Tuesday 18 January 2011

NHS reorganised. Again.

Cameron said he wouldnt reform the NHS. So what a surprise, he has plamned the biggest NHS reorganisation for decades. 

Labour used to reorganise institutions every couple of years, it looks like ministers have taken positive action when it really means lots more work for staff. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jan/17/nhs-bans-operations-surgeon-warns

So will GPs know how to run hospitaks better than the PCTs? Possibly, but thats not the point. They have more important work to do. Leave managers to manage, doctors and nurses to care for patients. 

One of my first posts on this blog was after watching "can Gerry Robinson save the NHS". One of the problems he found was that consultants had too much power, they arranged surgery to suit themselves. 

With Doctors in charge I expect that they may vote yet more pay rises for Drs, while keeping nurses and other health workers pay low. Thats not fair, Doctors have seen huge pay increases recently. 

Cameron said he would save the NHS, it doesnt look like it to the rest of us. 

8 comments:

GIDEON MACK said...

I think you're getting GPs mixed up with consultants Adrian.

Only a fraction of the employees within the NHS are front line staff i.e. nurses - the vast majority are overpaid and underworked managers and administration staff.

The Royal Berks is an example - multiple departments all with their own administration staff and managers doing essentially the same thing.

The NHS is a lovely idea - unfortunately it is no longer fit for purpose - instead we need an 'HS' and forget the 'N' - one size doesn't fit all.

Adrian Windisch said...

http://greenreading.blogspot.com/2007/01/can-gerry-robinson-save-nhs.html
was my first ever post, 4 years ago.

Gideon, both GPs and consultants are Doctors. In the Gerry Robinson film the consultants ruled the roost, and surgery didn't happen on friday afternoons so they could play golf.

So now Cameron wants to give more power to Doctors. Could be a disaster.

weggis said...

Gideon.
Only a fraction of the employees within the NHS are front line staff i.e. nurses - the vast majority are overpaid and underworked managers and administration staff.

Source please!

Adrian Windisch said...

http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/current_projects/general_election_2010/key_election_questions/how_many_managers.html

Comment/link by Gideon Mack
I accidentally deleted it. Oops.

weggis said...

Oh I see it all now...

Only a fraction [78% - which I suppose can be expressed as a "fraction"] of the employees within the NHS are front line staff i.e. nurses - the vast majority [22% as per electoral mathematics] are overpaid and underworked managers and administration staff.

I bow to your wisdom Gideon!

GIDEON MACK said...

Nurses - 29% - Doctors 10%.

weggis said...

Well, I’m quite sure that paramedics, pharmacists, therapists, radiologists, phlebotomists, midwives, cardiographers, anaesthetists, orthopaedic technicians, podiatrists, lab technicians, etc etc plus non clinical staff like porters and security [total 37%] will be thrilled to pieces to learn that they are “overpaid and underworked management and administration staff” and not “front line”.

At least according to the wisdom of Gideon Mack who is obviously an expert in Health Care.

GIDEON MACK said...

I admit that I hadn't looked at the Kings Fund statistics when throwing out my off the cuff comment and as such it was incorrect.

We can't all be perfect like weggis.