschedule, I clicked the link and made another appointment for a week later, I had the choice of several days after my initial appointment or the following week.

That is how it all should work, Dog Bless the NHS.

That's how it works here, too. Bloods taken. Results to GP within 24 hours.

Openside wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 11:28 am I had a CT scan on 21st May when I eventually rang up on 21st July to enquire whether they were going to share the results with me I was told it hadn't even been looked at yet!! I have still not heard a peep. NHS is not fit for purpose as the Letby case so tragicly demonstrates.

dpedin wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 12:13 pm

Openside wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 11:28 am I had a CT scan on 21st May when I eventually rang up on 21st July to enquire whether they were going to share the results with me I was told it hadn't even been looked at yet!! I have still not heard a peep. NHS is not fit for purpose as the Letby case so tragicly demonstrates.

Problem is shortage of radiologists in the UK. Royal College of Radiology has been banging the drum for increasing training numbers for years and years but have failed to get UK Gov to increase funding for places fast enough. UK is about 2,000 radiologists short, has a >10% vacancy rate and has the lowest number of radiologists per 100,000 pop than almost every other country in Europe - between 50% and 100% lower than most comparable European countries. All this whilst demand for imaging is increasing fast. The new NHS workforce plan published recently will address these gaps if funded fully (it's not) but it will take over 10+ years to resolve!

Whilst it is easy to jump on the blame the NHS bandwagon the real reason behind your wait is the chronic underfunding of the NHS and in particular the refusal of the Tory gov to tackle the growing workforce crisis until they are near the end of being in power and then decide to spend the future Gov money.

PS - I suspect you will not have to wait 10 years for your report. Only good news is that images will be prioritised according to clinical risk so it doesn't sound like you are in immediate danger?

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 11:11 am

Ymx wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:46 am (head was slightly leaning)

To the right?

dpedin wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 12:13 pm

Openside wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 11:28 am I had a CT scan on 21st May when I eventually rang up on 21st July to enquire whether they were going to share the results with me I was told it hadn't even been looked at yet!! I have still not heard a peep. NHS is not fit for purpose as the Letby case so tragicly demonstrates.

Problem is shortage of radiologists in the UK. Royal College of Radiology has been banging the drum for increasing training numbers for years and years but have failed to get UK Gov to increase funding for places fast enough. UK is about 2,000 radiologists short, has a >10% vacancy rate and has the lowest number of radiologists per 100,000 pop than almost every other country in Europe - between 50% and 100% lower than most comparable European countries. All this whilst demand for imaging is increasing fast. The new NHS workforce plan published recently will address these gaps if funded fully (it's not) but it will take over 10+ years to resolve!

Whilst it is easy to jump on the blame the NHS bandwagon the real reason behind your wait is the chronic underfunding of the NHS and in particular the refusal of the Tory gov to tackle the growing workforce crisis until they are near the end of being in power and then decide to spend the future Gov money.

PS - I suspect you will not have to wait 10 years for your report. Only good news is that images will be prioritised according to clinical risk so it doesn't sound like you are in immediate danger?

Openside wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2023 1:21 pm

dpedin wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 12:13 pm

Openside wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 11:28 am I had a CT scan on 21st May when I eventually rang up on 21st July to enquire whether they were going to share the results with me I was told it hadn't even been looked at yet!! I have still not heard a peep. NHS is not fit for purpose as the Letby case so tragicly demonstrates.

Problem is shortage of radiologists in the UK. Royal College of Radiology has been banging the drum for increasing training numbers for years and years but have failed to get UK Gov to increase funding for places fast enough. UK is about 2,000 radiologists short, has a >10% vacancy rate and has the lowest number of radiologists per 100,000 pop than almost every other country in Europe - between 50% and 100% lower than most comparable European countries. All this whilst demand for imaging is increasing fast. The new NHS workforce plan published recently will address these gaps if funded fully (it's not) but it will take over 10+ years to resolve!

Whilst it is easy to jump on the blame the NHS bandwagon the real reason behind your wait is the chronic underfunding of the NHS and in particular the refusal of the Tory gov to tackle the growing workforce crisis until they are near the end of being in power and then decide to spend the future Gov money.

PS - I suspect you will not have to wait 10 years for your report. Only good news is that images will be prioritised according to clinical risk so it doesn't sound like you are in immediate danger?

Since they haven’t looked at it hard to tell if the risk is minimal.

I genuinely don’t think the NHS is underfunded it is just desperately inefficient and money is spent on the wrong things it’s quite alarming to read the numbers on 100k+ salaries and stories of managers retiring with 1.8M pension funds.

