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The NHS the biggest vulnerability of Sunak’s Tories – Ipsos polling – politicalbetting.com

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  • Options
    squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,360
    algarkirk said:

    kjh said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    DougSeal said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    A deal will help but the general malaise in the NHS isn't going away anytime soon.
    No def not. But the NHS has been awful for decades. It's priced in. Junior doctors and nurses walking out is the issue they had to solve and it looks like it is being solved. Then we are all back to the NHS being useless.
    The problem is that the NHS has not been awful for decades. If it had been, it would have changed.

    The problem is that the NHS has been awful *in parts* for decades. In other parts, it's brilliant, or (dare I say it) world-beating. Which parts are awful varies according to condition, according to postcode, and according to age.

    So someone might have a brilliant experience with their cancer treatment at place A, but someone under a different trust a few miles away might have an awful experience. But because of the religion that's grown up around the NHS, only the former experience counts.
    Those "parts" being the ones which are concerned with keeping you alive and well.

    The ordering paperclips parts are world beating.
    Duncan Bannyatyne insists his companies never buy paperclips. You get a plentiful supply in the course of your business. I never did either in my business.

    If we all did it I wonder when there would be a paperclip shortage or whether there are enough spare in the world to keep circulating.
    Never buy biros either. Every 10 years I buy a box of staples to use in my 40 year old stapler.
    I still have a box from 25 yrs ago. Still plenty left.
  • Options
    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,172

    algarkirk said:

    kjh said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    DougSeal said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    A deal will help but the general malaise in the NHS isn't going away anytime soon.
    No def not. But the NHS has been awful for decades. It's priced in. Junior doctors and nurses walking out is the issue they had to solve and it looks like it is being solved. Then we are all back to the NHS being useless.
    The problem is that the NHS has not been awful for decades. If it had been, it would have changed.

    The problem is that the NHS has been awful *in parts* for decades. In other parts, it's brilliant, or (dare I say it) world-beating. Which parts are awful varies according to condition, according to postcode, and according to age.

    So someone might have a brilliant experience with their cancer treatment at place A, but someone under a different trust a few miles away might have an awful experience. But because of the religion that's grown up around the NHS, only the former experience counts.
    Those "parts" being the ones which are concerned with keeping you alive and well.

    The ordering paperclips parts are world beating.
    Duncan Bannyatyne insists his companies never buy paperclips. You get a plentiful supply in the course of your business. I never did either in my business.

    If we all did it I wonder when there would be a paperclip shortage or whether there are enough spare in the world to keep circulating.
    Never buy biros either. Every 10 years I buy a box of staples to use in my 40 year old stapler.
    I still have a box from 25 yrs ago. Still plenty left.
    Bet you’ve run out of the green ones.
  • Options
    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,008
    Selebian said:

    Selebian said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    DougSeal said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    A deal will help but the general malaise in the NHS isn't going away anytime soon.
    No def not. But the NHS has been awful for decades. It's priced in. Junior doctors and nurses walking out is the issue they had to solve and it looks like it is being solved. Then we are all back to the NHS being useless.
    The problem is that the NHS has not been awful for decades. If it had been, it would have changed.

    The problem is that the NHS has been awful *in parts* for decades. In other parts, it's brilliant, or (dare I say it) world-beating. Which parts are awful varies according to condition, according to postcode, and according to age.

    So someone might have a brilliant experience with their cancer treatment at place A, but someone under a different trust a few miles away might have an awful experience. But because of the religion that's grown up around the NHS, only the former experience counts.
    Those "parts" being the ones which are concerned with keeping you alive and well.

    The ordering paperclips parts are world beating.
    No, it all varies, across all departments. Although acute care is generally pretty good, while longer term/less urgent stuff is not.

    The world-beating ordering of paperclips is also important as the same people are dealing with pharma companies etc and making good deals which is why the NHS does fairly well on a cost perspective (along with being monolithic - if you don't do a deal with the NHS then you're not going to really have a market in the UK - you have more options in countries with competing providers). I'm yet to be shown a significantly better service that doesn't cost a lot more.

    (For the avoidance of doubt, I'd be quite happy with the setups in many other European countries, by many measures they're better, even much better, but they do also cost more. Maybe by 10-20%, which makes a hell of a difference due to not always operating at the extreme limits of capacity and surviving only on the goodwill of staff).
    I’m having some trouble on the interface between primary and secondary care. The operation was successful, but the in-house post-op physio etc very mixed. Now I’m trying to get physio in secondary care it’s proving difficult.
    Yep, it's a well-known nightmare, unfortunately (completey disconnected IT, everything goes by email f you're lucky and post if you're not). Re physio, you can self-refer, without involving GP (not that you should need to, particularly post-op).

    Interesting as my father-in-law's experience with post-op physio has been excellent (North Yorks, broken arm and knee op both in the last two years). Excellent regular follow-up for as long as needed. My mum's, after a broken ankle (mid Essex) was very poor - a couple of sessions and then good luck to you. She did eventually get some more via the GP, but it took some time and persistence. Postcode lottery again.

    (BTW - do you mean you're now trying for secondary care physio - hospital - or primary care - via GP? Somewhat counterintuively, in terms of order, if you've had an op then that's under secondary care, or possibly tertiary and then your community followup is primary care)
    Hmmm. I’m in Mid-Essex. I’m trying to access what in my working days was the Community Trust, now outsourced to a not-for-profit organisation. The GP is very good and tells me she is pushing, but all I get is a message to say that I’m’on the list’.
    I had a spinal operation so getting the muscles going again is important.
  • Options
    SelebianSelebian Posts: 7,455
    edited March 2023
    Nigelb said:

    It's quite clear from all the recent reports that "vast majority" simply isn't true.
    The problems are systemic, not just a 'few rotten apples'.

    Dominic Raab defends Met police as damning Casey report looms
    Justice secretary praises ‘vast majority’ of officers but concedes London force clearly has a problem
    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/17/dominic-raab-defends-met-police-as-damning-casey-report-looms

    Though of course, Raab believes he "sets high standards", and sees no problem with his own behaviour.

    FFS, the head of the IOPC just resigned, as he's under police investigation.
    And another board member is moving on in opaque circumstances*, in the middle of conducting a police shooting homicide investigation.

    * "For family reasons" - but has accepted a new job with OFQUAL.

    Only a few rotten apples.

    But unfortunately a lot of rotten turnips and other vegetables well past their best.

    ETA: and the leadership either bananas or just rotten.
  • Options
    StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 14,500
    MaxPB said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    That is unlikely to be true for most who've had to use NHS services in that time.
    The NHS has been awful for 50 years why would the last two years affect anyone's view?
    Because it's considerably worse, as anyone who has (for example) used A&E over the last decade will realise.
    I'm going to stick up for A&E, I used it and they diagnosed a serious health condition on the night with a second opinion and gave me lifestyle advice that had seen the risks go down to zero. The doctor spent a full hour in my consultation and called in a specialist colleague who confirmed his diagnosis. I remain grateful to that doctor who has almost certainly prevented something much worse that night.
    If it's urgent or expensive, the NHS model is bloody brilliant. And the "don't worry about the cost" makes a big difference as a potential patient. The difficulty is what's left once you have triaged by urgent clinical need, which is "not really enough".
  • Options
    CookieCookie Posts: 11,452

    Cookie said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    But when public sector workers strike, whether the government decides to concede or hold out depends on whether it perceives it will gain or lose votes by each course of action, which in turn depends on whether public sympathy is with or against the strikers.
    Difficulty is, if you are in a sector where there is a monopsony employer, or nearly so, what should you do when your employer decides to take the mickey with their pay offer?

    Eventually, the answer is "go and do something else instead", or "go abroad". Despite the hassle barriers in those, far too many people are doing that for comfort.
    As I said, privatise the public sector. Take the monopsony away.
    Much easier to say on the internet than to implement in practice, of course! And we've already done most of the bits where doing so was most easy.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,668
    MaxPB said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    That is unlikely to be true for most who've had to use NHS services in that time.
    The NHS has been awful for 50 years why would the last two years affect anyone's view?
    Because it's considerably worse, as anyone who has (for example) used A&E over the last decade will realise.
    I'm going to stick up for A&E, I used it and they diagnosed a serious health condition on the night with a second opinion and gave me lifestyle advice that had seen the risks go down to zero. The doctor spent a full hour in my consultation and called in a specialist colleague who confirmed his diagnosis. I remain grateful to that doctor who has almost certainly prevented something much worse that night.
    I'm not knocking either the NHS or A&E (and I do not have private healthcare) - simply noting that the service has got noticeably worse over time.
    That anecdotal experience might not be universal, of course.
  • Options
    noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 20,779
    kjh said:

    algarkirk said:

    kjh said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    DougSeal said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    A deal will help but the general malaise in the NHS isn't going away anytime soon.
    No def not. But the NHS has been awful for decades. It's priced in. Junior doctors and nurses walking out is the issue they had to solve and it looks like it is being solved. Then we are all back to the NHS being useless.
    The problem is that the NHS has not been awful for decades. If it had been, it would have changed.

