Pressure mounts on Cameron and Lansley over NHS “reforms”

To quote from page 45 of the Conservative manifesto “……. Doctors and nurses need to be able to use their professional judgement about what is right for patients” .

Given the selective nature of today’s meeting, perhaps they should have added “….as long as they support us”

I find it extraordinary that the RCN have been excluded from talks.

They are largely a highly respected professional organization,
which includes research and education.They represent a very large group
of nursing staff at all levels and different specialities- eg oncology.
By rejecting their right to influence plans, it is frontline staff being
sidelined? These are people with decades of experience who are the best
advocates of patients and have a high level of skills and knowledge.
It is insulting to close them out at a time of great change.

And yet they are the very people expected to carry out reforms.
GP’s are one professional group, but to my knowledge,
many belong to the BMA also- they too were excluded.

How would ministers react if some “higher” body came along and imposed
drastic changes on their working practice, top down, not consulted in process,
and threatened to dismantle their entire organization?
Let alone the recipients of services- the public? (And all of us.)
Would it be tolerated in big business circles?

What a way to involve people on the ground with reforms….
Surely this could lead to resentment, lowered morale and lack of trust?

This has become far too much a political process; what’s been lost sight of
is the bigger picture and the long term future.

So much of this is unnecessary; it could have been done so differently;
for example- the public/electorate should have been informed along the way.

Professionals in all groups should have been consulted in the earlier stages
of planning- bringing all on board. It has all appeared behind closed doors
prior to announcements- DC would have known about this?
So much detail and content- and yet not shared; including perhaps
many GP’s and most other staff in the earlier stages?

Also- implementation of huge cost savings simultaneously with
radical reforms- making it almost impossible to enact.
A huge complex and costly exercise imposed, when 18 months ago,
services in primary care were running smoothly.

Who is going to take responsibility for the effects this is likely
to cause; who will be accountable?

Surely not the poor GP’s who will been lumbered with massive budgets
and multiple providers- having to juggle their time and resources?
What impact will this have on patients- especially those with complex
or chronic conditions that require an integrated approach?

My personal perception is that GP’s are fairly thin on the ground,
have great demands, limited resources, very reliant on other staff,
specialities- and do not have the skills to cope with business management
and accountancy on the scale that may be required.
If this is the case, how will the situation change or be improved-
especially in the context of massive savings needing to be made,
and morale of staff very liable to be hit hard;
even some roles possibly undermined- such as in public health.

There surely needs to be a full, frank and open dialogue amongst
the whole community of professionals and staff- also patient
representatives/public bodies- not exclusions on political grounds!

I don’t doubt there is some genuine intent to get this right;
but it seems to me big mistakes have been made along the way,
and someone has to take responsibility for this process.
Also far too much riding on pushing it through politically,
rather than if it’s “right” or not for the NHS and our public services,
health of the nation.

It’s surely up to all of us.

Perhaps there should be a referendum?!

Thankyou, Jo