SaintK wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:02 pm

Openside wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2023 1:21 pm

dpedin wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 12:13 pm

Problem is shortage of radiologists in the UK. Royal College of Radiology has been banging the drum for increasing training numbers for years and years but have failed to get UK Gov to increase funding for places fast enough. UK is about 2,000 radiologists short, has a >10% vacancy rate and has the lowest number of radiologists per 100,000 pop than almost every other country in Europe - between 50% and 100% lower than most comparable European countries. All this whilst demand for imaging is increasing fast. The new NHS workforce plan published recently will address these gaps if funded fully (it's not) but it will take over 10+ years to resolve!

Whilst it is easy to jump on the blame the NHS bandwagon the real reason behind your wait is the chronic underfunding of the NHS and in particular the refusal of the Tory gov to tackle the growing workforce crisis until they are near the end of being in power and then decide to spend the future Gov money.

PS - I suspect you will not have to wait 10 years for your report. Only good news is that images will be prioritised according to clinical risk so it doesn't sound like you are in immediate danger?

Since they haven’t looked at it hard to tell if the risk is minimal.

I genuinely don’t think the NHS is underfunded it is just desperately inefficient and money is spent on the wrong things it’s quite alarming to read the numbers on 100k+ salaries and stories of managers retiring with 1.8M pension funds.

Far too many middle/senior "management" and not enough troops on the ground
Go private, as that's what your grandkids will be doing when they grow up by the time the likes of Hunt and Barclay have finished.

Openside wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2023 1:21 pm

dpedin wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 12:13 pm

Openside wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 11:28 am I had a CT scan on 21st May when I eventually rang up on 21st July to enquire whether they were going to share the results with me I was told it hadn't even been looked at yet!! I have still not heard a peep. NHS is not fit for purpose as the Letby case so tragicly demonstrates.

Problem is shortage of radiologists in the UK. Royal College of Radiology has been banging the drum for increasing training numbers for years and years but have failed to get UK Gov to increase funding for places fast enough. UK is about 2,000 radiologists short, has a >10% vacancy rate and has the lowest number of radiologists per 100,000 pop than almost every other country in Europe - between 50% and 100% lower than most comparable European countries. All this whilst demand for imaging is increasing fast. The new NHS workforce plan published recently will address these gaps if funded fully (it's not) but it will take over 10+ years to resolve!

Whilst it is easy to jump on the blame the NHS bandwagon the real reason behind your wait is the chronic underfunding of the NHS and in particular the refusal of the Tory gov to tackle the growing workforce crisis until they are near the end of being in power and then decide to spend the future Gov money.

PS - I suspect you will not have to wait 10 years for your report. Only good news is that images will be prioritised according to clinical risk so it doesn't sound like you are in immediate danger?

Since they haven’t looked at it hard to tell if the risk is minimal.

I genuinely don’t think the NHS is underfunded it is just desperately inefficient and money is spent on the wrong things it’s quite alarming to read the numbers on 100k+ salaries and stories of managers retiring with 1.8M pension funds.

dpedin wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:50 am

Ymx wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:46 am Actually I had to renew my passport before summer hols.

There were stark warnings of 12 week delays.

It took two weeks.

Online process was easy. I say this as I thought I’d use the post office who charged for it, and then just filled in the online form for me very quickly.

Think it would have been even faster had I not needed to issue an extra photo (head was slightly leaning). But even that was efficient and easy.

Just applied online yesterday and sent off old passport by registered delivery this morning. I will be so so pleased if I get my new (shitty blue/black one!) back within 2-3 weeks.

Line6 HXFX wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2023 6:28 pm 13 years of Tory mismanagement, and underfunding. The NHS had the highest patient satisfaction rating in the world, before Austerity. They completely cut investment and did rampant cuts across the board. Hope your taxcuts were worth it.

Fewer Doctors and Nurses, Fewer Beds, fewer CT and MRI machines, less equiptment worse patient outcomes compared to other countries, all because of cuts and lack of investment over 13 years.


Administrative spending is low btw.


https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/blog/2023/ ... ive-charts

C69 wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2023 6:09 pm

dpedin wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:50 am

Ymx wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:46 am Actually I had to renew my passport before summer hols.

There were stark warnings of 12 week delays.

It took two weeks.

Online process was easy. I say this as I thought I’d use the post office who charged for it, and then just filled in the online form for me very quickly.

Think it would have been even faster had I not needed to issue an extra photo (head was slightly leaning). But even that was efficient and easy.

Just applied online yesterday and sent off old passport by registered delivery this morning. I will be so so pleased if I get my new (shitty blue/black one!) back within 2-3 weeks.