    The problem is that the NHS has been awful *in parts* for decades. In other parts, it's brilliant, or (dare I say it) world-beating. Which parts are awful varies according to condition, according to postcode, and according to age.

    So someone might have a brilliant experience with their cancer treatment at place A, but someone under a different trust a few miles away might have an awful experience. But because of the religion that's grown up around the NHS, only the former experience counts.
    Those "parts" being the ones which are concerned with keeping you alive and well.

    The ordering paperclips parts are world beating.
    Duncan Bannyatyne insists his companies never buy paperclips. You get a plentiful supply in the course of your business. I never did either in my business.

    If we all did it I wonder when there would be a paperclip shortage or whether there are enough spare in the world to keep circulating.
    Never buy biros either. Every 10 years I buy a box of staples to use in my 40 year old stapler.
    Yep. I have never done that and DB insists his staff supply their own pens. Of course Douglas Adams had something to say about where biros went. He might have had it wrong. They might all be DB companies or in your or my house.
    Just tried going down the same route and suggested to our finance director that perhaps there could be some movement in the budget for pens, staples, paperclips and such. She said, no, as they were stationery.
  • Options
    MightyAlexMightyAlex Posts: 1,448
    Cookie said:

    Cookie said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    But when public sector workers strike, whether the government decides to concede or hold out depends on whether it perceives it will gain or lose votes by each course of action, which in turn depends on whether public sympathy is with or against the strikers.
    Difficulty is, if you are in a sector where there is a monopsony employer, or nearly so, what should you do when your employer decides to take the mickey with their pay offer?

    Eventually, the answer is "go and do something else instead", or "go abroad". Despite the hassle barriers in those, far too many people are doing that for comfort.
    As I said, privatise the public sector. Take the monopsony away.
    Much easier to say on the internet than to implement in practice, of course! And we've already done most of the bits where doing so was most easy.
    Private markets can still have monopsony.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,668
    Dura_Ace said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Slovakia is joining Poland in sending MiG fighter jets to Ukraine. The timing is interesting given that it was reportedly an intervention from China that prevented them being sent a year ago, and Xi Jingping is visiting Russia next week.

    I guess that means they must be pretty confident China won't supply weapons and ammunition to Russia.

    The Slovak ones are all Christmas Trees by this point (Czechia and Poland do their air policing) but Ukraine can certainly use the parts. Especially engines because their emails to the Klimov factory are going straight into the Junk folder.
    A common feature in this conflict has been people routinely underestimating Ukraine's capabilities and innovation (with the help of their partners).
    I flew one in DCS at my mate's house last week in a 1v1 against an F-16 (lost) so I now consider myself a Fulcrum expert on a par with A. N. Kvochur. It's a dog at low level transonic. At M1.0 it ran out of pitch authority at about 14 degrees AoA so pulling maybe 5g. A well flown F-16 would (and did) have it for breakfast in that regime. However, I could get 10g out of at slower speed because there are no limits in the Fulcrum FCS like Western types. It's an exciting ride though that has to be actively flown at all times. I predict a seasoned Fulcrum driver would find an F-16 a somewhat sanitised experience.

    Where's my medal?
    How do the radars compare for lobbing missiles at each other ?
    (Clearly any F16 Ukraine might aspire to getting anytime soon won't be a recent model.)
  • Options
    Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,009

    Bloody hell, is that true about the weight thing?



    Edit: I assume they mean heavier than any light tank, but what is the definition of a ‘light’ tank, particularly if it’s not light.

    Four times heavier than the vehicle it replaces. But it has to be to have any survivability against modern weapons. Otherwise you might as well use a Transit with a periscope as your recon vehicle. It does make absolutely no sense for it to be tracked though in the light of recent developments in the British Army. We've ended up with a recon element that has significantly less mobility than the AFV it's supposed to be ahead of - Boxer. France and Italy have gone all wheels for everything except MBTs which makes a lot more sense.
  • Options
    noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 20,779
    Nigelb said:

    MaxPB said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    That is unlikely to be true for most who've had to use NHS services in that time.
    The NHS has been awful for 50 years why would the last two years affect anyone's view?
    Because it's considerably worse, as anyone who has (for example) used A&E over the last decade will realise.
    I'm going to stick up for A&E, I used it and they diagnosed a serious health condition on the night with a second opinion and gave me lifestyle advice that had seen the risks go down to zero. The doctor spent a full hour in my consultation and called in a specialist colleague who confirmed his diagnosis. I remain grateful to that doctor who has almost certainly prevented something much worse that night.
    I'm not knocking either the NHS or A&E (and I do not have private healthcare) - simply noting that the service has got noticeably worse over time.
    That anecdotal experience might not be universal, of course.
    Over time or during and in the aftermath of the pandemic?
  • Options
    ReedReed Posts: 152
    Speaking of illness cant believe how bad Phil Collins looks now.
    Bruce Springsteen also not too well apparently.
  • Options
    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,610
    edited March 2023
    Nigelb said:

    MaxPB said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    That is unlikely to be true for most who've had to use NHS services in that time.
    The NHS has been awful for 50 years why would the last two years affect anyone's view?
    Because it's considerably worse, as anyone who has (for example) used A&E over the last decade will realise.
    I'm going to stick up for A&E, I used it and they diagnosed a serious health condition on the night with a second opinion and gave me lifestyle advice that had seen the risks go down to zero. The doctor spent a full hour in my consultation and called in a specialist colleague who confirmed his diagnosis. I remain grateful to that doctor who has almost certainly prevented something much worse that night.
    I'm not knocking either the NHS or A&E (and I do not have private healthcare) - simply noting that the service has got noticeably worse over time.
    That anecdotal experience might not be universal, of course.
    I think the waiting times have increased but the service is still brilliant. When my sister had a serious health issue earlier this year they were amazing for her too, again, almost certainly prevented her from bleeding to death overnight.

    Ambulances are the big problem, for people who don't have the means to get to A&E themselves waiting for an ambulance will have huge risks when something serious is happening. Growing up we had an ambulance arrive within 20 minutes for my grandad when he had a stroke, this time my sister was probably at death's door and they told her it would be up to 2 hours so I drove her there and she got seen to in about 30 mins and operated within another 30. I think if we'd waited for the ambulance she'd have had a much more significant problem on the other side.

    Which brings me to the point, if I had a bundle of cash to spend on the NHS, I'd almost certainly spend it on ambulance services and paramedic training.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,668
    edited March 2023

    Bloody hell, is that true about the weight thing?



    Edit: I assume they mean heavier than any light tank, but what is the definition of a ‘light’ tank, particularly if it’s not light.

    I don't think they're counting the Panzer VIII.

    (Ajax is a similar weight to the Churchill.)
  • Options
    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,172
    edited March 2023
    Since Tories & the NHS are the subject..


  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,803

    Bloody hell, is that true about the weight thing?



    Edit: I assume they mean heavier than any light tank, but what is the definition of a ‘light’ tank, particularly if it’s not light.

    Ignolring weird prototypes then the heaviest UK tank in WW2 (just) was Centurion, 46 tons (not sure what kind) in Mark 1form (which did see some service in NWE, basically as trials). In the world, Tiger II wins at 69 tonnes (metric).

    Light tank = something used for reconnaissance, basically, in UK practice. Not armed or armoured enough to slug it out with big brother Main Battle Tanks.

    Though the term seems to have died out post war with the last of the M3 and M5 Stuarts and the shift to wheeled armoured cars. The use of the term Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) for Scorpion and Scimitar (light tanks by any standard) saeems to indicate some sort of euphemism on a par with 'through deck cruisers'.
  • Options
    StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 14,500
    Cookie said:

    Cookie said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    But when public sector workers strike, whether the government decides to concede or hold out depends on whether it perceives it will gain or lose votes by each course of action, which in turn depends on whether public sympathy is with or against the strikers.
    Difficulty is, if you are in a sector where there is a monopsony employer, or nearly so, what should you do when your employer decides to take the mickey with their pay offer?

