NHS Cuts and underfunding
Reduced critical care beds
The NHS is underfunded. The Government says that we can’t afford more, but we know that this underfunding is a political choice – along with the subsequent cuts, closures, lengthening waiting lists and demoralisation of staff.
The reality is that the UK, the worlds sixth largest economy, chooses to spend significantly less per head on health than Germany or France – and less than half what is spent in the US or Switzerland.
Unbelievable but shockingly true; the number of critical care beds/100,000 people:
U.K. 7.3
Germany 33.8
United States 34.3
More recently:
The pandemic did not help, nor did Brexit…. but the real culprit is the continuing Tory austerity-led poverty together with 13 years of starvation NHS funding.
Comparative public spending in five European countries, 1980 – 2024
This graph (Prof Danny Dorling, in “Public Sector Focus”) shows the UK consistently spends the smallest % of GDP on public services…..we are the red line bumping along the bottom. Yet people keep voting Tory….
Nursing and medical Staffing Crises
In primary and secondary care, there are currently 2.8 doctors per 1000 people in England, while the average in comparable OECD EU countries is 3.7. If the rate of medical workforce growth remains the same, it will take until 2046 before the NHS has the number of practicing doctors needed to match that average. That puts us 25 years behind where we should be today”. BMA (13th July 2021) Medical staffing in England
…..and the need for INCREASED funding
The data below relates to 2010 – 14 and demonstrates the need to invest MORE, not less, in the NHS.
See article in Financial Times (17th November 2022) UK health spending over past decade lags behind Europe by £40bn a year
Reduced cash, reduced staffing, reduced NHS beds, reduced ongoing social care …. all obviously have an impact on emergency care:
The Guardian (14th November 2021) NHS patients dying in back of ambulances stuck outside A&E, report says
FIGHTING TO SAVE VITAL HOSPITAL SERVICES IN SOUTH TYNESIDE:
Update from Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign:
These cuts are not in our name with over 44,000 signing our petition. It is our hospital and our NHS and we should be able to retain and restore the vital acute and community health services that we all need.
The Chronicle (14th September 2021) ‘Staff pressures’ blamed as South Tyneside Hospital temporarily sends expectant mums to Sunderland
Shields Gazette (30th July 2021) Save South Tyneside Hospital campaigners turn out in rain to protest against ‘downgrading’ of children’s A&E
CONTACTS:
Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign website: http://www.savesouthtynesidehospital.org
Chair: Roger Nettleship (roger.nettleship@blueyonder.co.uk)
facebook: SaveSouthTynesideHospital
Twitter: @SaveSTHospital
Phone: 07963 506 451
Further cuts to our NHS: Prescription charges
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