dazza333

Sounds a bit like your leader Bob Matthews canvassing trick, knocking on doors and allegedly telling voters that I've been struck off as a nurse and that Im banned from all National Trust property......He, allegedly, ran a proper smear campaign against myself and IOC. However, I don't go down the route of ad hominem and as such my dignity is intact.

Is that fair when many of them were voted in "because I knew the name" rather than what they stand for or their knowledge base or even what they can do for their community?, I've come across this alot, its amazed me who got in and who got dumped out!

Well Glenda I'm sure that's up to him how he conducts himself as the elected councillor. I'm afraid you and I have no say in that and must sit on our hands.

Glenda, with respect, I'm sure Chris Chappell "shouldn't be taking advice from an unelected person"...your words not mine, as such and as the elected councillor, unlike yourself, I'd suggest you let him take his own council and advice as he sees fit.

Well Glenda Vaughan-Powell, how shockingly small minded of you to have attacked Chris Chappell in this manner. Suggesting that Chris is wrong to take advice from non-elected persons is a statement that stinks of snobbery and ignorance. No wonder you were voted out. As a current senior health care professional and visiting university lecturer I take good advice from where ever I can find current relevant, evidence based material, not from 'elected councillors'. I don't know Chris but Id much sooner have an elected councillor who asks for good advice than one who makes it up as they go along. Bravo Chris Chappell.

Hiya Chris, good to see you're on the health scrutiny committee. Inbox me if you need assistance. Certainly don't mind open debate and questions on here either though because there appears to be a myriad of sharp, analytical minds prevalent.

If the NHS is privatised by stealth many will be left behind and that will be a tragedy. That said there may come a time when difficult decisions will have to be made and your right it's not just agency staff... no it will be the pension bill that will ultimately cripple it. I agree with what you're saying Greenknight but please allow me to play Devils Advocate. Why would privatisation be such a bad thing? At least we would have transparency and see fewer Stafford's or Morecombe Bays because as non Government institutions surely there would be greater transparency rather than cover ups and fudging of figures. And the Government would be more inclined to investigate problem hospitals as they have no financial interest in it. I do think that we are being privatised by stealth slowly but surely though. Is it Hinchinbrook NHS Trust that is or was run by Jesse Norman's alleged friends at Circle?

Yep Adrian, your not wrong...cut cut cuts galore, lots of higher earning job posts disappearing fast replaced by lots of basic rate jobs. Poverty galore whilst the well off thrive.

I've seen it all before and can write the script; ill informed Herefordshire Councillors will listen to rumour that agency nurses should be stopped due to expense - Richard Bekken stops agency spending - hospital becomes dangerous (or more so than now)- Bekken hits panic button and spends loads on agency nurses.....cyclical cobblers

*per

As for overseas nurses, the Philippines purposely have THE most Nursing Schools of and country pet population because the exported trained nurses bring back/send back valuable wealth into the Philippines. They have a production line of nurses ready to export.

We are still suffering from the fallout from Labours' 1997 Government with the extremely expensive PFI hospitals which does not allow enough funding to staff them adequately, neither were we adequately prepared for the 'Aging Population' to become ill and infirm. Herefordshire boasts 1 in 3 persons of pensionable age, these older persons usually have complex healthcare needs at some point but what did we do? Build a smaller hospital! How very clever and informed.

Yes we are aware of this as students Greenknight but we still need to know the facts and with agency nurses they are generally the better and sometimes if not mostly the cheaper option for NHS Trusts and Private facilities alike; Use only when needed ie, winter pressures, no pension to pay, no training to fund, no holiday or sick pay to pay etc etc. A flexible workforce is invaluable for an ever shifting healthcare environment.