    Eventually, the answer is "go and do something else instead", or "go abroad". Despite the hassle barriers in those, far too many people are doing that for comfort.
    As I said, privatise the public sector. Take the monopsony away.
    Much easier to say on the internet than to implement in practice, of course! And we've already done most of the bits where doing so was most easy.
    If you want to go that way, you have to have suppliers saying "we'll provide that school/nursery/social care, but it will cost you £X." And X is almost certainly higher than the state is paying at the moment. One of the problems we have at the moment is government setting tarrifs at a level which doesn't really cover the costs properly. So in childcare, the commercial rates have to cross-subsidise the government funded hours.
  • Options
    CookieCookie Posts: 11,452

    MaxPB said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    That is unlikely to be true for most who've had to use NHS services in that time.
    The NHS has been awful for 50 years why would the last two years affect anyone's view?
    Because it's considerably worse, as anyone who has (for example) used A&E over the last decade will realise.
    I'm going to stick up for A&E, I used it and they diagnosed a serious health condition on the night with a second opinion and gave me lifestyle advice that had seen the risks go down to zero. The doctor spent a full hour in my consultation and called in a specialist colleague who confirmed his diagnosis. I remain grateful to that doctor who has almost certainly prevented something much worse that night.
    If it's urgent or expensive, the NHS model is bloody brilliant. And the "don't worry about the cost" makes a big difference as a potential patient. The difficulty is what's left once you have triaged by urgent clinical need, which is "not really enough".
    I'd agree with that, and also add that the NHS is pretty good at delivering a good value service. The overall quality might not be what other countries have, but it's pretty cost effective for what it does deliver. Any attempt to tinker shouldn't overlook these strengths.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,668

    Nigelb said:

    MaxPB said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    That is unlikely to be true for most who've had to use NHS services in that time.
    The NHS has been awful for 50 years why would the last two years affect anyone's view?
    Because it's considerably worse, as anyone who has (for example) used A&E over the last decade will realise.
    I'm going to stick up for A&E, I used it and they diagnosed a serious health condition on the night with a second opinion and gave me lifestyle advice that had seen the risks go down to zero. The doctor spent a full hour in my consultation and called in a specialist colleague who confirmed his diagnosis. I remain grateful to that doctor who has almost certainly prevented something much worse that night.
    I'm not knocking either the NHS or A&E (and I do not have private healthcare) - simply noting that the service has got noticeably worse over time.
    That anecdotal experience might not be universal, of course.
    Over time or during and in the aftermath of the pandemic?
    Over time.
    The pandemic has obviously made things a lot worse for everyone, and getting back to some sort of normality is going to take quite while.
  • Options
    Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,009
    edited March 2023
    Nigelb said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Slovakia is joining Poland in sending MiG fighter jets to Ukraine. The timing is interesting given that it was reportedly an intervention from China that prevented them being sent a year ago, and Xi Jingping is visiting Russia next week.

    I guess that means they must be pretty confident China won't supply weapons and ammunition to Russia.

    The Slovak ones are all Christmas Trees by this point (Czechia and Poland do their air policing) but Ukraine can certainly use the parts. Especially engines because their emails to the Klimov factory are going straight into the Junk folder.
    A common feature in this conflict has been people routinely underestimating Ukraine's capabilities and innovation (with the help of their partners).
    I flew one in DCS at my mate's house last week in a 1v1 against an F-16 (lost) so I now consider myself a Fulcrum expert on a par with A. N. Kvochur. It's a dog at low level transonic. At M1.0 it ran out of pitch authority at about 14 degrees AoA so pulling maybe 5g. A well flown F-16 would (and did) have it for breakfast in that regime. However, I could get 10g out of at slower speed because there are no limits in the Fulcrum FCS like Western types. It's an exciting ride though that has to be actively flown at all times. I predict a seasoned Fulcrum driver would find an F-16 a somewhat sanitised experience.

    Where's my medal?
    How do the radars compare for lobbing missiles at each other ?
    (Clearly any F16 Ukraine might aspire to getting anytime soon won't be a recent model.)
    Don't know from last week's experience. We went straight to WVR (within visual range) knife fight as we are 50 something teenagers. Generally, the APG-68/AIM-120 combo on the Viper is considered somewhat of a death ray. Pakistani F-16s (not the latest and greatest) have locked up Indian Su-30MKIs at 150km+. It would definitely bring the AFU back to parity with the Su-35/Adder.

    The Fulcrum did have a stupendous ITR (instaneous turn rate) however. It's just after that first turn that you're fucked. Hard to get energy back into it.
  • Options
    ReedReed Posts: 152
    Things are kicking off in France again.

    Protesters blocked a key highway around the French capital and escalated strikes at refineries on Friday in a fresh show of anger after president Emmanuel Macron pushed through a contentious pension reform without a parliamentary vote.

    Mr Macron's move sparked protests across the country on Thursday night, with more than 300 people arrested across France, according to the interior minister.

    On Friday morning, some 200 protesters briefly blocked traffic on the ring road outside the capital.

  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,820

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
  • Options
    Nigelb said:

    Since Tories & the NHS are the subject..


    Brine ?
    Another pickle they've got themselves into.
    Please don't rub salt in the wound.

    {Well somebody had to....}
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,820
    edited March 2023
    Nigelb said:

    It's quite clear from all the recent reports that "vast majority" simply isn't true.
    The problems are systemic, not just a 'few rotten apples'.

    Dominic Raab defends Met police as damning Casey report looms
    Justice secretary praises ‘vast majority’ of officers but concedes London force clearly has a problem
    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/17/dominic-raab-defends-met-police-as-damning-casey-report-looms

    Though of course, Raab believes he "sets high standards", and sees no problem with his own behaviour.

    FFS, the head of the IOPC just resigned, as he's under police investigation.
    And another board member is moving on in opaque circumstances*, in the middle of conducting a police shooting homicide investigation.

    * "For family reasons" - but has accepted a new job with OFQUAL.

    As the saying goes, when you have this many bad apples the problem is the orchard. It's being managed to produce bad apples it seems

    They do put the rather lame complaints about Raab in context.
  • Options
    SelebianSelebian Posts: 7,455

    Selebian said:

    Selebian said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    DougSeal said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    A deal will help but the general malaise in the NHS isn't going away anytime soon.
    No def not. But the NHS has been awful for decades. It's priced in. Junior doctors and nurses walking out is the issue they had to solve and it looks like it is being solved. Then we are all back to the NHS being useless.
    The problem is that the NHS has not been awful for decades. If it had been, it would have changed.

    The problem is that the NHS has been awful *in parts* for decades. In other parts, it's brilliant, or (dare I say it) world-beating. Which parts are awful varies according to condition, according to postcode, and according to age.

    So someone might have a brilliant experience with their cancer treatment at place A, but someone under a different trust a few miles away might have an awful experience. But because of the religion that's grown up around the NHS, only the former experience counts.
    Those "parts" being the ones which are concerned with keeping you alive and well.

    The ordering paperclips parts are world beating.
    No, it all varies, across all departments. Although acute care is generally pretty good, while longer term/less urgent stuff is not.

    The world-beating ordering of paperclips is also important as the same people are dealing with pharma companies etc and making good deals which is why the NHS does fairly well on a cost perspective (along with being monolithic - if you don't do a deal with the NHS then you're not going to really have a market in the UK - you have more options in countries with competing providers). I'm yet to be shown a significantly better service that doesn't cost a lot more.

    (For the avoidance of doubt, I'd be quite happy with the setups in many other European countries, by many measures they're better, even much better, but they do also cost more. Maybe by 10-20%, which makes a hell of a difference due to not always operating at the extreme limits of capacity and surviving only on the goodwill of staff).
    I’m having some trouble on the interface between primary and secondary care. The operation was successful, but the in-house post-op physio etc very mixed. Now I’m trying to get physio in secondary care it’s proving difficult.
    Yep, it's a well-known nightmare, unfortunately (completey disconnected IT, everything goes by email f you're lucky and post if you're not). Re physio, you can self-refer, without involving GP (not that you should need to, particularly post-op).

    Interesting as my father-in-law's experience with post-op physio has been excellent (North Yorks, broken arm and knee op both in the last two years). Excellent regular follow-up for as long as needed. My mum's, after a broken ankle (mid Essex) was very poor - a couple of sessions and then good luck to you. She did eventually get some more via the GP, but it took some time and persistence. Postcode lottery again.

    (BTW - do you mean you're now trying for secondary care physio - hospital - or primary care - via GP? Somewhat counterintuively, in terms of order, if you've had an op then that's under secondary care, or possibly tertiary and then your community followup is primary care)
    Hmmm. I’m in Mid-Essex. I’m trying to access what in my working days was the Community Trust, now outsourced to a not-for-profit organisation. The GP is very good and tells me she is pushing, but all I get is a message to say that I’m’on the list’.
    I had a spinal operation so getting the muscles going again is important.
    Ah, sorry, I completely forgot your former occupation. Definitely teaching my grandma to suck eggs there!

    I do get the impression that physio and other allied sevices are massively underfunded in some areas. Easier to cut than headline nurse/doctor roles, I guess, but quite possibly among the most cost-effective posts given impact on long term outcomes and (reducing) need for other interventions.
  • Options
    ReedReed Posts: 152
    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    Think the elderly would get more sympathy if for once they would admit that buying a property doesnt depend on going without a few takeaway coffees. But they wont.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015

    Selebian said:

    Selebian said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    DougSeal said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    A deal will help but the general malaise in the NHS isn't going away anytime soon.
    No def not. But the NHS has been awful for decades. It's priced in. Junior doctors and nurses walking out is the issue they had to solve and it looks like it is being solved. Then we are all back to the NHS being useless.
    The problem is that the NHS has not been awful for decades. If it had been, it would have changed.

