If a person requiring A&E care is intoxicated to such an extent that their being drunk is a contributary factor in their requiring emergency treatment, then that person should be made to take responsibility for their actions and face the financial consequences for their actions.
Why is this idea important?
If a person requiring A&E care is intoxicated to such an extent that their being drunk is a contributary factor in their requiring emergency treatment, then that person should be made to take responsibility for their actions and face the financial consequences for their actions.
Hospital Telephone Switchboard numbers should be made available in an online directory so that members of the public can quickly obtain the right level of advice for more minor queries without having to call 999.
The NHS choices website contains no lists of treatments/departments or telephone numbers. Being heavily pregnant and with a potential problem I was advised to contact my local midwife centre/hospital. However, I was amazed to find that no telephone numbers were available to the public. In desperation I called NHS Direct to see if they could help. They informed me that they were unable to give out hospital telephone switchboard numbers because to do so would be an infringement of the Data Protection Act!!!! They advised me to call my Dr and see if they could provide me with a telephone number instead, or alternatively make my way to the hospital and show up in person myself. What a waste of time for all concerned. I have spoken to other people that I know and they have come up against the same problems, some of whom resorted to calling 999 in the absence of other contact numbers. I have never come across such a ludicrous excuse for not being able to give out telephone numbers of public services to the public!! Particularly over something so important!! Is it any wonder that 999 calls are misused and resources wasted !
Why is this idea important?
Hospital Telephone Switchboard numbers should be made available in an online directory so that members of the public can quickly obtain the right level of advice for more minor queries without having to call 999.
The NHS choices website contains no lists of treatments/departments or telephone numbers. Being heavily pregnant and with a potential problem I was advised to contact my local midwife centre/hospital. However, I was amazed to find that no telephone numbers were available to the public. In desperation I called NHS Direct to see if they could help. They informed me that they were unable to give out hospital telephone switchboard numbers because to do so would be an infringement of the Data Protection Act!!!! They advised me to call my Dr and see if they could provide me with a telephone number instead, or alternatively make my way to the hospital and show up in person myself. What a waste of time for all concerned. I have spoken to other people that I know and they have come up against the same problems, some of whom resorted to calling 999 in the absence of other contact numbers. I have never come across such a ludicrous excuse for not being able to give out telephone numbers of public services to the public!! Particularly over something so important!! Is it any wonder that 999 calls are misused and resources wasted !
Vast amounts of NHS resources are spent on treating people who have injured themselves or others through alcohol or drug use especially in A&E. Others who have been injured or are sick through no fault of their own have their waiting times increased. There is often the unplesantness and danger for staff and members of the public in the presence of intoxicated persons. Financial contribution towards treatment ahould be levied on those whose injuries or illness have obviously been caused by intoxication.
Why is this idea important?
Vast amounts of NHS resources are spent on treating people who have injured themselves or others through alcohol or drug use especially in A&E. Others who have been injured or are sick through no fault of their own have their waiting times increased. There is often the unplesantness and danger for staff and members of the public in the presence of intoxicated persons. Financial contribution towards treatment ahould be levied on those whose injuries or illness have obviously been caused by intoxication.
Charging people for parking at hospitals needs to be banned. Immediately.
Why is this idea important?
Charging people for parking at hospitals needs to be banned. Immediately.
Serious about Crime
We are all aware that the fight against drug use and abuse over the last 50 years has failed spectacularly, no one can deny this.
We are also aware that the increasing use of drugs illegally has increased the levels of crime and violence to levels not seen in the last 100 years.
The number of public servants, social workers, police, NHS staff etc has risen to levels never required before, this is in response to the illegal use of drugs.
The number of people in prisons has exploded, around 84,000 currently.
It would be irresponsible to enact legislation, as proposed by Ken Clarke, to reduce short term prison sentences until the de-criminalisation of drugs is tackled.
Many prisoners are there for petty crime offences to pay for the illegal use of drugs. They will be forced to continue to support their habit / addiction illegally if they are not jailed and so crime will continue to increase.
It is plainly a nonsense to prohibit drugs, as it would be plainly wrong to end prohibition without a proper structure to allow drug users to avail themselves of drugs legally.
Now is the time for the Coalition Government to tackle this huge drug issue and put it at the front of our agenda for dealing with many of the problems in our society.
Why is this idea important?
Serious about Crime
We are all aware that the fight against drug use and abuse over the last 50 years has failed spectacularly, no one can deny this.
We are also aware that the increasing use of drugs illegally has increased the levels of crime and violence to levels not seen in the last 100 years.
The number of public servants, social workers, police, NHS staff etc has risen to levels never required before, this is in response to the illegal use of drugs.
The number of people in prisons has exploded, around 84,000 currently.
It would be irresponsible to enact legislation, as proposed by Ken Clarke, to reduce short term prison sentences until the de-criminalisation of drugs is tackled.
Many prisoners are there for petty crime offences to pay for the illegal use of drugs. They will be forced to continue to support their habit / addiction illegally if they are not jailed and so crime will continue to increase.
It is plainly a nonsense to prohibit drugs, as it would be plainly wrong to end prohibition without a proper structure to allow drug users to avail themselves of drugs legally.
Now is the time for the Coalition Government to tackle this huge drug issue and put it at the front of our agenda for dealing with many of the problems in our society.
The CQC, previously the Health Care Commission, is there to regulate the provision of medical (and social care). One of the things it has done is raise the bar for the treatment of children so high that many hospitals simply do not find it worthwhile. ironically therefore, the regulators have ended up depriving children of treament, particularly in the private sector. Many nurses have done a job for years and now are told they should no longer perform these same tasks. Yet those that want to harm childen seem to find a way anyway.
Why is this idea important?
The CQC, previously the Health Care Commission, is there to regulate the provision of medical (and social care). One of the things it has done is raise the bar for the treatment of children so high that many hospitals simply do not find it worthwhile. ironically therefore, the regulators have ended up depriving children of treament, particularly in the private sector. Many nurses have done a job for years and now are told they should no longer perform these same tasks. Yet those that want to harm childen seem to find a way anyway.