State of the nation

In this opening post of several I wish to lay out an overview before progressing to more specifics in future posts in this thread.

Irrespective of the politics of any of us I have long been dismayed at the state this country is in.
Every part of the social system is to my mind utterly dysfunctional and not fit for purpose.
The NHS, the education system, the benefits system, HMRC, the passport office, public transport, pensions, social care and lots more.
All cursed with systemic failings.

The result is that people's lives are becoming an increasing misery. Before I elaborate it should be stressed that for all the difficulties the people and governing administrations of these isles face there are places in the world considerably worse off than ourselves.
For the ordinary Joe or Jill however this is of little comfort even if the sympathy for those in a worse plight is very much evident.
So what of the lives of the ordinary folk.
In the various lines of work of myself and my now retired father I have obtained a good deal of perspective about the challenges, problems, obstacles and heartache people face on a daily basis.
It pains me as much as it ever did to see people struggling so much.
Their morale through the floorboards, their sense of hope virtually gone.
Patience worn, belief in the system sapped beyond all human comprehension.
The idea that so much and so many let them down is all consuming.

People want fairness, consistency, transparency but above all that they want the system to work cohesively and for the mutual benefit of all.
In the professional and personal capacity of so many folk it has become apparent that there are three things valued above all else.
Time.
Resource.
Money.
All three are inextricably linked by virtue of reason and consequence.
I hear time and time again of human struggle on the basis of a lack of all three.
Nobody has the time to do what they want and need to do with the sufficient degree of quality and attention to detail required to achieve the objectives to a high level. Everyone running around like demented loonies trying to do a thousand things at once. Ending up chasing their own tail.
And why?
Because there is not the quantity or quality of resource available to perform tasks with the required and desired speed, accuracy, diligence and quality. Whether that resource be human, technological or otherwise.
And why is the resource not there?
Because there is not the money to fund it.
Not enough time, not enough resource, not enough money.

People frantically plotting their way around the vicious circle of life that sees them doomed to failure even before they attempt to create a positive outcome in almost any part of their lives.

And in return the government reply?
You all need to exist within your means and make efficiency savings.
As if either government departments or individuals in poverty can do anymore .
The need to face cold, hard and brutal reality has never been clearer.

So to one example of the failed system.

The NHS.
Vital to stress that this is not the fault of medical staff within.

Stage one: Joe Bloggs is rather unwell and wants to see a doctor.
Phones up surgery only to be told there are no appointments available for days or even weeks.

Stage two: Rings 111. Told he needs to book appointment to see doctor.
Back to square one as no appointments available.

Stage three: Joe tries to ride out the storm but his condition worsens.
Tried to call surgery again. Still no appointments.

Stage four: Joe is on benefits and struggling financially so cannot afford a taxi to get to hospital and is in an area with poor bus links.
He calls for an ambulance.
Ambulance wait times are long and he is not deemed to be a priority case.
He ends up waiting 4 hours during which time his condition worsens.

Stage five: Ambulance arrives, Joe in real distress is treated on site then taken to hospital.

Stage six: Ambulance reaches A & E only to be greeted by a queue of ambulances awaiting clearance to formally admit patients due to there being no bed capacity.

Stage seven: After a few hours further wait Joe is admitted but only on to a trolley initially as there are still no beds.

Stage eight: Joe finally is allocated a bed but then waits further to see a clinician.

It is said 500 people a week are dying because they have to wait for treatment from the NHS. Back in 2010 the NHS had the highest satisfaction rating ever, but thanks to David Cameron and austerity ( which is just a polite term for euthanasia for the poor and sick) we now have A & E departments looking like third world War zones.