    The problem is that the NHS has been awful *in parts* for decades. In other parts, it's brilliant, or (dare I say it) world-beating. Which parts are awful varies according to condition, according to postcode, and according to age.

    So someone might have a brilliant experience with their cancer treatment at place A, but someone under a different trust a few miles away might have an awful experience. But because of the religion that's grown up around the NHS, only the former experience counts.
    Those "parts" being the ones which are concerned with keeping you alive and well.

    The ordering paperclips parts are world beating.
    No, it all varies, across all departments. Although acute care is generally pretty good, while longer term/less urgent stuff is not.

    The world-beating ordering of paperclips is also important as the same people are dealing with pharma companies etc and making good deals which is why the NHS does fairly well on a cost perspective (along with being monolithic - if you don't do a deal with the NHS then you're not going to really have a market in the UK - you have more options in countries with competing providers). I'm yet to be shown a significantly better service that doesn't cost a lot more.

    (For the avoidance of doubt, I'd be quite happy with the setups in many other European countries, by many measures they're better, even much better, but they do also cost more. Maybe by 10-20%, which makes a hell of a difference due to not always operating at the extreme limits of capacity and surviving only on the goodwill of staff).
    I’m having some trouble on the interface between primary and secondary care. The operation was successful, but the in-house post-op physio etc very mixed. Now I’m trying to get physio in secondary care it’s proving difficult.
    Yep, it's a well-known nightmare, unfortunately (completey disconnected IT, everything goes by email f you're lucky and post if you're not). Re physio, you can self-refer, without involving GP (not that you should need to, particularly post-op).

    Interesting as my father-in-law's experience with post-op physio has been excellent (North Yorks, broken arm and knee op both in the last two years). Excellent regular follow-up for as long as needed. My mum's, after a broken ankle (mid Essex) was very poor - a couple of sessions and then good luck to you. She did eventually get some more via the GP, but it took some time and persistence. Postcode lottery again.

    (BTW - do you mean you're now trying for secondary care physio - hospital - or primary care - via GP? Somewhat counterintuively, in terms of order, if you've had an op then that's under secondary care, or possibly tertiary and then your community followup is primary care)
    Hmmm. I’m in Mid-Essex. I’m trying to access what in my working days was the Community Trust, now outsourced to a not-for-profit organisation. The GP is very good and tells me she is pushing, but all I get is a message to say that I’m’on the list’.
    I had a spinal operation so getting the muscles going again is important.
    Unfortunately OKC once you have had the dangerous bit done the NHS starts to fall to bits, you will be on list for ages no doubt. Not nice but if you could afford it worth going private.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,082
    edited March 2023

    Cookie said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    But when public sector workers strike, whether the government decides to concede or hold out depends on whether it perceives it will gain or lose votes by each course of action, which in turn depends on whether public sympathy is with or against the strikers.
    Difficulty is, if you are in a sector where there is a monopsony employer, or nearly so, what should you do when your employer decides to take the mickey with their pay offer?

    Eventually, the answer is "go and do something else instead", or "go abroad". Despite the hassle barriers in those, far too many people are doing that for comfort.
    It's ironic that doctors are striking for the same reason that made them oppose the creation of the NHS in the first place, except now they do it in the name of "saving" the NHS. Perhaps they were right the first time.

    We now have a system were neither producer interests nor consumer interests are well served.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015
    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,820
    Reed said:

    Things are kicking off in France again.

    Protesters blocked a key highway around the French capital and escalated strikes at refineries on Friday in a fresh show of anger after president Emmanuel Macron pushed through a contentious pension reform without a parliamentary vote.

    Mr Macron's move sparked protests across the country on Thursday night, with more than 300 people arrested across France, according to the interior minister.

    On Friday morning, some 200 protesters briefly blocked traffic on the ring road outside the capital.

    Pah, a few hundred.

    What did they think would happen reelecting Macron with his plans for Pension Reform? We usually hear nothing about domestic policy of other nations (other than USA), but even we knew he's been pushing on that door for years.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,668
    edited March 2023
    Dura_Ace said:

    Bloody hell, is that true about the weight thing?



    Edit: I assume they mean heavier than any light tank, but what is the definition of a ‘light’ tank, particularly if it’s not light.

    Four times heavier than the vehicle it replaces. But it has to be to have any survivability against modern weapons. Otherwise you might as well use a Transit with a periscope as your recon vehicle. It does make absolutely no sense for it to be tracked though in the light of recent developments in the British Army. We've ended up with a recon element that has significantly less mobility than the AFV it's supposed to be ahead of - Boxer. France and Italy have gone all wheels for everything except MBTs which makes a lot more sense.
    The problem isn't necessarily its mass, or even being tracked (which could make it usable in conditions impassable to wheeled vehicles).
    It just appears fundamentally flawed.

    You'll enjoy Baldy's latest.
    Great British tech at its finest.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/25/british-armys-ajax-armoured-vehicle-project-back-on-track
    The “troubled” £5.5bn programme to build the British army’s new Ajax fighting vehicle has turned a corner, the defence secretary has said.

    Better seat cushions and ear defenders are among improvements being hailed by Ben Wallace...
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,820
    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Give me 35 years and I will (I hope).
  • Options
    ReedReed Posts: 152
    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Being a pensioner is only an advantage in monetary terms. Most would prefer a young fit body and bags of energy.
  • Options
    Peter_the_PunterPeter_the_Punter Posts: 13,320
    edited March 2023
    kjh said:

    algarkirk said:

    kjh said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    DougSeal said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    A deal will help but the general malaise in the NHS isn't going away anytime soon.
    No def not. But the NHS has been awful for decades. It's priced in. Junior doctors and nurses walking out is the issue they had to solve and it looks like it is being solved. Then we are all back to the NHS being useless.
    The problem is that the NHS has not been awful for decades. If it had been, it would have changed.

    The problem is that the NHS has been awful *in parts* for decades. In other parts, it's brilliant, or (dare I say it) world-beating. Which parts are awful varies according to condition, according to postcode, and according to age.

    So someone might have a brilliant experience with their cancer treatment at place A, but someone under a different trust a few miles away might have an awful experience. But because of the religion that's grown up around the NHS, only the former experience counts.
    Those "parts" being the ones which are concerned with keeping you alive and well.

    The ordering paperclips parts are world beating.
    Duncan Bannyatyne insists his companies never buy paperclips. You get a plentiful supply in the course of your business. I never did either in my business.

    If we all did it I wonder when there would be a paperclip shortage or whether there are enough spare in the world to keep circulating.
    Never buy biros either. Every 10 years I buy a box of staples to use in my 40 year old stapler.
    Yep. I have never done that and DB insists his staff supply their own pens. Of course Douglas Adams had something to say about where biros went. He might have had it wrong. They might all be DB companies or in your or my house.
    Adams is buried in Highgate cemetery, not far from the grave of Karl Marx.

    Amongst the memorials to Adams is a small jar which is invariably full of biros of various types, including of course a family of green retractables.
  • Options
    Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,009
    Nigelb said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Bloody hell, is that true about the weight thing?



    Edit: I assume they mean heavier than any light tank, but what is the definition of a ‘light’ tank, particularly if it’s not light.

    Four times heavier than the vehicle it replaces. But it has to be to have any survivability against modern weapons. Otherwise you might as well use a Transit with a periscope as your recon vehicle. It does make absolutely no sense for it to be tracked though in the light of recent developments in the British Army. We've ended up with a recon element that has significantly less mobility than the AFV it's supposed to be ahead of - Boxer. France and Italy have gone all wheels for everything except MBTs which makes a lot more sense.
    The problem isn't necessarily its mass, or even being tracked (which could make it usable in conditions impassable to wheeled vehicles).
    It just appears fundamentally flawed.

    You'll enjoy Baldy's latest.
    Great British tech at its finest.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/25/british-armys-ajax-armoured-vehicle-project-back-on-track
    The “troubled” £5.5bn programme to build the British army’s new Ajax fighting vehicle has turned a corner, the defence secretary has said.

    Better seat cushions and ear defenders are among improvements being hailed by Ben Wallace...
    I think he's just given up at this point and is just waiting for a seat on the BAE board.
  • Options
    noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 20,779
    kle4 said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Give me 35 years and I will (I hope).
    But will you get a state pension? It certainly wont be triple locked to todays incomes, prices and earnings and will most likely be means tested.
  • Options
    TazTaz Posts: 11,205
    edited March 2023
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,668
    Dura_Ace said:

    Nigelb said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Bloody hell, is that true about the weight thing?



    Edit: I assume they mean heavier than any light tank, but what is the definition of a ‘light’ tank, particularly if it’s not light.

