Glasgow To Lose 670 Nurses, Expert says plans 'put patient safety at risk' Options

[GG]

Devastating plans have been drawn up to axe 1200 NHS staff jobs, including more than 600 nurses, in the greater Glasgow area. The proposed job losses are part of a wider plan, resulting from the bankers' bailout and the national debt, which could see up to 5,000 NHS posts lost in Scotland over the coming year.

Health service unions have described the porposals as "appalling", and are furious that the move could see 670 nurse and midwife posts cut while only 30 managers would go at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the country's largest health board.

Matt McLaughlin, of the health service union Unison, said:

"These are real cuts and they will have an impact on frontline services. In Glasgow and Clyde, we have already seen cleaning hours cut back and specialist nurses being asked to fill in for vacancies on the rota. Now, we have the appalling prospect of nurses, midwives and other frontline medical staff facing redundancy."

Norman Provan, of the Royal College of Nursing in Scotland, added:

"This confirms our worst fears and, if implemented, will put patient safety at risk. It is simply not possible to cut this number of nursing and other posts without affecting the quality of patient care and patient safety. We have been warning for some time that the board's plans are reckless and put short-term financial considerations ahead of patient need."

A Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board spokesman said:

"We can confirm that we anticipate a reduction in our staffing of 1,252 over the next 18 months as we continue to modernise and redesign our services. Between 2009 and 2012 we will have spent £350million on modernising our hospitals and other facilities, equipment and support services. We are confident that these changes can be achieved through natural wastage."

GG.

[TeeHeeHee]

"We are confident that these changes can be achieved through natural wastage."

How often has this phrase been bandied about?
Reverse peristalsis.
Nurses being blown out because banks were bailed out. What has the Health Service got to do with ailing banks whose excuses for financial wizards received massif bonuses even after running the banks to the ground?

[penny dainty]

Absolutely ridiculous, what do they expect of the poor nurses who dont lose their jobs then, are they expected to do the work of 2 or 3 people .I think not , us nurses work hard enough often cop for a lot of abuse by the adoring public and for not very much money, work long hours, missing meal breaks and generally treated as dogs bodies by many.

Wake up and smell the coffee you stupid politicians before you lose the health sevice completely.

[tombro]

The whole idea just proves what various Governments (throughout the whole world, sadly) value more !

My Banking Mates' (they finance my Political Party) continued existence is definitely more important than providing Health Care for the masses. After all, how much money do the masses provide towards my continued political existence ?

That (it seems) is the philosophy our present politics based world works on !

Tombro

[bilbo.s]

Viva la revolución!

Cuba has problems, mainly caused by the vicious and spiteful embargo by USA, but has 1 doctor for every 40 families and plenty nurses.

[TeeHeeHee]

I was rushed into hospital in Norfolk years ago with burst ulcers and had to wait over 4 or 5 hours while they flew a doctor up from London (an old Scotsman). During the op I had to be reanimated 3 times (my ex-wife said 5 times but she was always prone to exaggeration). The next day I had a long talk with the doctor concerning my life style and the self-abuse of my body.
I explained to him my working life; minimum 12 hour shifts which could stretch to 16+ with sometimes a ghoster (24 hrs +) thrown in for good measure and that for 7 days a week for weeks on end without break just to get an aircraft out of the hangar and back into the air where it belonged - all this with hurried or no breaks, coffee by the gallon and straight into the pub to come down before the stress of the next shift.
The Doctor found this explanation to be very interesting as it was the first time that he had heard of the exact same conditions which befell young interns and nursing staff.
Ulcers were an occupational hazard in the Health Service, he explained.
That was back in 1980.
I guess things haven't improved any.
As a frequent hospital guest, the medical services have my full sympathy and support.

[droschke7]

wasn't this fairly obvious as soon as Camerons mob got in? TYhey only have one seat in Scotland and now they are going to make us pay for it.

[Patter Merchant]

How can anyone seriously think that cutting this many frontline jobs will NOT affect services? These management imbeciles think that we are stupid! Of course they get paid so much that they -- or their family -- don't need to worry about the state of the NHS cause they'll all be private!!

Viva la revolución for me too!!!

[Rob Rattray]

I've seen too much of this occur here at Brisbane where we are suffering from nursing shortages also, not because of a lack of willing nurses but because new hospitals have been built [Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital built 1997-8] but never been substantially staffed with trained persons resulting in poor Health standards throughout the South-East of Queensland and the rest ot the State. It used to have 1200+ patients housed 15 years ago but now one would not expect to see half that number because of what is aforementioned in lack of staff. Wards, although stocked with equipment [now-out-of-date] are simply not used for their intended purpose!
Glasgow is a much bigger city than Brisbane and has a higher population so do not treat your citizens to a lower standard of care than they deserve. How to stop this fanatical proposition would be to place one of your Government hierarchy in one of your hospitals and make him/her wait 6-7 hours for attention when Nurses are unavailable because of their[Government] cutback ideas. I'm sure this might sway the final decision!
Good Luck and may the Lord be with ye.
Rob

P.S. I was a victim of those RBH cutbacks back in '97 so I DO know what I'm talking about.

