OK, here’s a clue to what’s coming– I unearthed this today
although it was published on Friday 5/7/13.
I had to do some checking first – it’s written by a ‘David
Nicholson’ and is in The Guardian newpapers ‘Comment is Free’ section of their
website, so he might have been any David Nicholson. He could have been a ‘Dave
Nicholson’. Or ‘Davey’.
Actually it is the
‘Sir’ David Nicholson - he must have been adopting his ‘man of the people’
disguise for the Guardian readers. The quotes are in italics, my sour comments
are in bigtype;
The NHS
must adapt if it is to survive another 65 years
Responding
to massive cultural changes is key to the NHS's future – but putting patients
first must remain at its core
David
Nicholson
Blah, Blah, Blah…
healthcare
system that is free to everyone at the point of delivery, based on clinical
need, not ability to pay.
Meaningless platitudes…
The world
moves on and all institutions must adapt to survive.
Excuses…
We are
caring for a growing number of patients, and their needs are changing as more
people live longer, many with long-term conditions. Our budget will not keep
pace with rising demand
It’s all your fault really…
the
expectations of our patients are changing
No, what I meant to say was that it was the health workers fault
as well…
We must
ensure that in every part of the NHS we have a culture that puts patients first
– no ifs and no buts
Luckily, none of it was my fault…
thousands
of words have been written about the public inquiry into the tragedy at Mid-Staffordshire
NHS Foundation Trust. But at the heart of the report was a simple idea: listen
to patients and do something about what they tell you.
This is where the B/S/ begins…
Patient
power must drive the NHS of the future.
Perhaps this wasn’t the best example …
Look at how
the banking and retail industries have modernised by investing in involving
their customers.
They went bankrupt and we had to spend billions to bail them
out…
We can do something similar.
It’s a D.I.Y. internet only, can’t find a human, call centre
in Nepal, computer says no, no one gives a d@#n world..
We can
build an NHS in which patients not only help manage their treatment, they take
more responsibility for their records, booking appointments, and organising
what happens.
If you think its bad now…
That could
truly transform the relationship between the NHS, patients and communities.
Then again, as all the Banks are bankrupt perhaps its not
such a bad analogy….
Around the
world, countries are responding differently to the age of financial austerity
and the rising costs of healthcare. In this country we have said: we are not
going to reduce what we offer, we are not going to compromise on care being
free at point-of-use, and we are not going to invest more money. So the way to
square the circle is to redesign services.
No, of course that’s impossible so…
But as a
nation we have a poor record at making this change happen. Too often, legitimate
but competing interests collide to create inertia, which means patients do not
get the care they should.
The government is wonderful… I agree with everything my
bosses say….
We should
recognise the commitment of the government to the NHS and its continued protection
of the NHS budget. And there are two measures in the coalition government's NHS
reforms which offer a way through.
I think they might be stupid enough to believe this….
Locally,
the creation of clinical commissioning groups means clinicians will lead
service redesign for our NHS.
The future belongs to me…..
Nationally,
the creation of NHS England, independent from the government, frees the NHS to
produce a long-term NHS strategy.
No more political control, no more democratic control… we can
use those clever PR people to have pretend consultations so that we can do want…what
we always wanted to do….
A strategy
produced with the public and based not on reduction of what we offer, but on
change to the way we deliver.
Because we know best what you really want, even if you think you want something completely different…
Political
campaigns often cite the slogan "Save the NHS". But salvation lies in
renewal, not the status quo.
What everybody wants is for you to go before your ‘vision’
does any more harm.
We want local control – by patients, by clinicians and by health
workers, by democratically elected councillors, accountable to us, the
electorate.
We want democratically elected governments to be responsible
for the money we pay, preparing national strategies with the finest medical
minds, concerned only with outcomes.
We may even want some more money spent – taken from areas
where we don’t want it spent.
We don’t want grey, anonymous managers telling us what we
should have.
We want Doctors running hospitals, helped by managers and
not the other way round.
We don’t want hospital
trusts removed from our democracy, making money for individuals and
corporations out of the taxes we pay.
And I think you should resign now and shut up for the future,
‘Sir’ David.
Neil Harris
(a don’t stop till you drop production)
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