Charge for NHS services

I agree with retired orthopaedic surgeon Malcolm Morrison (SA, August 12).

I have worked for the NHS for 41 years (qualified as a Nurse in 1983) including throughout the Pandemic!

To improve our NHS and satisfy the huge expectations of all who use it, will require a massive shift in financial input and management of those finances.

It is imperative those finances can be used to help retain staff who have years of valuable experience. Staffing in acute settings and the community is currently stretched to capacity. We must also consider our staff of tomorrow, make Medicine and Nursing sought-after careers again.

We need to prioritise and reduce the demand on emergency/urgent care by resourcing services away from Hospital sites. Primary and Community care have suffered so much in recent years with a knock-on effect on GWH (reducing the services, beds and care that can be provided).

It is time to charge each and every one of us for services, starting with missed appointments and equipment never returned. An example: crutches, which generally end up on landfill after a single person use.

Mr Morrison stated our NHS requires: Review of the structure....yes I agree, Review of the funding....yes I agree, Review of the function....yes I agree.

Sue Scott

ENP

GWH

Issue of dementia must be a priority for new PM

A change of leadership must not mean any change in commitment to the estimated 92,510 people with dementia and their families in the South West. Alzheimer’s Society wants the remaining two candidates to commit to making dementia a priority for their new government.

Since the 2019 general election, the Conservative government has committed to double research funding through a ‘Dementia Moonshot’ and reform social care, putting people living with dementia in control of their care and reducing the amount they pay for it.

Earlier this year the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced a visionary ten-year plan for dementia, backed by proper funding, which could be truly transformational for the 900,000 people living with the condition in the UK.

We need to offer hope for everyone affected by dementia – urgent action and investment is needed to deliver on all these commitments. Our next Prime Minister must implement these life-changing reforms.

Benjamin Dellow

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Alzheimer’s Society Regional Public Affairs and Campaigns Officer