Budget 2024

[Midlands Eagle]

My daughter wants to be a nurse, really isn't interested in doing a degree even if she could find a course to go on, its cheaper to import trained nurses from Africa then train our own, thats assuming we have enough trainers. So she works at Spoons at Gatwick on more money than a nurse would be on. Doesnt make any sense to me.

That is a ridiculous state of affairs

 

[orpingtoneagle]

My daughter wants to be a nurse, really isn't interested in doing a degree even if she could find a course to go on, its cheaper to import trained nurses from Africa then train our own, thats assuming we have enough trainers. So she works at Spoons at Gatwick on more money than a nurse would be on. Doesnt make any sense to me.

Working for the frontline NHS right now is a thankless task. Overworked and underpaid. I know plenty for whom the job has simply broken them and they have been forced to leave.

But to fix it is going to be a task that is almost impossible. People seem to simply assume as it is free at point of delivery that it has no cost. A recently retired friend has volunteered helping to organise local clinics to kan the vulnerable. I was amazed when they said that around half the folks who have booked appointments simply don't bother to turn up.

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

No amount of money will fix the problems as the major problem areas are the doctors and nurses the former of which will turn down any and every proposal.

I have rabbited on a few times that the shortage of nurses is primarily due to the RCN insisting that entry to the profession is via university degree and this has resulted in a lot of highly qualified but unsuitable nurses whilst those that have the desire and willingness to work can't get in as they don't have a degree.

The removal of the bursary for student nurses hasn't helped either

Actually paying the bursary would help!

Johnson promised it but 5 years later some student nurses still haven’t received it.

 

[georgenorman]

It is absurd that nurses require a degree.

 

[Hrolf The Ganger]

One can only speak as one finds and I have found the NHS to be brilliant. As a Non Hodgkins Lymphoma sufferer the consultant told me that I needed chemo and had me start the treatment the following week.

On one of my follow up visits I told him that I had a lot of fluid on my leg and it was causing me pain. He arranged a bloodtest and scan to take place within the hour to rule out DVT. The bloodtest proved inconclusive so he arranged another scan the following week.

Earlier in the year on a Friday he told me that I needed a kidney scan which he would arrange asap. I had a phone call that afternoon asking me if I could go in on the Sunday.

Twice in the past few months I have needed to see my GP so I filled in their online form and on the first occasion received an appointment the same afternoon and on the second occasion the appointment was two days later.

I have nothing but good things to say about my own treatment by the NHS

The issue is that treatment is very patchy. Some doctors are great, some are terrible. Some departments work well, some don't.
If you are lucky, you get good treatment.

My experience is that quite often you have to be determined and get second and third opinions to get anything done, and that one specialist or doctor is often surprised by the inaction or misdiagnosis of another.
As I've said before. I'm sure people regularly die unnecessarily because of the above.

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

My daughter wants to be a nurse, really isn't interested in doing a degree even if she could find a course to go on, its cheaper to import trained nurses from Africa then train our own, thats assuming we have enough trainers. So she works at Spoons at Gatwick on more money than a nurse would be on. Doesnt make any sense to me.

Has she investigated the apprenticeship route?

That way she can work and earn whilst she qualifies.

The starting pay for nurses has increased significantly in the last couple of years and after some years experience and a move up the bands can reach the mid £40k level. If that’s available in Wetherspoons then I am really shocked.

Bringing in overseas staff is an expediency, not a desire.

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

It is absurd that nurses require a degree.

No it’s not.

They aren’t just carers these days. Many of the tasks they now undertake used to be done by doctors.

My wife is a band 6 nurse, runs her own clinics and undertakes procedures. She has care assistants to perform the preparatory work.

 

[HKOwen]

Sky news Sunday Reeves very matter of factly admits she lied before election about tax

 

[Runningman]

Sky news Sunday Reeves very matter of factly admits she lied before election about tax

Not a lie. In modern parlance it’s known as ‘Her Truth’

 

[Apollofuzz]

Has she investigated the apprenticeship route?

That way she can work and earn whilst she qualifies.

The starting pay for nurses has increased significantly in the last couple of years and after some years experience and a move up the bands can reach the mid £40k level. If that’s available in Wetherspoons then I am really shocked.

Bringing in overseas staff is an expediency, not a desire.

A few years ago my daughter started a midwifery degree. This unlike a lot of degrees was full time 9 to 5 5 days a week, 3 months classroom study then 3 months hands on in a hospital and so on, the hospital work was unpaid with minimal expenses, there was very little opportunity to earn money to pay for day to day living and travel expenses and in fact was actively advised against. She lived at home and commuted daily. Despite being top of the class, it was just too much and gave it up after less than a year. A degree is great but there should be other routes into nursing. Labour have just announced they are increasing the tuition fees, a step back from 2020 pledge to support getting rid of of fees.

 

[Teddy Eagle]

Not a lie. In modern parlance it’s known as ‘Her Truth’

A useful defence for anyone facing a perjury charge.

 

[thegreatlardino]

Has she investigated the apprenticeship route?

That way she can work and earn whilst she qualifies.

The starting pay for nurses has increased significantly in the last couple of years and after some years experience and a move up the bands can reach the mid £40k level. If that’s available in Wetherspoons then I am really shocked.

Bringing in overseas staff is an expediency, not a desire.

Yeah she has looked at that as well, the issue is there is nothing around here, the closest is Aldershot which is not viable as she doesn't drive.
The other option is to work for SECAMB as their call centre / dispatch centre is in Crawley.

