10,000 hospital appointments cancelled in NI

[Eldorado]

"Patients are facing a week of disruption, with more than 10,000 outpatient appointments and surgeries cancelled in Belfast.

"Some people referred by their GPs on suspicion of cancer could have their diagnosis delayed, the head of the Belfast Trust has said.

"The trust apologised, blaming industrial action on pay and staffing."

Full report at the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-50621780

 

"Hospitals are bracing themselves for serious disruption this week, with two trade unions set to take industrial action over pay and staffing levels.

The Health and Social Care Board has said it anticipates "significant disruption to services".

Unison members, including nurses, ambulance staff, clerical workers and social care employees, are continuing their industrial action with strikes today, tomorrow and Thursday."

Full report at the Irish News: https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2019/12/02/news/warning-of-significant-disruption-to-health-services-ahead-of-strikes-1779632/

[+Desertrat56]

Once again the patients suffer for the adminstrative idiocy of hospitals.  It happens all over the 1st world.

[ethereal_scout]

Is the right to strike protected in law? It would only after they've been fired, been crawling around in a grass field learning to eat would they then appreciate that a job is a privilege. 

[+Desertrat56]

9 minutes ago, ethereal_scout said:

Is the right to strike protected in law? It would only after they've been fired, been crawling around in a grass field learning to eat would they then appreciate that a job is a privilege. 

Is it really a privilege to be able to support yourself and your family?  I think it is a right and hospital personnel are highly trained and should be treated as important employees rather than exploited.  You must not need a job, did you choose the dole or what ever it is called when you were 16, instead of being trained or educated to support the system that supports you?

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

13 hours ago, ethereal_scout said:

Is the right to strike protected in law? It would only after they've been fired, been crawling around in a grass field learning to eat would they then appreciate that a job is a privilege. 

YAY SERFDOM! HURRAH FOR WAGE SLAVERY!

[+and-then]

14 hours ago, ethereal_scout said:

Is the right to strike protected in law? It would only after they've been fired, been crawling around in a grass field learning to eat would they then appreciate that a job is a privilege. 

I don't know about British law on the subject but over here, healthcare workers generally are to union members and do not strike for better wages or benefits.  Once the "Progressives" convince enough young people to accept Nationalized healthcare that will probably change.  FWIW, I worked in that field for nearly 2 decades and my opinion is that many jobs may be considered a privilege but the work that nurses and ancillary healthcare workers do is hard, nasty and very demanding.  It has a tendency to burn people out emotionally and physically and if the wages are so low that good people can't afford to make ends meet then the "not so good" will take their places in time.  It all gets back to government/politicians selling the idea that it's "free" and is a right, not a service that must be paid for like all others.  That is simply a lie and soon enough the people who vote for it will learn the truth.  Much too late to change course though.