Tag: Royal College Nusring

NHS 111 crisis concern

09:26 Tuesday 29th September 2015
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: An investigation has revealed that the helpline for non-emergency care is in meltdown in certain parts of the UK. The investigation reveals that places like Derbyshire and Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire just over the border, up to 75% of calls are going unanswered during busy times. It says in some cases there’s just one nurse for every 2 million people, and the hotline has missed answering targets for the last seven months. So we want to know. If you’ve used it, what’s your experience been like? We had a stark warning from the Royal College of Nursing this morning. It says the non-emergency number will be completely overwhelmed this winter, if Government fails to act. Well Sandy Smith is from Healthwatch. Sandy, morning.
SANDY SMITH: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: Are these reports accurate? Are they a fair reflection?
SANDY SMITH: Well I am quite concerned about other parts of the country, but we haven’t been told this by patients in Cambridgeshire. Healthwatch Cambridgeshire did a survey earlier this year, and whilst people didn’t .. not a lot of people seemed to be aware of 111. Those people that were using it in Cambridgeshire were quite pleased with the service they got.
PAUL STAINTON: Yes. The problem is so many numbers, isn’t there?
SANDY SMITH: Exactly. 101, 999, 11 .. it is difficult for people. Yes.
PAUL STAINTON: It really is, and there’s nothing to mark it out is there? Even I .. we were talking about it this morning, and we were getting confused with the numbers and we work in this thing. We’re supposed to know it all.
SANDY SMITH: So do I. (SHE LAUGHS)
PAUL STAINTON: Karen Webb is with us as well. She’s the Regional Director for the Royal College of Nursing. Karen, morning.
KAREN WEBB: Good morning.
PAUL STAINTON: Is it a fair reflection? Sandy there saying we don’t really have a problem in Cambridgeshire. Is that true?
Continue reading “NHS 111 crisis concern”

The Disastrous Consequences of Private Sector Involvement in the NHS

08:38 Monday 10th December 2012
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: It’s a big day for the chief executives from two Cambridgeshire hospitals. They’re going to face questions from MPs at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee. The politicians will be focusing on the finances of Peterborough City and Hinchinbrooke Hospitals. Earlier we heard from Karen Webb, the Regional Director of the Royal College of Nursing. She says she feels sorry for staff and patients at Peterborough City Hospital, which has debts higher than nearly any other on the whole of the NHS. (TAPE)
KAREN WEBB: The issues are very worrying for the people of Cambridgeshire, because ultimately unless the Government makes some higher political decisions about bailing out all of these private finance initiatives around the country, unless Government takes that decision, the only way forward is going to be to lose staff and cut services, neither of which is in the interests of the people of Cambridgeshire. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well earlier this year Hinchinbrooke Hospital was taken over by a private company of course called Circle, an idea designed to get the hospital better managed and out of debt. Karen doesn’t think that’s working. Well we can speak to the Conservative MP for Peterborough Stewart Jackson, who’s going to be on that Public Accounts Committee today. Morning Stewart.
STEWART JACKSON: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: What are you trying to find out here? Why have you called these two guys in? Continue reading “The Disastrous Consequences of Private Sector Involvement in the NHS”