I applied a few months ago and got my new passport in 6 days, which was nice.

Line6 HXFX wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 4:53 am If the NHS is just for the poor, the poor have been completely dehumanised, scapegoated, smeared and slandered in the UK and have zero power, influence or voice.

Margin__Walker wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2023 7:04 pm It may be imperfect, due to underfunding, structural inefficiencies or both, but I owe the NHS everything this year. For the first 6 months of the year either my wife or new-born son were in patients in an NHS hospital

They worked absolute miracles to get her pregnancy to a viable gestation in the face of a very poor prognosis and then took superb care of my son in the NICU. Just brilliant people who were professional, compassionate and tireless. Going above and beyond time and time again. Right from the students and hospitality staff to the consultants. I'll never be able to repay them.

shaggy wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 10:40 am

Margin__Walker wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2023 7:04 pm It may be imperfect, due to underfunding, structural inefficiencies or both, but I owe the NHS everything this year. For the first 6 months of the year either my wife or new-born son were in patients in an NHS hospital

They worked absolute miracles to get her pregnancy to a viable gestation in the face of a very poor prognosis and then took superb care of my son in the NICU. Just brilliant people who were professional, compassionate and tireless. Going above and beyond time and time again. Right from the students and hospitality staff to the consultants. I'll never be able to repay them.

Don’t need to say if you don’t want to but how close did you get to term?

Margin__Walker wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 11:15 am

shaggy wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 10:40 am

Margin__Walker wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2023 7:04 pm It may be imperfect, due to underfunding, structural inefficiencies or both, but I owe the NHS everything this year. For the first 6 months of the year either my wife or new-born son were in patients in an NHS hospital

They worked absolute miracles to get her pregnancy to a viable gestation in the face of a very poor prognosis and then took superb care of my son in the NICU. Just brilliant people who were professional, compassionate and tireless. Going above and beyond time and time again. Right from the students and hospitality staff to the consultants. I'll never be able to repay them.

Don’t need to say if you don’t want to but how close did you get to term?

Nah. it's fine.

She got to 28 weeks. Was a nightmare pregnancy from the start really with a large subchorionic hematoma. She was in hospital from 19 weeks. Waters went completely at 23 weeks. He spent 3.5 months in hospital, first at the ICU where he was born for a couple of months, then a local hospital. He's back home on oxygen 24/7 and with a few more minor issues, but otherwise doing superbly. Oxygen is usually weaned within the first year.

Modern medicine is amazing.

Margin__Walker wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 11:15 am

shaggy wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 10:40 am

Margin__Walker wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2023 7:04 pm It may be imperfect, due to underfunding, structural inefficiencies or both, but I owe the NHS everything this year. For the first 6 months of the year either my wife or new-born son were in patients in an NHS hospital

They worked absolute miracles to get her pregnancy to a viable gestation in the face of a very poor prognosis and then took superb care of my son in the NICU. Just brilliant people who were professional, compassionate and tireless. Going above and beyond time and time again. Right from the students and hospitality staff to the consultants. I'll never be able to repay them.

Don’t need to say if you don’t want to but how close did you get to term?

Nah. it's fine.

She got to 28 weeks. Was a nightmare pregnancy from the start really with a large subchorionic hematoma. She was in hospital from 19 weeks. Waters went completely at 23 weeks. He spent 3.5 months in hospital, first at the ICU where he was born for a couple of months, then a local hospital. He's back home on oxygen 24/7 and with a few more minor issues, but otherwise doing superbly. Oxygen is usually weaned within the first year.

Modern medicine is amazing.

shaggy wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 12:23 pm

Not wanting to be a downer but start looking at schools with proper SEN provision now and if you ever want a proper chat on it all ping me.

dpedin wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:50 am

Ymx wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:46 am Actually I had to renew my passport before summer hols.

There were stark warnings of 12 week delays.

It took two weeks.

Online process was easy. I say this as I thought I’d use the post office who charged for it, and then just filled in the online form for me very quickly.

Think it would have been even faster had I not needed to issue an extra photo (head was slightly leaning). But even that was efficient and easy.

Just applied online yesterday and sent off old passport by registered delivery this morning. I will be so so pleased if I get my new (shitty blue/black one!) back within 2-3 weeks.

Ymx wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:46 am Actually I had to renew my passport before summer hols.

There were stark warnings of 12 week delays.

It took two weeks.

Online process was easy. I say this as I thought I’d use the post office who charged for it, and then just filled in the online form for me very quickly.

Think it would have been even faster had I not needed to issue an extra photo (head was slightly leaning). But even that was efficient and easy.