Something worth marching on the streets . .

[NorthDrum]

Just a few things that I think there would generally universally agree on, some perhaps not. Obviously we will all march or strike for our own personal interests but hows about suggestions of what we could ALL agree that deserve attention that would make the country a better place -

-TD's and politician Salaries, including bonus's & Extra incentives for those who choose to work in a job they admit are "privaleged". These should be savagely cut. Cowan should be down to at least 200k, anybody on 200k should be down to 140k and reductions similar. 100k raised from Cowans reduction is equivilant to taxes raised from nearly 100 under paid employees in the workforce being hit by new taxes, It does make a differance. These are EXCEPTIONAL times, thats what we are told, well lets see exceptional changes. His pension will make sure he never has to live on bread and water . . . Perhaps we would then get politicians only interested in doing whats right for the country as opposed to looking for the very very very favourable perks the positions provide . .

-On top of this, all quango's and obvious flaws in public service (particularly those in the higher earning category of 150k +) should be scrutinised by an independent body. HSE should be stripped bear and re-established using Private practise principles to improve efficiency and get the best use out of the billions being wasted in this inneficient money pit.

-Bankers (dont need to name them) who are obviously at fault for serious fraud. Legislation should be changed to strip these guys of all their assets and throw them into prison (preferably change the laws so they can be sent to a mexican state penitentiary, letting them avail of the Pinata culture were they could find a new love interest and get some of the action they have been dishing out to us for years )

-Laws to protect law abiding citizens. Right now, the criminal has more rights then the average Joe. I think you should be allowed to defend yourself in your own home without the risk of getting sued (if a person breaks in). Gangland criminals need to be brought under reign . . An Untouchable kind of police service should be setup (sort of black ops) with powers to get these guys, with reasonable evidence (in all fairness some of them are so obviously corrupt we dont need courts to find them guilty, they laugh at us all in the media!!). Other laws need to be changed to protect the innocent (wont go through them all).

Im sure theres loads of other suggestions, just wondering if anybody else thought if there was something we could all agree to march for the greater good of the country. . .

 

[Complainer]

J
-On top of this, all quango's and obvious flaws in public service (particularly those in the higher earning category of 150k +) should be scrutinised by an independent body.

So we need a new quango - right?

JHSE should be stripped bear and re-established using Private practise principles to improve efficiency and get the best use out of the billions being wasted in this inneficient money pit.

Is there any evidence that private healthcare is more efficient than public?

But seriously, when are you having your march?

 

[Teatime]

March Smarch !

Too late for that my good man - it's time for revolution !!!!

Join with me. I promise that I could be the greatest dictator this country has ever had. Trust me. Follow me.

14th June, meet me at the gates of Leinster House at 3pm. Tell NOBODY about this except disgruntled revolutionaries. We'll have a wee chat and then storm the House at 3:25pm...the rest as they say is the future...

 

[NorthDrum]

So we need a new quango - right?


Is there any evidence that private healthcare is more efficient than public?

But seriously, when are you having your march?

No timetable planned for it yet.

Im not saying that a private healthcare system would necessarily solve the HSE, but at the moment anything is worth trying. The HSE is a complete and utter sham and a joke to the core. I have a client who has to deal with them on regular basis for several differant aspects of his company (that deals with people who need medical help full time) and he says a majority of the people he deals with he would let them answer his phone, let alone make decisions on peoples lives and where money should be allocated. Some of the storys on how the HSE is run (not having a go at the staff, its the whole system), would make you sick.

Nobody would march for the things I posted above because they would not directly assist individuals straight away in the manner in which they like "marching" events to have quick fixes for their grievances.

There will never be a revolution in this country again.

This country is simply a bunch of self indulged vested interest groups that happen to be native to the lands. They GENERALLY care nothing of their neighbour, while publically stating they are empathetic to their neighbours cause they whisper "rather them then me" or "Im not digging in to get others out of this mess, it aint my fault" in the shadows.

Romantic Ireland is dead and gone , its with O'Leary in the grave . . . .

 

[Complainer]

I'm not defending the HSE (who could) or suggesting that there is no role for private healthcare. I'm just suggesting that the Pavlovian response of 'privatise privatise privatise' doesn't stand up. We need evidence.

 

[Teatime]

HSE staff took 100,000 sick days in one month
(Irish Examiner)

A STARTLING 100,000 working days were lost in one month in the HSE due to absenteeism.

The unpublished HSE figures show the average absence rate for health service staff in January was 6.82% — almost double the private sector average.

The figure equates, on average, to just under a day per month per staff member, of which there are 113,000 in total. However, the average levels of non-attendance are eclipsed by some sections of individual hospitals and agencies, where absenteeism was far higher.

It is thought non-attendance at work costs the health services €150 million a year in replacement staff.

