Atoms for Peace wrote: » There should be limit placed on free visits for medical card holders, under six's etc. unless they have a valid medical condition.
Kristopherus wrote: » Plenty of private nursing home beds available -check.
Beasty wrote: » I'm one of those immigrants. Am I putting pressure on resources? Well actually my employer pays over 10 grand a year for my (and my family's) private health insurance. I also reckon I've paid significantly more tax in Ireland than the average "native" pays in a lifetime. That's on top of the boost to the economy my own employment brings. Most immigrants come here to earn a living and are net contributors to the economy
darkpagandeath wrote: » Remember getting rid of the likes of the Eastern Health board and others were supposed to produce Savings and streamline the health service setting up the HSE ?
steddyeddy wrote: » I'm working in the UK and hear the same thing in relation to immigrants and the NHS here.
Dr Crayfish wrote: » You can't blame immigrants and junkies/med card holders at the same time. Immigrants tend to work and pay tax, people from certain areas of Dublin haven't paid tax for generations, their net contribution to our society is quite negative.
LexieOnRale wrote: » When people can walk into an accident and emergency with an issue that's neither accident nor emergency, it of course compromises the resources for actual accidents and emergencies. When people can avail of this service free of charge there isn't really any deterrents or incentives to use GP or the out of hours care dr.
jay1988 wrote: » Did anyone say particularly inward migration? No they didn't, one poster added that to all the other reasons posted above him. Nice try on pushing your agenda though.
mansize wrote: » The last time I was in A&E I wasn't able judge the room
Graces7 wrote: » True but not quite the whole story. I was in A and E over the holidays. The problem believe me was very real and a medical emergency. Our local after hours service was in the news as being so overloaded they were taking 3-5 hours even to answer the phone. The ambulance paramedics who were stars. said that the GP would just have sent me to A and E anyways . I had tried to access them And getting a GP appointment? They seem to send so many to A and E who surely could be treated at home. This is the norm with this out of hours service. Bu the way, the A and E service is free to medical card holders AND to anyone referred by a GP, which is open to question. The place was in chaos. Seemed no one in charge. I do not think they are understaffed,, Just disorganised. Reception staff were rude to the point of abuse Waited for many hours to be seen and then only as I was in a state of collapse and made waves. The last time I had been in A an d E was nearly 3 years ago with a smashed wrist and there was no waiting etc. The atmosphere was totally different One of the main problems now is that folk with flu are going to A and E rather than seeing their GP or coping at home. Place was full of coughing and sneezing and I came home infected. I wonder why? I would not go near A and E unless there was no other way. I waited 24 hrs with the broken wrist . The only part of HSE that seems to be working is the ambulances. I know they get criticised but they were stars.
Boggy Turf wrote: » Having worked with the HSE, you would not believe the level of waste and bureaucracy within the "organisation". The levels of zero value add middle management boggles the mind. The unions block any reform but the only solution is widespread redundancies for excessive back office staff and rebuild the system from scratch. There are also many vested interests with political connections e.g I saw tens of millions wasted on renting portacabins at exorbitant prices where they could have built extensions or new buildings for fractions of the cost. It wont happen.
LexieOnRale wrote: » Graces7 wrote: » True but not quite the whole story. I was in A and E over the holidays. The problem believe me was very real and a medical emergency. Our local after hours service was in the news as being so overloaded they were taking 3-5 hours even to answer the phone. The ambulance paramedics who were stars. said that the GP would just have sent me to A and E anyways . I had tried to access them And getting a GP appointment? They seem to send so many to A and E who surely could be treated at home. This is the norm with this out of hours service. Bu the way, the A and E service is free to medical card holders AND to anyone referred by a GP, which is open to question. The place was in chaos. Seemed no one in charge. I do not think they are understaffed,, Just disorganised. Reception staff were rude to the point of abuse Waited for many hours to be seen and then only as I was in a state of collapse and made waves. The last time I had been in A an d E was nearly 3 years ago with a smashed wrist and there was no waiting etc. The atmosphere was totally different One of the main problems now is that folk with flu are going to A and E rather than seeing their GP or coping at home. Place was full of coughing and sneezing and I came home infected. I wonder why? I would not go near A and E unless there was no other way. I waited 24 hrs with the broken wrist . The only part of HSE that seems to be working is the ambulances. I know they get criticised but they were stars. If I need to attend a+e, i always try go to GP (50 euro) or out of hrs dr (60 euro) as if I have a letter from them, I don't need to pay 100 euro. If i go straight to a+e without a letter, it's 100 euro unless I'm admitted, then you're just charged per night. It's no secret the service is completely abused by people attending with conditions more suited to their own GP or out of hrs doctor. If people had to weigh up the costs between Drs and casualty then I'm pretty sure we'd see a reduction. If a person (medical card or not) attends a+e but doesn't meet the criteria, they should be subject to the full price.
Tom Mann Centuria wrote: » If you become a manager in the NHS, that is no longer clinical, with zero patient care, you are a manager. If you do the same in Ireland you are still a nurse, and counted as such. This not only scews nursing numbers, but also average wage stats for nurses. On the wider subject, flu this year is rampant in Irish hospitals putting enormous strain on the already struggling health service.
LexieOnRale wrote: » If I need to attend a+e, i always try go to GP (50 euro) or out of hrs dr (60 euro) as if I have a letter from them, I don't need to pay 100 euro. If i go straight to a+e without a letter, it's 100 euro unless I'm admitted, then you're just charged per night.It's no secret the service is completely abused by people attending with conditions more suited to their own GP or out of hrs doctor. If people had to weigh up the costs between Drs and casualty then I'm pretty sure we'd see a reduction. If a person (medical card or not) attends a+e but doesn't meet the criteria, they should be subject to the full price.
Mehapoy wrote: » The solution to this is surely staring everyone in the face then, get a GP service into each hospital to look after these cases, coughs, flus etc. do a triage and if you're condition isn't bone breakage, heart problems etc. see the GP get your persription and go home... or is it truly that the problem is more acute than this and not as easily answered?
foggy_lad wrote: » Maybe the minister should be looking at this then instead of telling lies and fairy stories about how this year is worse than any other year for flu and other illnesses. Really what is needed by the government(all governments) is to spend a proper amount on mental health and addiction services but there is no votes in spending money on lunatics and junkies. A proper Drunk tank system should be set up in those hospitals experiencing issues with drunks and junkies where people are confined in a seperate area on a matterss with a security guard and can be physically restrained if required using the mental health legislation. On a different note, years ago our GP would put in a few stitches if you needed them or relocate a finger or thumb if required but there is no way any GP will ever do that sort of work today particularly with Medical card patients! AMybe their insurance forbids it but these days they prescribe less potent medicines and refer most minor issues which they once dealt with to A&E
foggy_lad wrote: » On a different note, years ago our GP would put in a few stitches if you needed them or relocate a finger or thumb if required but there is no way any GP will ever do that sort of work today particularly with Medical card patients! AMybe their insurance forbids it but these days they prescribe less potent medicines and refer most minor issues which they once dealt with to A&E
beggars_bush wrote: » There are around 1000 private nursing home beds that could be used to move along patients ready to leave hospital but not able to go home yet
snowbabe wrote: » The whole system is broken,but I have faith that Harris will do something with the poison chalice he's been given
