Dear Mr Cameron,
So I'm guessing today was a big day for you, I mean, you won. After months of campaigning and telling the general public that you are going to do this and that to improve their lives, it all boiled down to today, and that great for you, and the the rich people of the UK, but what about the rest of us? And what about the NHS? The same NHS that cared for your son and your family, you know, the NHS that, quite frankly, you don't seem to give a shit about.
In the past 5 years, own healthcare system has fallen to its knees, it has been torn apart, trodden on, sold off and ripped to shreds by you and your mates. But you know that don't you, Mr Cameron? You know that because you have allowed it to happen, encouraged it even. But let's delve deeper, let's take a look at the care that is being provided to patients with mental health issues. Because let's be honest here David, someone needs to. And that begs the question, could our nationwide mental health crisis actually get any worse right now? I'm guessing we will find that out in the next 5 years, but it isn't looking good.
1 in 4, Mr Cameron. 1 in 4 people of your country will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lifetime. The most logical thing to do? Invest in the services that help individuals with mental health issues recover, to allow our patients to go back to being mums, dads, sisters, brothers, police officers, firefighters, teachers...need I go on? But what seems to be happening? Cuts, cuts and more cuts. Mental health doesn't discriminate, Dave, it affects anyone. You, your wife, your two children, scary to think that if one of your family members had a mental health issue and needed help, your cuts could mean they are turned away and told to wait 6 weeks because there just aren't enough beds. It happens far too frequently already, what is it going to be like after another 5 years of conservative power?
It's scary. And I know those two words echo the thoughts of thousands of people who work in the area all over the uk. It is terrifying. Terrifying to know that after 20 years of service to healthcare, Jo might not have a job next week. Terrifying to know that in a mental health emergency, James could be turned away due to lack of funding. Terrifying to think that Beth took her own life after being put on that waiting list because she simply could not cope anymore. Too many people are falling through the cracks of a broken care system. These are our families, friends, neighbours, community, they are the ones who put their trust in to you to run their country, don't they deserve a little more respect?
As student nurses, we are a class of 30 and full of enthusiasm, we want to change the system, we want to better the lives of our patients. Do you know how difficult it is to be enthusiastic when we don't even know if we will be able to get a job at the end of our course? And if we can get a job, we are going in to a failing system, Mr Cameron. Do you understand how draining that is? Of course you don't.
So do this for us, do this for your country, take a look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself what we can do to make this work.
Yours sincerely
NHS staff, 1 in 4, your country.