    Four times heavier than the vehicle it replaces. But it has to be to have any survivability against modern weapons. Otherwise you might as well use a Transit with a periscope as your recon vehicle. It does make absolutely no sense for it to be tracked though in the light of recent developments in the British Army. We've ended up with a recon element that has significantly less mobility than the AFV it's supposed to be ahead of - Boxer. France and Italy have gone all wheels for everything except MBTs which makes a lot more sense.
    The problem isn't necessarily its mass, or even being tracked (which could make it usable in conditions impassable to wheeled vehicles).
    It just appears fundamentally flawed.

    You'll enjoy Baldy's latest.
    Great British tech at its finest.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/25/british-armys-ajax-armoured-vehicle-project-back-on-track
    The “troubled” £5.5bn programme to build the British army’s new Ajax fighting vehicle has turned a corner, the defence secretary has said.

    Better seat cushions and ear defenders are among improvements being hailed by Ben Wallace...
    I think he's just given up at this point and is just waiting for a seat on the BAE board.
    Apparently we've already had over 400 hulls built.
    And we're still not sure whether it will work, as the capability tests are still to be done.
  • Options
    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
  • Options
    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,008
    Selebian said:

    Selebian said:

    Selebian said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    DougSeal said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    A deal will help but the general malaise in the NHS isn't going away anytime soon.
    No def not. But the NHS has been awful for decades. It's priced in. Junior doctors and nurses walking out is the issue they had to solve and it looks like it is being solved. Then we are all back to the NHS being useless.
    The problem is that the NHS has not been awful for decades. If it had been, it would have changed.

    The problem is that the NHS has been awful *in parts* for decades. In other parts, it's brilliant, or (dare I say it) world-beating. Which parts are awful varies according to condition, according to postcode, and according to age.

    So someone might have a brilliant experience with their cancer treatment at place A, but someone under a different trust a few miles away might have an awful experience. But because of the religion that's grown up around the NHS, only the former experience counts.
    Those "parts" being the ones which are concerned with keeping you alive and well.

    The ordering paperclips parts are world beating.
    No, it all varies, across all departments. Although acute care is generally pretty good, while longer term/less urgent stuff is not.

    The world-beating ordering of paperclips is also important as the same people are dealing with pharma companies etc and making good deals which is why the NHS does fairly well on a cost perspective (along with being monolithic - if you don't do a deal with the NHS then you're not going to really have a market in the UK - you have more options in countries with competing providers). I'm yet to be shown a significantly better service that doesn't cost a lot more.

    (For the avoidance of doubt, I'd be quite happy with the setups in many other European countries, by many measures they're better, even much better, but they do also cost more. Maybe by 10-20%, which makes a hell of a difference due to not always operating at the extreme limits of capacity and surviving only on the goodwill of staff).
    I’m having some trouble on the interface between primary and secondary care. The operation was successful, but the in-house post-op physio etc very mixed. Now I’m trying to get physio in secondary care it’s proving difficult.
    Yep, it's a well-known nightmare, unfortunately (completey disconnected IT, everything goes by email f you're lucky and post if you're not). Re physio, you can self-refer, without involving GP (not that you should need to, particularly post-op).

    Interesting as my father-in-law's experience with post-op physio has been excellent (North Yorks, broken arm and knee op both in the last two years). Excellent regular follow-up for as long as needed. My mum's, after a broken ankle (mid Essex) was very poor - a couple of sessions and then good luck to you. She did eventually get some more via the GP, but it took some time and persistence. Postcode lottery again.

    (BTW - do you mean you're now trying for secondary care physio - hospital - or primary care - via GP? Somewhat counterintuively, in terms of order, if you've had an op then that's under secondary care, or possibly tertiary and then your community followup is primary care)
    Hmmm. I’m in Mid-Essex. I’m trying to access what in my working days was the Community Trust, now outsourced to a not-for-profit organisation. The GP is very good and tells me she is pushing, but all I get is a message to say that I’m’on the list’.
    I had a spinal operation so getting the muscles going again is important.
    Ah, sorry, I completely forgot your former occupation. Definitely teaching my grandma to suck eggs there!

    I do get the impression that physio and other allied sevices are massively underfunded in some areas. Easier to cut than headline nurse/doctor roles, I guess, but quite possibly among the most cost-effective posts given impact on long term outcomes and (reducing) need for other interventions.
    Many years ago, in that former occupation, I was told of a debate in a neighbouring Trust. Should they cut the domiciliary chiropody service for the elderly? If they did, would the elderly find it harder to get to GP surgeries?
    In the end they did, and the GP’s made more house-calls!
  • Options
    TazTaz Posts: 11,205
    Reed said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    Think the elderly would get more sympathy if for once they would admit that buying a property doesnt depend on going without a few takeaway coffees. But they wont.
    The elderly, like the young, do not exist as a single entity. Of course the elderly do not think that is the case. A few may do but they are hardly representative of the elderly as a group.
  • Options
    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,172
    Nigelb said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Bloody hell, is that true about the weight thing?



    Edit: I assume they mean heavier than any light tank, but what is the definition of a ‘light’ tank, particularly if it’s not light.

    Four times heavier than the vehicle it replaces. But it has to be to have any survivability against modern weapons. Otherwise you might as well use a Transit with a periscope as your recon vehicle. It does make absolutely no sense for it to be tracked though in the light of recent developments in the British Army. We've ended up with a recon element that has significantly less mobility than the AFV it's supposed to be ahead of - Boxer. France and Italy have gone all wheels for everything except MBTs which makes a lot more sense.
    The problem isn't necessarily its mass, or even being tracked (which could make it usable in conditions impassable to wheeled vehicles).
    It just appears fundamentally flawed.

    You'll enjoy Baldy's latest.
    Great British tech at its finest.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/25/british-armys-ajax-armoured-vehicle-project-back-on-track
    The “troubled” £5.5bn programme to build the British army’s new Ajax fighting vehicle has turned a corner, the defence secretary has said.

    Better seat cushions and ear defenders are among improvements being hailed by Ben Wallace...
    The Ajax is capable of going round corners? Well, that's a start I guess.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015
    Reed said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Being a pensioner is only an advantage in monetary terms. Most would prefer a young fit body and bags of energy.
    Never, who would have thought, yet the whiners on here are always waxing lyrical about how pensioners have it all.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,668

    Nigelb said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Bloody hell, is that true about the weight thing?



    Edit: I assume they mean heavier than any light tank, but what is the definition of a ‘light’ tank, particularly if it’s not light.

    Four times heavier than the vehicle it replaces. But it has to be to have any survivability against modern weapons. Otherwise you might as well use a Transit with a periscope as your recon vehicle. It does make absolutely no sense for it to be tracked though in the light of recent developments in the British Army. We've ended up with a recon element that has significantly less mobility than the AFV it's supposed to be ahead of - Boxer. France and Italy have gone all wheels for everything except MBTs which makes a lot more sense.
    The problem isn't necessarily its mass, or even being tracked (which could make it usable in conditions impassable to wheeled vehicles).
    It just appears fundamentally flawed.

    You'll enjoy Baldy's latest.
    Great British tech at its finest.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/25/british-armys-ajax-armoured-vehicle-project-back-on-track
    The “troubled” £5.5bn programme to build the British army’s new Ajax fighting vehicle has turned a corner, the defence secretary has said.

    Better seat cushions and ear defenders are among improvements being hailed by Ben Wallace...
    The Ajax is capable of going round corners? Well, that's a start I guess.
    "a corner".
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,803

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015
    Taz said:

    Reed said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    Think the elderly would get more sympathy if for once they would admit that buying a property doesnt depend on going without a few takeaway coffees. But they wont.
    The elderly, like the young, do not exist as a single entity. Of course the elderly do not think that is the case. A few may do but they are hardly representative of the elderly as a group.
    There are some real clowns on here Taz. One day the scales will drop from their eyes. Far too much me me me
  • Options
    EabhalEabhal Posts: 5,906
    MaxPB said:

    Nigelb said:

    MaxPB said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    By May it will be - what a kerfuffle over the NHS and doctors/nurses; still, the whole country was going mad with inflation and Ukraine and what have you.

    I think actually the NHS will be subsumed into the general year of chaos and hence this will benefit the Cons.

    That is unlikely to be true for most who've had to use NHS services in that time.
    The NHS has been awful for 50 years why would the last two years affect anyone's view?
    Because it's considerably worse, as anyone who has (for example) used A&E over the last decade will realise.
    I'm going to stick up for A&E, I used it and they diagnosed a serious health condition on the night with a second opinion and gave me lifestyle advice that had seen the risks go down to zero. The doctor spent a full hour in my consultation and called in a specialist colleague who confirmed his diagnosis. I remain grateful to that doctor who has almost certainly prevented something much worse that night.
    I'm not knocking either the NHS or A&E (and I do not have private healthcare) - simply noting that the service has got noticeably worse over time.
    That anecdotal experience might not be universal, of course.
    I think the waiting times have increased but the service is still brilliant. When my sister had a serious health issue earlier this year they were amazing for her too, again, almost certainly prevented her from bleeding to death overnight.