[*Backcauseway*]

Is it "nurses" or "nursing posts". There is a big difference. Some NHS units keep a "sort of reserve" of unfilled posts. These "unfilled posts" if they are needed to be filled for a day or two have agency or "bank" staff used. So if all agency and "bank" staff were not used. Also if certain units were operated more efficiently then these posts could be lost by natural wastage easily. One major problem is patients who just dont turn up to keep appointments. These who dont turn up should perhaps be charged £20. Dont pay they go to bottom of the list. You have nursing and medical staff sitting doing nothing and getting paid due to this. So that is another area where savings can be made. Should the NHS fund people telling people what to eat and drink? As someone who once was in this area of work it is quite surprising the duplication of resources and non-front line medical staff in the NHS who could probably be done away with before anyone noticed! Then again does the public actually know how much an out of hours doctor - usually a local GP doing some moonlighting say 4 hours a night- actually earn per hour? Are some of the consultants actually worth what they get paid? Remember consultants are a form of "private contractors" who can and do negotiate almost down to individual pay rates. How many consultants earn more than £250,000 per year in the Greater Glasgow NHS? Another thing that has been conveniently forgotten. Most drugs are priced in US dollars due to most of the big drug companies being tied in with US companies. Now the £ has collapsed in value against the $. One reason petrol prices have risen. Hence drug costs are up 7 to 9%. The NHS is getting an increase over inflation but it will not meet the drug costs.

[Taylor9]

god help us,only a week in power,whats next.???????????????

[Tam blair]

Why don't they consider axing 600 popliticians instead of nurses. Every country is overgoverned so they would'nt be missed I'm sure. Maybe then the trough would be big enough for them.

[Fearn]

Hi All - I've been keeping tabs on the Board but haven't been posting - in advanced stage of emphysema I just take life one day at a time - our crazy weather is of no help!

Loss of 670 Nurses - It's no consolation but here in Ontario (Canada) we're experiencing the same thing........just don't get sick any time after 12 noon on a Friday or a holiday /bank holiday weekend. Most Doc offices have shut up shop and you're advised to proceed to your closest ER - failing that you can call, (anytime after 9a.m. Saturday morning) - (a number is rattled off) to make an appointment with an on call Doc. or, if you choose, go to a Walkin Clinic.
Assuming your problem stems from an 'ongoing' condition, you're fresh out of luck - the Doc you see knows nothing about you..........Calling 911 (ambulance pickup) is an option. You're taken to where there is space. If you want any care while you're strapped to a gurney awaiting admission and also when assigned a bed, it's best to bring your Personal Care Worker (a service you personally pay for) as Nurses "are not your personal servants....." - that's what I was told when I asked /needed, whilst in ER, a bathroom visit. When a bed was found for me, it was no different. Nurses these days seem to spend their 12 hour, 4 days per week shift time futzing around with computer reporting than they do with patients. Then around 5am the patient is awakened so that 'vitals' can be recorded - just dozing off, the day shift comes in - they too want 'vitals'. Breakfast trays start arriving about 8.00am - poor patient - x-rays, scans,test etc. are scheduled and you're whipped off. By the time you get back, breakfast is gone and you are most fortunate if you can persuade anyone on staff to even bring a cup of coffee or tea - lunch, served between noon and 1.00p.m.[size="4"][/size] is a l-o-n-g way off! For sure you need a PCW!!

Hospital CEO's here in Ontario are pulling in annual salaries in excess of CAD$1,000,000.00 - for doing (far as I can make out) very little. Everyone discharged from hospital is requested to complete a 4 page questionaire to "maintain/improve our high standards" destined for the CEO - - I've completed and returned every survey (frequently accompanied by a letter setting out my concerns) - never once had an acknowlegement............

Health care, particularly for Seniors, seems to have gone he way of the DoDo bird........regardless of how much you paid during the working years - VERY SAD!!!!!!

[*jean1e*]

I have been a nurse with the NHS for years, including Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board. I have recently moved to England where staff shortages and complaints from the public are stressing nurses out, and good nurses are made to feel incompetant because it is almost impossible for nurses to finish the tasks they are given within their shift due to staff shortages. This is forcing nurses out of the health service and into private nursing homes where things are not so manic. I dread to think where the health service will be in a few years time. Cutting nurse jobs is crazy and it is the general public who will suffer.

[Fearn]

Couldn't resist posting this..............Just received via e-mail - more truth than fiction!

These are actual writings from various hospital (Canadian) charts.

1. The patient refused an autopsy.
2. The patient has no previous history of suicides.
3. Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.
4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.
5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.
6. On the second day, the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.
7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
8. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
9. Discharge status: Alive but without permission.
10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert, but forgetful.
11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.
12. She is numb from her toes down.
13. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated, and sent home.
14. The skin was moist and dry.
15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.
16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.
17. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.
18. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce.
19. I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical therapy.
20. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.
21. Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.
22. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.
23. Skin: somewhat pale but present
24. The pelvis exam will be done later on the floor.
25. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.