'Alarm bells are ringing in the NHS — as gran faced 30-hour wait in A&E'

'Alarm bells are ringing in the NHS — as gran faced 30-hour wait in A&E' Shocking cases like Joan Jones’s lay bare the human cost of the pressures facing the health service after years of Tory mismanagement, as extreme heat in the summer adds to strain Watching a loved one wait hours in agony in A&E is the stuff of nightmares. Alarm bells should be blaring in the NHS over the appalling case of 86-year-old Joan Jones, who was left “rolling over in pain” in 30 hours she spent waiting to be admitted at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan. NHS waiting times are presented as figures on a spreadsheet but behind every number is a person, who is in pain and often terrified as they wait for treatment. Shocking cases like Joan’s lay bare the human cost of the pressures facing the health service after years of Tory mismanagement. Squeezed funding, staff shortages and decades of failure to fix social care have put the NHS under intolerable strain. Demand is now rocketing in the summer as well as winter due to extreme heat, giving the NHS no respite. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper made a welcome commitment of £140million for urgent care at the weekend but she acknowledged that this winter will be even more challenging than normal after such a heavy summer. Andy Burnham appears to be ready to grip the intractable issue of social care reform — which will free up beds. But patients like Joan can’t afford to wait. Calling time on fire and rehire Ministers are finally calling time on bad bosses firing and rehiring workers on worse terms. Whether the final aim of employers is to cut pay or slash holiday entitlement, the abysmal practice sounds like it belongs in the Victorian-era not the 21st century. Unions have long battled for the change and Labour promised the move in the 2024 election. In March next year — albeit with a short delay confirmed on Thursday — "unscrupulous" fire and rehire practices will be restricted. It is just one measure contained in the landmark Employment Rights Act brought in by this Labour government to boost workers' rights. It is one The Mirror champions. Cash in the attic It was an extraordinary case of cash in the attic for one Pokémon fan. The anonymous collector became an overnight millionaire after his haul of mint condition cards sold for a staggering £1.56million at auction. The collection had been gathering dust after his son lost interest in the game. Bet he's glad his dad held onto them.