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lettie · 19-08-2006, 09:08

Our new Royal Blackburn has been funded by PFI. The maintenence costs are appalling, I have just been quoted £23 to have one phillips type screw removed from a wall mounted appliance which we no longer need. That's right....... £23 to remove 1 screw!!!!!!! I have thrown away the quote and will keep our appliance where it is.

Many PFI funded hospitals such as ours were already struggling with millions worth of debt. Not only do we have to claw back this debt but now we have to pay PFI for the cost of the new build. This can only be achieved by cutting back in certain areas. The govt and powers that be claim that this will not affect patient care, but it already is.. The wards are so short staffed and short of essential equipment that we are finding it difficult to do our jobs. The reduced nursing and midwifery staff are struggling to give people basic care because there are too many patients and not enough nurses. This has been a problem for a long time but has recently become worse. A few of my colleagues are so disillusioned that they have taken up jobs abroad and given their notice. One left yesterday and there are 3 more leaving from an already overstretched workforce. These people are not being replaced.......

I cannot give you the political arguments for or against PFI, I can only tell you what it is like on the shop floor and believe me........It aint good. I have worked in nursing and midwifery for 19 years and I love my job. I trained in Blackburn and have always worked locally. I am not renowned at work for being a moaner but am now seriously considering emigrating to New Zealand where, although the pay is not as good as here, the benefits of having the staff and equipment to allow me to do the job I love properly are very appealing.

The Kiwis think that they are short staffed. My friend works on a post natal ward in Auckland where there are 6 midwives per shift and 2 support staff looking after 24 mums and babies. Here, there are 2 midwives (3 on a good day) looking after 22 mums and babies. We do not have support staff on all shifts. Many of our mums have had C Sections and many of our babies are premature or of low birth weight and need extra care. We are absolutely flogged and then people wonder why we leave. I know for a fact that the general wards are just as short staffed as we are.

19-08-2006, 09:08	#8
lettie Filthy / Gorgeous Bejeweled Blitz Champion! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Xanadu Posts: 4,005 Blog Entries: 337 Liked: 67 times Rep Power: 88670	Re: Private Finance Initiative Our new Royal Blackburn has been funded by PFI. The maintenence costs are appalling, I have just been quoted £23 to have one phillips type screw removed from a wall mounted appliance which we no longer need. That's right....... £23 to remove 1 screw!!!!!!! I have thrown away the quote and will keep our appliance where it is. Many PFI funded hospitals such as ours were already struggling with millions worth of debt. Not only do we have to claw back this debt but now we have to pay PFI for the cost of the new build. This can only be achieved by cutting back in certain areas. The govt and powers that be claim that this will not affect patient care, but it already is.. The wards are so short staffed and short of essential equipment that we are finding it difficult to do our jobs. The reduced nursing and midwifery staff are struggling to give people basic care because there are too many patients and not enough nurses. This has been a problem for a long time but has recently become worse. A few of my colleagues are so disillusioned that they have taken up jobs abroad and given their notice. One left yesterday and there are 3 more leaving from an already overstretched workforce. These people are not being replaced....... I cannot give you the political arguments for or against PFI, I can only tell you what it is like on the shop floor and believe me........It aint good. I have worked in nursing and midwifery for 19 years and I love my job. I trained in Blackburn and have always worked locally. I am not renowned at work for being a moaner but am now seriously considering emigrating to New Zealand where, although the pay is not as good as here, the benefits of having the staff and equipment to allow me to do the job I love properly are very appealing. The Kiwis think that they are short staffed. My friend works on a post natal ward in Auckland where there are 6 midwives per shift and 2 support staff looking after 24 mums and babies. Here, there are 2 midwives (3 on a good day) looking after 22 mums and babies. We do not have support staff on all shifts. Many of our mums have had C Sections and many of our babies are premature or of low birth weight and need extra care. We are absolutely flogged and then people wonder why we leave. I know for a fact that the general wards are just as short staffed as we are. __________________ Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid altogether. The views expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of my family, friends, employer, this site, my neighbours, hairdresser, dentist, GP, next door's dog or anyone else who knows me..