 

[Apollofuzz]

Yeah she has looked at that as well, the issue is there is nothing around here, the closest is Aldershot which is not viable as she doesn't drive.
The other option is to work for SECAMB as their call centre / dispatch centre is in Crawley.

Has she considered being a paramedic? There are different entry levels NETS (Non Apprenticeship), AAP (Apprenticeship), EMT Apprenticeship, which can lead to a Paramedic degree apprenticeship. Not sure if you need to have a driving licences. Good luck to her.

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

A few years ago my daughter started a midwifery degree. This unlike a lot of degrees was full time 9 to 5 5 days a week, 3 months classroom study then 3 months hands on in a hospital and so on, the hospital work was unpaid with minimal expenses, there was very little opportunity to earn money to pay for day to day living and travel expenses and in fact was actively advised against. She lived at home and commuted daily. Despite being top of the class, it was just too much and gave it up after less than a year. A degree is great but there should be other routes into nursing. Labour have just announced they are increasing the tuition fees, a step back from 2020 pledge to support getting rid of of fees.

What your daughter was doing in the hospital were placements. Not meant to be work but supervised learning on the job. It doesn’t always work like that, given the staff shortages.

There are other routes into nursing these days. Working as a care assistant and becoming a nurse apprentice is the most obvious. Days off work are given for class room study. It’s hard work but she would be paid as she qualified. That said I would much prefer bursaries to loans but in today’s economy cannot see that happening.

The increase in fees is the first in years, badly needed by the Universities and will be matched by an increased loan.

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

Yeah she has looked at that as well, the issue is there is nothing around here, the closest is Aldershot which is not viable as she doesn't drive.
The other option is to work for SECAMB as their call centre / dispatch centre is in Crawley.

Tell her to keep looking and asking. Some hospitals will make special arrangements for those who really want to do it. They need the care assistants and then the nurses. Go talk to recruitment, maybe start as a care assistant, get a ward manger on your side and push.

 

[Badger11]

Sky news Sunday Reeves very matter of factly admits she lied before election about tax

Sky have denied that they had a fireman on standby in case her underwear caught fire.

 

[Teddy Eagle]

Sky have denied that they had a fireman on standby in case her underwear caught fire.

To be fair Trevor Phillips is a good looking fellow.

 

[Apollofuzz]

What your daughter was doing in the hospital were placements. Not meant to be work but supervised learning on the job. It doesn’t always work like that, given the staff shortages.

There are other routes into nursing these days. Working as a care assistant and becoming a nurse apprentice is the most obvious. Days off work are given for class room study. It’s hard work but she would be paid as she qualified. That said I would much prefer bursaries to loans but in today’s economy cannot see that happening.

The increase in fees is the first in years, badly needed by the Universities and will be matched by an increased loan.

Whatever you wish to call it it was unpaid full time work, in fact she was paying for the privilege. I don't expect there are many Degree courses where you work don't get paid and study full time. Her student loan covered the course fees and train fare the rest coming from good old Mum of Dad. Because We were just above the threshold (and I mean just) to receive a full loan.

I don't dispute that the fees need to be increased, but it goes to show how easy it is to say one thing while in opposition and do something different when in power. I wonder how many more times we will hear the phrase "We had to make a difficult decision"

We need to invest in and promote more Apprenticeships. Earn while you learn, from recent experience these are few and far between.

Currently my two youngest are doing open University degrees, which allows the flexibility of working and studying (They will still end up with 20kish of debts). I route that I would encourage others to look at.

 

[Badger11]

Whatever you wish to call it it was unpaid full time work, in fact she was paying for the privilege. I don't expect there are many Degree courses where you work don't get paid and study full time. Her student loan covered the course fees and train fare the rest coming from good old Mum of Dad. Because We were just above the threshold (and I mean just) to receive a full loan.

I don't dispute that the fees need to be increased, but it goes to show how easy it is to say one thing while in opposition and do something different when in power. I wonder how many more times we will hear the phrase "We had to make a difficult decision"

We need to invest in and promote more Apprenticeships. Earn while you learn, from recent experience these are few and far between.

Currently my two youngest are doing open University degrees, which allows the flexibility of working and studying (They will still end up with 20kish of debts). I route that I would encourage others to look at.

Universities are complaining they need more money. They could of course offer better value for money to students. Many of their course can be reduced from 3 to 2 years if the students were offered more classes each week. Many of the lecturers are more interested in their personal projects than in teaching.

They could also cut back on courses that have little value educationally and career wise.

But no they would rather whine and complain they need more money.

 

[CrazyBadger]

Working for the frontline NHS right now is a thankless task. Overworked and underpaid. I know plenty for whom the job has simply broken them and they have been forced to leave.

But to fix it is going to be a task that is almost impossible. People seem to simply assume as it is free at point of delivery that it has no cost. A recently retired friend has volunteered helping to organise local clinics to kan the vulnerable. I was amazed when they said that around half the folks who have booked appointments simply don't bother to turn up.

That's what you get with Free Services. If it doesn't cost you anything to miss it, then you do not consider the consequences.
It's the same with restaurants, Those that do not require a deposit for bookings are subject to plenty of 'no-shows' which affects thier takings and puts their survival in jeopardy.

It's pure selfishness and incredibly inconsiderate. In the case of the Restaurant it's putting livelihoods in jeopardy, but in the case of the NHS it's putting people's lives at risk.

I'd welcome a Fines for those that don't turn up for appointments.