 

[NorthDrum]

I'm not defending the HSE (who could) or suggesting that there is no role for private healthcare. I'm just suggesting that the Pavlovian response of 'privatise privatise privatise' doesn't stand up. We need evidence.

My apologies.

Just re-read my OP. I mean to say the HSE should be run like a Private company (not necessarily privatised). As Teatime said the wastage in this industry is astonishing (didnt know it was that big), but in other areas , because there are no proper structures (and nobody willing to take responsibility for decisions) it needs an overhaul.

 

[BoscoTalking]

HSE staff took 100,000 sick days in one month
(Irish Examiner)

A STARTLING 100,000 working days were lost in one month in the HSE due to absenteeism.

Ah we all know that is an ongoing issue the employer will not address.

I would love to see a study into presenteeism in the HSE! folks turning up to work unwell unable to work or unwilling to put in an honest days work, chatting at work stations, missing in action or retired in post (RIP)... that would be interesting reading

 

[Gordanus]

When you work with sick patients, they are generally vulnerable to infection.

When you work with sick patients, you are liable to pick up infections.

I once worked closely (clinically) with a viral meningitis patient. Through some administrative cock up, I was never given the vaccination against it. At 6pm on the afternoon shift, having gone to tea in the canteen with other staff, I started vomiting uncontrollably. Embarrassment was my main concern. I was sent off home in a taxi. Went to bed, was freezing and put two duvets on. When my OH got home my teeth were chattering and I asked him to find more blankets. Turned out I had a temp of 40. I was too sick to realise I was sick. Off work for a week and very releaved it wasn't meningitis - unknown virus.

Another hospital, working in catering, was very young at the time. Woke up with a weird rash on my arms. Went in for the 6.30am shift and there were only 2 of us there. I showed the cook my arms but as I felt ok - and we were short staffed - she told me to stay. Went to doctor when shift ended. Diagnosed with German measles......

Hospital 3: fed up with continuous short staffing, we decided to work-to-rule and to just work with emergency levels of cover. Found out that Emergency Cover required more staff than we had ..............

 

[NorthDrum]

When you work with sick patients, they are generally vulnerable to infection.

When you work with sick patients, you are liable to pick up infections.

I once worked closely (clinically) with a viral meningitis patient. Through some administrative cock up, I was never given the vaccination against it. At 6pm on the afternoon shift, having gone to tea in the canteen with other staff, I started vomiting uncontrollably. Embarrassment was my main concern. I was sent off home in a taxi. Went to bed, was freezing and put two duvets on. When my OH got home my teeth were chattering and I asked him to find more blankets. Turned out I had a temp of 40. I was too sick to realise I was sick. Off work for a week and very releaved it wasn't meningitis - unknown virus.

Another hospital, working in catering, was very young at the time. Woke up with a weird rash on my arms. Went in for the 6.30am shift and there were only 2 of us there. I showed the cook my arms but as I felt ok - and we were short staffed - she told me to stay. Went to doctor when shift ended. Diagnosed with German measles......

Hospital 3: fed up with continuous short staffing, we decided to work-to-rule and to just work with emergency levels of cover. Found out that Emergency Cover required more staff than we had ..............

In all fairness, your example would be considered the exception rather then the rule. Like in every industry there are the hard workers, those who take advantage of poor work practises and those in between.

Generally its seen in some industrys that the answer to certain inneficiencies is to throw more employees at the problem. An efficient, smooth running company would work on improving productivity and getting more out of its existing labour force (not necessarily by working them harder ,but by implementing administration practises that benefit the company and the employee).

Nobody will convince me that the HSE is efficiently run even closely to a decent level. These are always the problems in getting things in Public service improved because some of the numpties who advise the government on differant efficiencies and policies are the ones sucking productivity from the industry. Those working on the lower wages (not all, but a majority) are not the decision makers and are the ones that feel the bite of change the most. These are left defending their jobs, wages or positions while the incompetent fools that make most of the decisions (or really the ones that actually wont make them!!!) are left in their ivory towers allocating what little resources in a manner that resembles a child with somebody elses money (doesnt matter how much or little they have, they still find a place to waste it).

Im not suggesting that ALL upper earners in Public service are incompetent fools, but many of them are working with systems and practises that are completely and utterly useless, which in turns encourages them to waste public money (and justifys some peoples jobs!).

And for the record, anybody working in the HSE should not take this as an attack on all its workers. As drones, we are all slaves to the system and tools that we are provided in employment. If our company is poorly run, its not necessarily a reflection of the hard work individuals put in more the manner in which management implements long term proposals. Unfortunatley managements (call it harney or upper civil servants) overall plan is completely farcial and rotten to the core. One of my two dogs (the dumber one) could run the HSE better, like some in politics he chases his tail alot so he would fit in nicely . .