Come the revolution, my father used to say, some group of ne’er do wells would be the first to feel the pointy end of his sword. I am left wondering if this advice is as pertinent as ever.
In a week that the CQC almost imploded we now have three examples of groups for whom professional respect runs low. Low – pah! If only our respect was THAT high! It’s more the unfairness of it all: we do our job and they simply don’t do theirs.
In dentistry, all we are asked is to do the job. Whether it be the check up, the filling, the root canal or the moistening of nervous brows – we just get on and do it – in arguably the most efficient health care delivery model around – namely the small practice.
IT'S NOT DIFFICULT we all think - actually - since there are so many incompetents around, maybe we should start by recognising how good we are doing a very demanding job. Back to revolutionary thoughts ...
Firstly there is the dreadful CQC. Moving aside the argument of whether they achieve anything toward patient safety, this last week has seen both previous and current senior management trying to bury the Morcambe Bay truth about incompetence, incompetently. They were saved only by the Metropolitan Police ringing the Stephen Lawrence bell.
Next up the gallows are those at hospital level who invented Triage Referrals – all we want is for Mrs Grumbles and her nasty wisdom tooth to be seen to get the bloody thing out safely. Now the forms have to be the latest version, and every box ticked in a remake of that 1970’s film noire The Ultimate Quanker Revenge. Only one “tick” need be “a cross” by mistake and voilà! You have helped the hospital meet their waiting targets. How magnanimous of you all …
Finally and worryingly Madame la G awaits NHS England. The stories of what is happening with Local Area Teams and the slow moving nature of this organisation give little confidence. When you consider what has happened to LDC Levies, allied to the fact that the new contract will likely be finalised by this already seemingly incompetent body - don’t even mention the seniority payment scandal [also known as THEFT, Minister] - we all have good reason for “CONFIDENCE Zero” – an organisation free from all useful contents! Dentistry risks, once again, being cut out of the healthcare planning loop.
The NHS Changes on 1st April it appears served simply to shut all the PCT offices, reopen some new ones [at your expense] while many of the old guard simply ported their redundancy payment & employment to the new organisation, around the corner in its new offices with its new water machine and new coffee facility. A change of biscuit was no doubt also essential. These doors were revolving so fast that Superman would have struggled to keep up.
The only consistent cause factor has to be the politicians. We need to rise up ladies and gentlemen. Our MP’s need to be attacked eruditely and daily by a vociferous professional demand.
Enough is enough and this has to stop.
The summer is a great time because that’s when they go away. But we must believe that in this revolution, the pen IS mightier than the sword.
It is YOUR politicians who have created these organisations and undue authority to act with ALL power and NO responsibility. Their purpose is solely to deflect responsibility from Westminster.
It has to stop. I don’t know about you lot but for me, the time for professional revolution is fast approaching. Where's my pen?
