The NHS is great, but it can and should be so much better. If politicians allow it to be.

A quick post before I get to bed.  The NHS has been in the news as parties have been saying that they are going to fund it and increase the number of people working in it.  The most interesting promise has been the unfunded one from the Conservatives.  But funded or unfunded all the parties have not seemed to mention the lack of nurses needed in the NHS or paramedics and doctors.  And the reason that the numbers of workers in the health service has fallen compared to demand is a combination of workload, pay (or the lack of pay rises), media portrayal and the fact that people can earn more money not working in the NHS, either working abroad, or working as agency/locum staff.

Unless politicians face up to the facts on the workforce in the NHS, things are not going to get better with a service that is struggling to meet the current demands, let alone promises of seven day access, appointments within 48 hours, or 24 hours, or other pie in the sky ideals.