Winter morning walk

Val and I fitted in a quick walk out at Longshaw in the Peak District.  A little rain was coming and going in the brisk wind, but nothing to put us off. And we knew we could go and warm up in the National Trust cafe, anyway - which, of course, we did. In fact it's pretty mild today, around 10 degrees, though the wind makes it feel colder.  There was little time for photos, so today's is a quick grab shot of the winter trees.

Browsing online later, I saw that the BBC web pages have a postcode look-up feature where you can check some basic performance stats for your local health services.  If you can face doing that, of course.
 Our local health trust is not doing too badly relative to the wider UK picture.  But in comparison with its performance in the past, the decline in service levels is devastating.  I feel for the staff, whose stress levels will be terrible.  We already know that several hundred people a week - a week! - are dying because of this (across the UK). Those figures come from peer-reviewed BMA reports.  What will it take to get the govt to change course? To negotiate seriously with health unions, make the required investments, realise that healthcare is a social good and not a commodity? Sorry, it's hard not to rant.

Sheffield Hospitals NHS Trust

How often are ambulances queuing outside A&E?
Ambulances waiting 30 minutes or more to hand over their patients to A&E staff in the week starting 2 Jan. It should only take 15 minutes
This trust
37% of 779 arrivals.

England average: 36%
This trust in 2019:  9% of 984 arrivals

How many long A&E waits are there?
Patients waiting longer than the target time of four hours in December
This trust: 27% of 18,814 arrivals

England average: 40%
This trust in 2019: 17% of 19,661 arrivals

How many face long waits for treatment?
Patients waiting longer than the target time of 18 weeks for routine treatments in November
This trust
33% of 80,151 on the waiting list
England average: 41%
This trust in 2019
8% of 48,412 on the waiting list
Last updated: Thursday 12 January