Readers share their views on NHS funding, waiting lists and reforms in the comment section of Bristol Live
File photo of an emergency ambulance responding to a call(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
Bristol Live readers have been engaged in heated discussions about NHS funding, reform and waiting lists. There’s a wide range of opinions on what should be the first area to undergo change, but there’s a general consensus that the service is under strain.
Despite billions of pounds of additional funding being injected into the NHS by successive Governments without seeing an improvement in the standards of service, the new Labour Government plans to enhance the NHS by trimming budgets and enhancing efficiency. This is according to Bristol MP and health minister Karin Smyth, who believes the key to improving the NHS lies in smarter operations.
Earlier this year, both the UHBW Trust and North Bristol NHS Trust warned that these budget cuts would result in hundreds of job losses or unfilled vacancies. This comes at a time when young doctors and nurses are voicing concerns about being trained with no available jobs to transition into.
Organisations representing doctors and nurses have stated that these job and budget cuts are happening at a time when staff pressures are already at breaking point. However, Karin Smyth, the Minister of State for Health in the Department of Health, stated that previous attempts to solve issues by injecting more funds into the NHS had proven unsuccessful.
One reader, ReesIsToast comments: “We gave everyone a pay rise and nothing is better, shocker.”
Bbski asks: “When will it be accepted that NHS is a 7 day service? Management ignore this fact and set up support staff to work a 5 day week! Why do any cuts start at the base? Cleaners, nurses are always targeted ‘management’ seem to be reprieved!”
Blackbeard83 believes: “This is a 100% lie and an attempt to have an excuse to not invest in new nurses, doctors & hospitals that the NHS desperately needs. The NHS gets much less than Germany, France etc give to their health services. She has shown herself to be not fit to run the NHS. Yet another Labour u-turn.
“They also need to recruit. Obviously wages have to keep up with inflation to give a fair wage. If pensioners can have the triple lock then nurses should also have competitive wages otherwise they’ll all just move to other countries like Australia. Politicians always say the NHS should be reformed/restructured instead of invested in. If Labour don’t try to fix it they’ll be kicked out. Invest before it is too late.”
Bs3bob writes: “What a surprise. When in opposition they cry the NHS just needs more money to improve, yet when in power they change their tune. We all know the NHS needs reform, but no government has the guts to do it, and if a labour government with a massive majority can’t at least make a start, then the NHS is doomed. It’s an organisation still set up for post war Britain and not 21st century Britain and that has to change. Merging the two Bristol health trusts is a no brainer. Why one city needs two separate trusts is baffling in the first place? Why one city, Bristol, needs to be run by 4 different county councils (2 main ones) is another crazy situation? Think of all the extra money that could be spent on services if Bristol didn’t have duplicated council officials on 6 figure salaries. The urban city of Bristol should be one council.
Antigov simply says: “Things did run so much better before Brexit.”
6470 feels: “I think the NHS is getting a bit like city councils they need government money to keep running. They could start by stopping all the adverts on TV why does everybody need a cold injection, can’t people walk to the chemist and pick up a Lemsip or some other cold remedy. If you have something wrong go to see your doctor if it’s something that needs hospital treatment they will for send you. One thing is when they cut it’s never people around the top it’s always the nurses or cleaners porters etc that seems to get the chop.”
Carborundum comments: “The Tories ran it on a shoestring. Admittedly not very well – disastrously in fact – and so that is the starting point.”
Thecookedsock states: “You only have to look at what the incompetent Tories did in their 14 years of disastrous rule as yet again, they decimate a public service. BBC – England’s hospital waiting lists rise to 7.57m. Waiting list was 2 million in 2010, nearly 8 million in 2024. As always, the Tories destroy public services, Labour build and improve them.”
What do you believe is the answer to saving the NHS? Comments below or HERE to join in the conversation.