    Ambulances are the big problem, for people who don't have the means to get to A&E themselves waiting for an ambulance will have huge risks when something serious is happening. Growing up we had an ambulance arrive within 20 minutes for my grandad when he had a stroke, this time my sister was probably at death's door and they told her it would be up to 2 hours so I drove her there and she got seen to in about 30 mins and operated within another 30. I think if we'd waited for the ambulance she'd have had a much more significant problem on the other side.

    Which brings me to the point, if I had a bundle of cash to spend on the NHS, I'd almost certainly spend it on ambulance services and paramedic training.
    I didn't think the problem was the number of paramedics/ambulances, but the wait time outside the hospital?

    Last time I was in one it was a 15 minute blue lights to RIE, then 1.25 hours waiting outside. GFs experience in Edinburgh is a big queue of paramedics and police officers waiting for hours outside while she tries to get through them as quickly as possible.

    The wait times for the police and paramedics are a symptom of issues further up the chain.
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,820

    kle4 said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Give me 35 years and I will (I hope).
    But will you get a state pension? It certainly wont be triple locked to todays incomes, prices and earnings and will most likely be means tested.
    Thats plan b anyway, after dying at my desk.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,668
    Someone appears to be unhappy with the selection of Leopard over Black Panther!

    Leaked FMV (Norwegian procurement agency) report recommends the South Korean tank.

    As always, procurement of major platforms takes more than technical superiority & value into consideration.

    https://twitter.com/2805662/status/1636456933795459078
  • Options
    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    The way she resigned gave that impression
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,820

    Nigelb said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Bloody hell, is that true about the weight thing?



    Edit: I assume they mean heavier than any light tank, but what is the definition of a ‘light’ tank, particularly if it’s not light.

    Four times heavier than the vehicle it replaces. But it has to be to have any survivability against modern weapons. Otherwise you might as well use a Transit with a periscope as your recon vehicle. It does make absolutely no sense for it to be tracked though in the light of recent developments in the British Army. We've ended up with a recon element that has significantly less mobility than the AFV it's supposed to be ahead of - Boxer. France and Italy have gone all wheels for everything except MBTs which makes a lot more sense.
    The problem isn't necessarily its mass, or even being tracked (which could make it usable in conditions impassable to wheeled vehicles).
    It just appears fundamentally flawed.

    You'll enjoy Baldy's latest.
    Great British tech at its finest.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/25/british-armys-ajax-armoured-vehicle-project-back-on-track
    The “troubled” £5.5bn programme to build the British army’s new Ajax fighting vehicle has turned a corner, the defence secretary has said.

    Better seat cushions and ear defenders are among improvements being hailed by Ben Wallace...
    The Ajax is capable of going round corners? Well, that's a start I guess.
    In ideal factory conditions maybe, otherwise I have my doubts.
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,125
    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    So why did she trigger the process for her replacement? (Other than to make her feel good about herself in comparison, natch....)
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,820
    Taz said:

    Reed said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    Think the elderly would get more sympathy if for once they would admit that buying a property doesnt depend on going without a few takeaway coffees. But they wont.
    The elderly, like the young, do not exist as a single entity. Of course the elderly do not think that is the case. A few may do but they are hardly representative of the elderly as a group.
    Seems pretty representative of most of the older people I know. I need to meet more.
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,803

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    The way she resigned gave that impression
    How else would you like her to resign? A little bit at a time? You do it suddenly, if it's at your own choosing. Like Harold Wilson.
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,803

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    So why did she trigger the process for her replacement? (Other than to make her feel good about herself in comparison, natch....)
    Pretty obvious, she resigned!
  • Options
    ReedReed Posts: 152
    Taz said:

    Reed said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    Think the elderly would get more sympathy if for once they would admit that buying a property doesnt depend on going without a few takeaway coffees. But they wont.
    The elderly, like the young, do not exist as a single entity. Of course the elderly do not think that is the case. A few may do but they are hardly representative of the elderly as a group.
    If the elderly came out and said look we think property prices are too high they would get more respect.
    But strangely many when they do put their house on the market prefer to withdraw it again rather than accept a realistic offer. Thats just pure greed.
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,820
    malcolmg said:

    Taz said:

    Reed said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    Think the elderly would get more sympathy if for once they would admit that buying a property doesnt depend on going without a few takeaway coffees. But they wont.
    The elderly, like the young, do not exist as a single entity. Of course the elderly do not think that is the case. A few may do but they are hardly representative of the elderly as a group.
    There are some real clowns on here Taz. One day the scales will drop from their eyes. Far too much me me me
    Thats a real ironic statement.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    Hello G, dry here today , mild bit a bit grey. I replied to you on last thread and tagged it.

    Basically she was at end of rope I think and things coming to a head, run out of referendum carrots , policy disasters everywhere, scandals galore, missing 600K and police finally doing something. They will be bricking it if Humza does not win, which is unlikely unless voting is publicised. Been too many stitch ups to believe there will not be another one.
  • Options
    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    The way she resigned gave that impression
    How else would you like her to resign? A little bit at a time? You do it suddenly, if it's at your own choosing. Like Harold Wilson.
    I am fine with any option but it certainly has plunged the SNP into a crisis

    And what on earth was Yousaf doing asking a group of Ukrainian women 'where are all the men'

    Utterly unbelievable and crass
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,820
    malcolmg said:

    Reed said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Being a pensioner is only an advantage in monetary terms. Most would prefer a young fit body and bags of energy.
    Never, who would have thought, yet the whiners on here are always waxing lyrical about how pensioners have it all.
    What you seem to be saying is that because people get old they deserve things.

    No one actually disputes that. The arguments are about how much is fair and reasonable when judged against the priorities of all society. Whether there is disproportionate attention and money.

    Reasonable people will disagree on where the line falls but you just complain about the debate happening at all.
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,125
    Refuk gradually realising only the Tories can deal with small boats?

    LibDems gradually realising they are getting in the way of a Labour win to oust the Tories?
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015
    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    Hopefully not much longer Carnyx, one of their schemes is bound to get them , no way they can keep all of them bottled up forever. Imagine Humza losing and new FM finding all the missing documents, minutes , etc.
  • Options
    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    Hello G, dry here today , mild bit a bit grey. I replied to you on last thread and tagged it.

    Basically she was at end of rope I think and things coming to a head, run out of referendum carrots , policy disasters everywhere, scandals galore, missing 600K and police finally doing something. They will be bricking it if Humza does not win, which is unlikely unless voting is publicised. Been too many stitch ups to believe there will not be another one.
    Thanks Malc
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015
    Reed said:

    Taz said:

    Reed said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    Think the elderly would get more sympathy if for once they would admit that buying a property doesnt depend on going without a few takeaway coffees. But they wont.
    The elderly, like the young, do not exist as a single entity. Of course the elderly do not think that is the case. A few may do but they are hardly representative of the elderly as a group.
    If the elderly came out and said look we think property prices are too high they would get more respect.
    But strangely many when they do put their house on the market prefer to withdraw it again rather than accept a realistic offer. Thats just pure greed.
    Are you trolling , when selling property prices are never too high, that is only when you are buying. Arithmetic for dummies. Why woudl pensioners be running about saying house prices are too high , just nutty.
  • Options
    MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 12,441
    That’s an excellent yougov for Tories, on basis it hasn’t moved much for a while and hasn’t given them many 25% plus for a while.
  • Options
    noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 20,779
    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    Reed said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    Think the elderly would get more sympathy if for once they would admit that buying a property doesnt depend on going without a few takeaway coffees. But they wont.
    The elderly, like the young, do not exist as a single entity. Of course the elderly do not think that is the case. A few may do but they are hardly representative of the elderly as a group.
    Seems pretty representative of most of the older people I know. I need to meet more.
    You might get a different response at toyboy warehouse.
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,803

    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    The way she resigned gave that impression
    How else would you like her to resign? A little bit at a time? You do it suddenly, if it's at your own choosing. Like Harold Wilson.
    I am fine with any option but it certainly has plunged the SNP into a crisis

    And what on earth was Yousaf doing asking a group of Ukrainian women 'where are all the men'

    Utterly unbelievable and crass
    I didn't see this, but aren't you just trying to find the worst possible interpretation? Iit's not just interesting to know what their partners were doing. A major issue for Ukrainian refugees is split families, and worries about what their partners were doing.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015
    kle4 said:

    malcolmg said:

    Taz said:

    Reed said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    Think the elderly would get more sympathy if for once they would admit that buying a property doesnt depend on going without a few takeaway coffees. But they wont.
    The elderly, like the young, do not exist as a single entity. Of course the elderly do not think that is the case. A few may do but they are hardly representative of the elderly as a group.
    There are some real clowns on here Taz. One day the scales will drop from their eyes. Far too much me me me
    Thats a real ironic statement.
    You think
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015
    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    So why did she trigger the process for her replacement? (Other than to make her feel good about herself in comparison, natch....)
    Pretty obvious, she resigned!
    her and the Magpie are still running teh show though and will still be if Useless wins. Assuming they are not in stripey pyjamas.
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,803
    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    Hopefully not much longer Carnyx, one of their schemes is bound to get them , no way they can keep all of them bottled up forever. Imagine Humza losing and new FM finding all the missing documents, minutes , etc.
    Well, the voting stuff came on the dot, so no complaints about that.
  • Options
    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    The way she resigned gave that impression
    How else would you like her to resign? A little bit at a time? You do it suddenly, if it's at your own choosing. Like Harold Wilson.
    I am fine with any option but it certainly has plunged the SNP into a crisis

    And what on earth was Yousaf doing asking a group of Ukrainian women 'where are all the men'

    Utterly unbelievable and crass
    I didn't see this, but aren't you just trying to find the worst possible interpretation? Iit's not just interesting to know what their partners were doing. A major issue for Ukrainian refugees is split families, and worries about what their partners were doing.
    Reported in various newspapers and media

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/humza-yousaf-scotland-bbc-james-cook-great-britain-b2302416.html
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,125

    Since Tories & the NHS are the subject..


