One fairly simple solution, although the training takes time, would be to make every medical degree/ training course free, thereby encouraging a greater take-up from students who "dont really know what they want to do" and then of course, reward the personnel properly once they have qualified.

I konw it will blow the minds of some but, perhaps schools and colleges should be trying to guide youngsters into careesr where there are greater opportunities / vaccancies.
We live in a free world (nearly) and it's great that kids have a choice of what thet want to pursue after leaving but, where there are gaping holes in the workforce, there should be some additional "help" for those willing to train.

Quote: Bullseye " With the reduction in applicants we’ve seen over the past couple of years this is a dire situation that needs remedying. It won’t be helped if EU citizens decide to go home too.'" The NHS has been hit by a double whammy. One is the conservatives not properly funding the NHS, the other is the drop in EU applicants for vacant posts following the Brexit vote. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc. ... h-40248366

Quote: Bullseye " With the reduction in applicants we’ve seen over the past couple of years this is a dire situation that needs remedying. It won’t be helped if EU citizens decide to go home too.'" The NHS has been hit by a double whammy. One is the conservatives not properly funding the NHS, the other is the drop in EU applicants for vacant posts following the Brexit vote. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc. ... h-40248366

Are you seriously suggesting that the NHS is as lean as can be or just your NHS trust?

One of the biggest gains the NHS can get is to stop the abuse of its services by its patients - whether its patients not turning up for appointments or patients turning up at A&E when that is not appropriate.

Quote: Sal Paradise "Are you seriously suggesting that the NHS is as lean as can be or just your NHS trust? One of the biggest gains the NHS can get is to stop the abuse of its services by its patients - whether its patients not turning up for appointments or patients turning up at A&E when that is not appropriate.'" The NHS is the most efficient health system going https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc. ... h-40608253

Quote: Sal Paradise "Are you seriously suggesting that the NHS is as lean as can be or just your NHS trust? One of the biggest gains the NHS can get is to stop the abuse of its services by its patients - whether its patients not turning up for appointments or patients turning up at A&E when that is not appropriate.'" The NHS is the most efficient health system going https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc. ... h-40608253

The best way to help the NHS and avoid early death would be to adopt healthier lifestyles and take better care of ourselves.

Very good point

Yes I am pretty much. I get around a lot of Trusts of all different kinds. They've all been cut to the bone.



Any ideas how? I mean new ones. It's not like this hasn't been looked at before.

Until very recently average life expectancy has increased year on year – so on average we are doing that.

Some interesting reading and discussion here. Regarding the NHS and how lean it is. I am sure that further savings can be made. One especially for Emergency Services. I'll give an example, outside Warrington Hospital, there is a Spar shop with a fuel station attached. Quite often, there is an ambulance on the forecourt filling up. Yes it's easy, however with the prices being ~10p a litre higher than other petrol stations. I would have thought quite a large saving could be made on fuel?

Most Ambulance services already hold bunkered stocks of diesel. However these stocks are at the main ambulance depots and these aren’t always within a suitable travelling distance given that the number of vehicles is stretched, the number of calls is massive and they have to be deployed geographically to cover wide areas, not to mention the targets of being at an emergency within a set time. It might in the example you give an idea to put a fuel bunker in at each Acute hospital. However I would expect that to be too expensive. I know Trusts that have a complete ban on any capital expenditure at the moment. Some even have bans on buying new things over £500. One I know isn't able to replace the broken projector and screen in their main meeting rooms due to costs.

It all boils down to the NHS living on the absolute edge costs wise. Unless it gets a big injection it can’t address things long term.

How much of that is driven by advances in clinical practises and drug development?

Hard to say. I imagine quite a bit. However people don't tend to smoke as much nowadays so that's one influence.

Also people having less dangerous jobs and living in cleaner environments also an impact.

Hard to measure.

Agreed - whatever anybody says its still one hell of a service.