Simon and Sarah Sinclair with son Benjamin, aged 20 months(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

People in Newcastle have their say on how to fix the NHS as Government launches new consultation

by · ChronicleLive

Reform of the dental industry, more GP appointments and shorter waits for test results were some of the ways people in Newcastle said the NHS could be fixed.

On Tuesday, Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced the launch of a public forum, allowing the public to come forward with ideas on how to fix the NHS. Although some ideas were clearly tongue in cheek, such as having a Wetherspoon pub in every hospital, many people have been keen to share their thoughts on how things can be improved.

Steven, who is a solicitor and originally from Low Fell(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

ChronicleLive went out onto the streets of Newcastle close to the Royal Victoria Infirmary to get different perspectives.

Steven, who is a solicitor and originally from Low Fell, praised the workers in the NHS, calling them brilliant and arguing that they are underpaid, but was highly critical of other aspects.

"Admin and management of the NHS is terrible, the technology is terrible. I think it needs redesigning from the ground up.

"The Government is saying they’re going to sort it out, but it’s one of those things that you can’t sort out immediately. They need to improve social care, there needs to be a lot more prevention rather than treatment."

Steven, whose dad used to be a consultant in the NHS, added: "For example a couple of weeks ago I had a Covid and flu jab through the NHS which I booked after clicking the link from the text I got. I went to the pharmacy, but the form I had been asked to fill in had been duplicated so much that you couldn’t see what each box was for. The guy came and took me in and said not to worry about it and he could do it on the computer. He then told me he had all my details for the Covid jab, but not the flu.

"Why is it not all on the same system? He has then wasted time putting in my details, when all he had to do was find the Covid jab and tick a box saying flu. If he is having to do that for every patient then that’s millions and millions of pounds being wasted and fewer people a day being seen by a doctor."

Another woman, who did not want to be named, had travelled from Sunderland to the Dental Hospital in Newcastle, and said a reform of dentistry was absolutely needed to fix the NHS.

"I have to come from Sunderland every month, which takes about 45 minutes on the bus. I can’t get an NHS dentist, I’ve got COPD, arthritis, bad lungs and I should be getting it but I can’t.

"There needs to be a big reform of the dental industry. There’s a dentist round the corner from where I live but they don’t take NHS patients."

Toby Ellis, who is a student, said GPs need to have more availability(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Toby Ellis, who is a student, argued that there needs to be more availability to see GPs and waiting times need to be fixed.

But other people believe the NHS is functioning well and doesn't need a big fix, based on their experiences.

Simon and Sarah Sinclair, pictured with 20-month-old son Benjamin, were full of praise for the NHS. Simon said: "We’ve had really good care at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. Some of the bureaucracy could be sped up at times, other than that his (Benjamin) care has been brilliant." He added that waiting times for results could be faster, but said he could not fault the care his son had been given by the NHS.

Sue Burnip said the care she received three years ago after her knee replacement was "exceptional"(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Sue Burnip was also full of praise for the NHS. She said: "I had a knee replacement three years ago and the care was exceptional. Sometimes it’s hard to see a GP, but you can ring and have over-the-phone appointments, but I can’t fault the NHS. I think it’s very good."

Members of the public, as well as NHS staff and experts, will be invited to share their experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS via the Change NHS online platform, which will be live until the start of next year, and available via the NHS App.

The Government say the public engagement exercise will help shape its 10 Year Health Plan which will be published in spring 2025.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: "Whether you use the NHS or work in it, you see first-hand what’s great, but also what isn’t working. We need your ideas to help turn the NHS around.

"In order to save the things we love about the NHS, we need to change it. Our 10 Year Health Plan will transform the NHS to make it fit for the future, and it will have patients’ and staff’s fingerprints all over it. I urge everyone to go to change.nhs.uk today and help us build a health service fit for the future."

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