    "senior" again rather overplayed there.

    Go on, who here had ever heard of him?
  • Options
    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    Hello G, dry here today , mild bit a bit grey. I replied to you on last thread and tagged it.

    Basically she was at end of rope I think and things coming to a head, run out of referendum carrots , policy disasters everywhere, scandals galore, missing 600K and police finally doing something. They will be bricking it if Humza does not win, which is unlikely unless voting is publicised. Been too many stitch ups to believe there will not be another one.
    Malc, while I may have slightly different views on Scottish independence than you, your views are always much appreciated and give a real insight into things, especially as I really don't know much about the state of Scottish politics.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015
    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    The way she resigned gave that impression
    How else would you like her to resign? A little bit at a time? You do it suddenly, if it's at your own choosing. Like Harold Wilson.
    I am fine with any option but it certainly has plunged the SNP into a crisis

    And what on earth was Yousaf doing asking a group of Ukrainian women 'where are all the men'

    Utterly unbelievable and crass
    I didn't see this, but aren't you just trying to find the worst possible interpretation? Iit's not just interesting to know what their partners were doing. A major issue for Ukrainian refugees is split families, and worries about what their partners were doing.
    Carnyx , cmon this clown wants to lead the government, where has he been for the last year. It was either crass or just proved how stupid and insensitive the idiot is.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015
    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    Hopefully not much longer Carnyx, one of their schemes is bound to get them , no way they can keep all of them bottled up forever. Imagine Humza losing and new FM finding all the missing documents, minutes , etc.
    Well, the voting stuff came on the dot, so no complaints about that.
    Vote Humza and vote often
  • Options
    Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 7,544

    Since Tories & the NHS are the subject..


    "senior" again rather overplayed there.

    Go on, who here had ever heard of him?
    Me. Chair of the Health Select Committee, which may suffice to call him 'senior'.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    Hello G, dry here today , mild bit a bit grey. I replied to you on last thread and tagged it.

    Basically she was at end of rope I think and things coming to a head, run out of referendum carrots , policy disasters everywhere, scandals galore, missing 600K and police finally doing something. They will be bricking it if Humza does not win, which is unlikely unless voting is publicised. Been too many stitch ups to believe there will not be another one.
    Malc, while I may have slightly different views on Scottish independence than you, your views are always much appreciated and give a real insight into things, especially as I really don't know much about the state of Scottish politics.
    Thank you , at present you just need to think "like Tories but nastier in all ways" and would struggle to run a bath. God help us if Useless is shoehorned in.
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,803

    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    The way she resigned gave that impression
    How else would you like her to resign? A little bit at a time? You do it suddenly, if it's at your own choosing. Like Harold Wilson.
    I am fine with any option but it certainly has plunged the SNP into a crisis

    And what on earth was Yousaf doing asking a group of Ukrainian women 'where are all the men'

    Utterly unbelievable and crass
    I didn't see this, but aren't you just trying to find the worst possible interpretation? Iit's not just interesting to know what their partners were doing. A major issue for Ukrainian refugees is split families, and worries about what their partners were doing.
    Reported in various newspapers and media

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/humza-yousaf-scotland-bbc-james-cook-great-britain-b2302416.html
    Thanks for that. You're actually providing evidence for a different interpretation - you missed the bit about there being Ukrainian males in the visit as well, according to the very report you cite. So it sounds like the BBC out for gotchas, however reasonable or otherwise - and with a dose of translation hiccups too. .

    But avoiding such things is part and parcel of beingf a politician.
  • Options
    MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 12,441
    Attack on lamestream media and OBR from me chapter xxxxviii

    So did the Daily Papers let us down by misinforming us calling the nurse/health workers deal 5%?

    If it’s nearer 20% where does that leave the argument beating inflation comes first? Or don’t the big bungs impact inflation in the same way as a consolidated pay offer? Even then for many workers it’s a guaranteed 10% pay increase not 5%. So why was it so bizarrely misreported?

    And the big question that instantly leaps out, where’s the money coming from? We just had a budget and OBR that didn’t show us the pot for this. What that suggests is a political party promising pay increase but not saying how it’s paid for yet simultaneously insisting it definitely not coming from somewhere in existing budget. 🤔
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,803
    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    Hopefully not much longer Carnyx, one of their schemes is bound to get them , no way they can keep all of them bottled up forever. Imagine Humza losing and new FM finding all the missing documents, minutes , etc.
    Well, the voting stuff came on the dot, so no complaints about that.
    Vote Humza and vote often
    Oh, thanks for the advice. I'll think about it.
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,803

    Attack on lamestream media and OBR from me chapter xxxxviii

    So did the Daily Papers let us down by misinforming us calling the nurse/health workers deal 5%?

    If it’s nearer 20% where does that leave the argument beating inflation comes first? Or don’t the big bungs impact inflation in the same way as a consolidated pay offer? Even then for many workers it’s a guaranteed 10% pay increase not 5%. So why was it so bizarrely misreported?

    And the big question that instantly leaps out, where’s the money coming from? We just had a budget and OBR that didn’t show us the pot for this. What that suggests is a political party promising pay increase but not saying how it’s paid for yet simultaneously insisting it definitely not coming from somewhere in existing budget. 🤔

    NHS increase is only partly permanent. Some of it s a one off sum. Doesn't therefore cover inflation over the last year or two. So could interpret it in all sorts of ways according to taste - from negative to positive!
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,125

    Since Tories & the NHS are the subject..


    "senior" again rather overplayed there.

    Go on, who here had ever heard of him?
    Me. Chair of the Health Select Committee, which may suffice to call him 'senior'.
    Dr Sarah Wollaston was also that Chair for five years. I'd heard of her, as my MP, but still a stretch to call her "senior"...
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,015
    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    Hopefully not much longer Carnyx, one of their schemes is bound to get them , no way they can keep all of them bottled up forever. Imagine Humza losing and new FM finding all the missing documents, minutes , etc.
    Well, the voting stuff came on the dot, so no complaints about that.
    Vote Humza and vote often
    Oh, thanks for the advice. I'll think about it.
    Carnyx, plenty spares , they said they have 72K members , guaranteed to be less, yet sent out 78K voting slips. Wonder which address the 6K spares went to.
  • Options
    noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 20,779

    Since Tories & the NHS are the subject..


    "senior" again rather overplayed there.

    Go on, who here had ever heard of him?
    Me. Chair of the Health Select Committee, which may suffice to call him 'senior'.
    Dr Sarah Wollaston was also that Chair for five years. I'd heard of her, as my MP, but still a stretch to call her "senior"...
    Senior MPs for me would be roughly ex cabinet/shadow cabinet, leadership candidates, father/mother of the house and select committee chairs.

    What would you count?
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,820
    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    malcolmg said:

    Taz said:

    Reed said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    Think the elderly would get more sympathy if for once they would admit that buying a property doesnt depend on going without a few takeaway coffees. But they wont.
    The elderly, like the young, do not exist as a single entity. Of course the elderly do not think that is the case. A few may do but they are hardly representative of the elderly as a group.
    There are some real clowns on here Taz. One day the scales will drop from their eyes. Far too much me me me
    Thats a real ironic statement.
    You think
    Only very occasionally.
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,125
    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    The way she resigned gave that impression
    How else would you like her to resign? A little bit at a time? You do it suddenly, if it's at your own choosing. Like Harold Wilson.
    I am fine with any option but it certainly has plunged the SNP into a crisis

    And what on earth was Yousaf doing asking a group of Ukrainian women 'where are all the men'

    Utterly unbelievable and crass
    I didn't see this, but aren't you just trying to find the worst possible interpretation? Iit's not just interesting to know what their partners were doing. A major issue for Ukrainian refugees is split families, and worries about what their partners were doing.
    Carnyx , cmon this clown wants to lead the government, where has he been for the last year. It was either crass or just proved how stupid and insensitive the idiot is.
    One of those moments when it was far better to just STFU, rather than bring out his best Duke of Edinburgh impression...
  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,045

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    10% rise in my pension next month , and likely to get a pay rise into the bargain. Why you boys still moaning, why not become pensionsers.
    Good morning Malc

    I posted at the end of the last thread how spring like today is in Llandudno and hoped it was the same in Ayrshire (had lots of great holidays in Largs)

    However I did ask has it been revealed why Sturgeon suddenly did a runner ?

