Article

2011-01-16 Britain

UK Hospitals Gridlocked Over Swine Flu Outbreak

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-01-16 04:47|| || Front Page|| [11128 views ] Top

#1 Fair warning, again. Both the UK and US medical systems operate under the "push" inventory method, so they have almost no reserves of anything, and actively try to eliminate reserves when they occur.

They make up for any small shortages by having a loan repurchase agreement with other regional hospitals, so if say one hospital comes up short, because they need a dozen more of a particular piece of equipment, then they get spares from neighboring hospitals with some idle units.

But the system collapses when there is a big demand in an entire region.

About the only organizations that keep reserves are the military and the Red Cross, so the assumption is that they "will come to the rescue" is the medical system is overwhelmed in the US. But the Brits do not have this luxury.

Posted by Anonymoose 2011-01-16 09:03|| 2011-01-16 09:03|| Front Page Top

#2 Wow, a flu outbreak in the winter - that's got to be totally unexpected.

Posted by SteveS 2011-01-16 09:12|| 2011-01-16 09:12|| Front Page Top

#3 And SteveS takes the lead for Snark o' the Day™ award... :-D

Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2011-01-16 10:20|| 2011-01-16 10:20|| Front Page Top

#4 Any bets they were using the CRU/Met global warming forecast of a milder season?

Posted by Procopius2k 2011-01-16 10:39|| 2011-01-16 10:39|| Front Page Top

#5 A few days ago I read that the population of wild Pigs was exploding in Britian, Looks like nature's checks and balances in operation.

Pigs, having NO hospitals will die back.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2011-01-16 14:58|| 2011-01-16 14:58|| Front Page Top

#6 RJ: According to the Deutscher Jagdschutz Verband (German Hunting Association), 477,494 wild boars were shot during the 2007 and 2008 season, 36 percent above the average of the previous 19 seasons.

Their numbers are growing by leaps and bounds in France and Poland as well.

Posted by Anonymoose 2011-01-16 15:49|| 2011-01-16 15:49|| Front Page Top

#7 My money is on the pigs. Not having their own NHS just increases the odds in their favor.

Posted by SteveS 2011-01-16 16:46|| 2011-01-16 16:46|| Front Page Top

#8 I think SteveS is going for the Daily Double :-)

Posted by Steve White 2011-01-16 17:49|| 2011-01-16 17:49|| Front Page Top

#9 Anonymoose is correct. Inventories are no longer maintained or at very low levels. Next day delivery is the rule and terms are pay as soon as possible.
Same thing is happening in many other industries. Car parts- same thing next day. Even for shops that do repair work. Prescriptions same thing. Very little shelf stock. They don't want to tie up their money. Grocery stores are going in this direction also.

Posted by Dale 2011-01-16 17:55|| 2011-01-16 17:55|| Front Page Top

#10 If SteveS is allowed to continue posting I suggest you take out liability insurance. I almost had a heart attack laughing so loud (and long) at that last one. 8^) to the 100th power.

Posted by Alan Cramer 2011-01-16 20:13|| 2011-01-16 20:13|| Front Page Top

#11 he's good, never underestimate the AOS's

Posted by Frank G 2011-01-16 20:36|| 2011-01-16 20:36|| Front Page Top

23:44 chris
23:29 Barbara Skolaut
22:40 Pappy
22:15 trailing wife
22:12 swksvolFF
22:08 newc
22:07 trailing wife
21:54 Frank G
21:53 swksvolFF
21:20 Anguper Hupomosing9418
21:07 Anguper Hupomosing9418
21:01 Dale
20:50 Anonymoose
20:48 Anonymoose
20:36 Frank G
20:13 Alan Cramer
20:07 Alan Cramer
19:52 Skidmark
19:50 Frank G
19:40 Frank G
19:40 USN,Ret
19:36 gorb
19:30 gorb
19:26 Frank G