In the words of a medical student

This quote is from a medical student, eloquently writing about the MMC/MTAS debacle:

The transparently jealous attempt to devalue and disempower the medical profession by this Labour government has been exposed for shambolic outrage that it is. Patients can be glad that we took to the streets in opposition of the appalling sabotage of our training and education. Taxpayers can be glad we protest at the wasting of their money. But will the general public vote with their feet and demand that the government take responsibility for the mess they have created and ensure the future of the medical profession in this country?

At least in Bedford you will have an opportunity to vote for the Save Bedford Hospital party

New Chairman

I have, in an earlier post mentioned the fantastic sums of money being spent by the NHS on management consultants , an estimated £400 million last year alone, and £213,000 in just nine months at Bedford Hospital; and this is all money that could have been spent on patient care.

Now the take-over of the system by management consultants seems almost complete, or at least in Bedford, where our new Trust chairman, Ray Rankmore, is himself a management consultant.

Actually I am pleased that Ray has taken up the post; he is a man who likes to talk to people, and who likes to listen, and he has a track record of success in business. I genuinely wish him well.

"Parallel Universe of Spin"

The Prime Minister has allowed the NHS to plunge into crisis by becoming trapped in a "parallel universe of spin", according to the new head of the Royal College of Nursing.

	Peter Carter: 'Nurses are saying to us "we ain't going to vote Labour"'

In a blistering attack on the Government's running of the health service, Dr Peter Carter, the RCN general secretary, said cuts in jobs, services and training were catastrophic for the country and a "personal tragedy" for the Prime Minister.

Dr Carter, who will address his first RCN annual conference next week, said Tony Blair should admit Labour's administration of the NHS had gone "fundamentally wrong". He said Labour's track record on the health service was far worse than that of the Conservatives, even though Mr Blair had poured in record funds.

Dr Carter, a former hospital trust chief executive, told The Sunday Telegraph: "I have never seen so much money go into the health service and I have never seen so much money wasted.

Another one

A SURGEON today announced he is standing for the Scottish Parliament in protest at NHS changes.

David Smith, who intends to stand as an Independent in the Glasgow Cathcart ward, is demanding better healthcare provision across the south of Glasgow.

His campaign will see him go head-to-head with former city council leader Charlie Gordon.

Mr Smith claimed the local health board has been reducing services in that part of the city over the past 15 years.

The consultant surgeon is particularly concerned at plans to replace the 362-bed Victoria Hospital with a new building, which he claimed, will not meet local needs as it provide only day surgery and out-patient departments.

The other services currently offered, including an A&E department, are being transferred to the Southern General Hospital.

But Mr Smith, who has worked at the Victoria Hospital for 34 years, argued that those new facilities are planned for the wrong location.

He added: “I’ve been a consultant here for 30 years and I’m saddened by the way in which the health board in the last few years have decided to strip away the services from people in Cathcart.

An apology is not enough

From the BBC website:

Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, has apologised to junior doctors for the first time for the failure of the new recruitment process that left thousands of well qualified doctors without the prospect of a job.

Hewitt has apologised for the recruitment fiasco
Hewitt: 'We are now sorting it out'

Ms Hewitt acknowledged that the new online system had caused “terrible anxiety” and that it was “nowhere near where it should have been”.

She said: “That is exactly why junior doctors have been caused this absolutely needless anxiety and distress and I am very sorry indeed that has happened.

It must be pretty catastrophic if a politician apologizes, but that's not enough. We need a proper system of recruitment, and we need a new minister (preferably one who actually listens.)

Vote for Dr Adam Pringle

The Save Bedford Hospital party is not putting up any candidates at next month's local elections, but this does not mean that we are not actively engaged in the democratic process.

We are pleased to support Dr Adam Pringle, a GP and medical campaigner, who is standing for his local council in Telford as a independent on health service issues; Adam has indicated that if successful at council level he intends to run a Richard Taylor style independent campaign in Telford at the next general election.

This web site will keep you updated on his progress; there will be a link to his web site as soon as that is up and running.

NHS accounting system unfair...it's official

This is from a press release from the Department of Health:

Wednesday 28 March 2007 11:14
Department of Health (National)

Nicholson: NHS financial system now fit for the future

Improved NHS financial control allows an end to Resources and Accounting Budgeting 'double whammy'

The NHS is set to move to a more transparent and fair financial regime following the announcement today of the reversal of RAB deductions and the replacement of cash brokerage with a formal system of loans for NHS Trusts.

According to the Chief Executive of the NHS, David Nicholson:

"We are moving NHS trusts out of the resource accounting and budgeting regime as this was inconsistent and unfair. "

Suffice it to say that it was this system, now officially acknowledged to be "inconsistent and unfair" that has crippled Bedford Hospital financially.