    I look forward to your views

    Best
    "done a runner"?

    Really? Getting a bit imaginative, surely.

    She's still there. Not like, say, Mr Stonehouse.
    The way she resigned gave that impression
    How else would you like her to resign? A little bit at a time? You do it suddenly, if it's at your own choosing. Like Harold Wilson.
    I am fine with any option but it certainly has plunged the SNP into a crisis

    And what on earth was Yousaf doing asking a group of Ukrainian women 'where are all the men'

    Utterly unbelievable and crass
    I didn't see this, but aren't you just trying to find the worst possible interpretation? Iit's not just interesting to know what their partners were doing. A major issue for Ukrainian refugees is split families, and worries about what their partners were doing.
    Carnyx , cmon this clown wants to lead the government, where has he been for the last year. It was either crass or just proved how stupid and insensitive the idiot is.
    One of those moments when it was far better to just STFU, rather than bring out his best Duke of Edinburgh impression...
    I asked Mrs J about this (who had some diplomatic experience as a child), and she said; "Ask about their kids. "How are your kids settling in? Is there anything they need?" "

    Even if they don't have kids (and the chances are some there would), people generally appreciate the question.
  • Options
    DougSealDougSeal Posts: 11,155

    Since Tories & the NHS are the subject..


    "senior" again rather overplayed there.

    Go on, who here had ever heard of him?
    Lack of name recognition doesn't stop someone being senior. Although with his majority of 985 I think he might be described as "temporary".
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,411

    Since Tories & the NHS are the subject..


    "senior" again rather overplayed there.

    Go on, who here had ever heard of him?
    Senior Tory or the more alliterative Top Tory makes the story more sensationalist.

    Jobbing backbencher doesn't really have the same resonance.
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,125

    Since Tories & the NHS are the subject..


    "senior" again rather overplayed there.

    Go on, who here had ever heard of him?
    Me. Chair of the Health Select Committee, which may suffice to call him 'senior'.
    Dr Sarah Wollaston was also that Chair for five years. I'd heard of her, as my MP, but still a stretch to call her "senior"...
    Senior MPs for me would be roughly ex cabinet/shadow cabinet, leadership candidates, father/mother of the house and select committee chairs.

    What would you count?
    Mostly agree, but for Select Committee chairs. They might have a higher profile in Westminster, but they rarely feature in the public consciousness.

    You might get some MPs who have championed a cause outside of being a Minister, that qualifies as "senior" - but they are few and far between.

    How many could identify a photo of Brine? 2% 1%? Of pb.com posters?

  • Options
    TazTaz Posts: 11,205
    Reed said:

    Taz said:

    Reed said:

    kle4 said:

    Selebian said:

    Cookie said:

    Slagging off the NHS is becoming a bit of a religion on here.

    When you see Doctors out on strike , my sympathy for them and similarly for nurses plummets.. irrespective of how strong their case might be.
    Agreed.
    I was making exactly the same point with regard to teachers last night.
    The thing is, they probably value a pay rise/better conditions more than sympathy - and strikes are more effective at achieving the former, even if they cost a bit of the latter.
    How about we all give pensioners triple locked sympathy increases each year and give the cash saved to public sector workers? A fair trade surely?
    Given they complain about the lack of sympathy that sounds like a great deal for pensioners.
    Think the elderly would get more sympathy if for once they would admit that buying a property doesnt depend on going without a few takeaway coffees. But they wont.
    The elderly, like the young, do not exist as a single entity. Of course the elderly do not think that is the case. A few may do but they are hardly representative of the elderly as a group.
    If the elderly came out and said look we think property prices are too high they would get more respect.
    But strangely many when they do put their house on the market prefer to withdraw it again rather than accept a realistic offer. Thats just pure greed.
    The problem with housing is we need to build more.

    So we get the bizarre scenario of an MP like Layla Moran bemoaning the lack of homes in her area for Ukrainian refugees yet opposing many housing developments to pander to NIMBYs.

    We also need to build where the homes are needed.

    Why should people be expected to sell their homes at a price they don’t want to. I really doubt the scenario you paint is what happens in large numbers.
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,820

    Since Tories & the NHS are the subject..


    "senior" again rather overplayed there.

    Go on, who here had ever heard of him?
    Me. Chair of the Health Select Committee, which may suffice to call him 'senior'.
    Dr Sarah Wollaston was also that Chair for five years. I'd heard of her, as my MP, but still a stretch to call her "senior"...
    Senior MPs for me would be roughly ex cabinet/shadow cabinet, leadership candidates, father/mother of the house and select committee chairs.

    What would you count?
    Mostly agree, but for Select Committee chairs. They might have a higher profile in Westminster, but they rarely feature in the public consciousness.

    You might get some MPs who have championed a cause outside of being a Minister, that qualifies as "senior" - but they are few and far between.

    How many could identify a photo of Brine? 2% 1%? Of pb.com posters?

    But it is still a senior position for MPs. Its just not publicly prominent.

    Contrast with all those 'senior backbenchers', usually meaning some old fossil or a loudmouth.
  • Options
    MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 12,441
    Carnyx said:

    Attack on lamestream media and OBR from me chapter xxxxviii

    So did the Daily Papers let us down by misinforming us calling the nurse/health workers deal 5%?

    If it’s nearer 20% where does that leave the argument beating inflation comes first? Or don’t the big bungs impact inflation in the same way as a consolidated pay offer? Even then for many workers it’s a guaranteed 10% pay increase not 5%. So why was it so bizarrely misreported?

    And the big question that instantly leaps out, where’s the money coming from? We just had a budget and OBR that didn’t show us the pot for this. What that suggests is a political party promising pay increase but not saying how it’s paid for yet simultaneously insisting it definitely not coming from somewhere in existing budget. 🤔

    NHS increase is only partly permanent. Some of it s a one off sum. Doesn't therefore cover inflation over the last year or two. So could interpret it in all sorts of ways according to taste - from negative to positive!
    From the unions point of view, a consolidated double digit pay increase over 10% for many of their least earning members is certainly a good negotiating win. 🙂
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,668
    edited March 2023
    Carnyx said:

    Attack on lamestream media and OBR from me chapter xxxxviii

    So did the Daily Papers let us down by misinforming us calling the nurse/health workers deal 5%?

    If it’s nearer 20% where does that leave the argument beating inflation comes first? Or don’t the big bungs impact inflation in the same way as a consolidated pay offer? Even then for many workers it’s a guaranteed 10% pay increase not 5%. So why was it so bizarrely misreported?

    And the big question that instantly leaps out, where’s the money coming from? We just had a budget and OBR that didn’t show us the pot for this. What that suggests is a political party promising pay increase but not saying how it’s paid for yet simultaneously insisting it definitely not coming from somewhere in existing budget. 🤔

    NHS increase is only partly permanent. Some of it s a one off sum. Doesn't therefore cover inflation over the last year or two. So could interpret it in all sorts of ways according to taste - from negative to positive!
    The agreed percentage pay rise for next year is indeed 5%.

    The reporting is pretty clear:
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64977269
    ..A 5% pay rise from April has been offered to NHS staff in England, including nurses and ambulance workers.
    In addition, staff have been offered a one-off payment of at least £1,655 to top up the past year's pay award...


    The £1655 isn't a pay increase - it's effectively a one off bonus. It disappears next year from the point of view of any ongoing pay awards.
    So where is "a guaranteed 10% / nearer 20%" coming from ?

    Have the terms changed, or is Moonrabbit being uncharacteristically lame herself ?
  • Options
    noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 20,779

    Since Tories & the NHS are the subject..


    "senior" again rather overplayed there.

    Go on, who here had ever heard of him?
    Me. Chair of the Health Select Committee, which may suffice to call him 'senior'.
    Dr Sarah Wollaston was also that Chair for five years. I'd heard of her, as my MP, but still a stretch to call her "senior"...
    Senior MPs for me would be roughly ex cabinet/shadow cabinet, leadership candidates, father/mother of the house and select committee chairs.

    What would you count?
    Mostly agree, but for Select Committee chairs. They might have a higher profile in Westminster, but they rarely feature in the public consciousness.

    You might get some MPs who have championed a cause outside of being a Minister, that qualifies as "senior" - but they are few and far between.

    How many could identify a photo of Brine? 2% 1%? Of pb.com posters?

    Think you are confusing senior with well known. I agree he is not well known, but think he is senior in terms of Tory MPs as demonstrated by his peers electing him as chair of a select committee.
This discussion has been closed.