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NEWS: Lynn Eaton Politicians must stop exploiting patients BMJ 2002; 325: 6a [Full text]

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MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL

Dr Rita Pal   (5 July 2002)

Conveyor belt careers

Adam J Poole (BSc MRCS)   (12 July 2002)

MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL 5 July 2002
Dr Rita Pal, Writer/ Campaigner Send response to journal: Re: MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL	Politicians are like the media - most have very little medical knowledge and jump on a bandwagon which is really not that important when you study the medical facts of the case at hand. Having run a high profile campaigning site where we recieved requests from not only many members of the media but also a number of politicians, it was interesting to note the motivating factors for them - it certainly was not patient welfare. I had the pleasure of dealing with one MP in particular who requested that I provide him names and details of patients who were "high profile". I refused to do this and gradually I realised that political points and media spin generation was important. It had nothing to do with assisting patients with practical problems. The thought process that went through the MP's mind was " how can I use this patient to be popular with the media". The MP did very little for many patients who asked for his assistance - but then they were not a "inspiring to the media at all". Sure enough there is neglect in the NHS due to the underfunding and short staffing that the government. Most doctors work above and beyond the call of duty. The exodus of British doctors and the influx of foreign ones to replace them is a sign of the times and the extent to which the government has lost touch not only with the public but also with the National Health Service. The true extent of the problems within the NHS are somehow overshadowed by " spin" stories. Stories where the government can "blame doctors" as opposed to themselves. A topspin The case of Rose Addis was a problem because of the government management of the NHS. Having trained at the Whittington Hospital myself, I would say the consultant there was scapegoated by the politicians. Shifting blame is an intriguing feature of politics today. The NHS is in Crisis. Recently, the BBC can be quoted as saying it is a third world NHS. A NHS Where doctors are abused and staff are at the end of their tether. The blame has to go to the government of today who have a problem that they are unwilling to solve. In medicine, there is a shortage of nursing staff, in psychaitry there are no CPNs, no counselling, waiting lists for psychology are over an year, acutely suicidal patients are turned away because there are no beds etc etc. This is the reality of the government today. Instead of working with doctors to ensure a better NHS, they use the media and patients to persuade the public that " they are working for the people". In reality, it is all about who gets the most media coverage in the corridors of power. The government have lost their grip on the NHS. The sooner they stop blaming doctors for their own flaws, the better it is for patients - who in the end are the ones who are suffering. Some of us are intelligent enough to realise that a " top spin" ona story certainly does not result in an ace nor game, set or match. Kind Regards Dr Rita Pal
Conveyor belt careers 12 July 2002
Adam J Poole (BSc MRCS), Managing Director Career Edge, PO Box 19983, London N3 2ZS Send response to journal: Re: Conveyor belt careers	Ian Bogle is right to attack the Government’s tendency to treat both patients and doctors as if they are on a conveyor belt. His speech calling for “more doctors, more nurses, more beds” might serve to increase capacity, but I and other doctors believe he missed a key opportunity to press for a change in attitude that would boost staff morale and our ability to deal with patients and our own complex career pathways. Doctors have wider needs, which, if met would aid staff retention and help us concentrate on delivering more effective patient care. Addressing a shortfall in career support, including communication training and personal development coaching should be at the top of the Government’s agenda. Unfortunately, recent opportunities to implement such support have been missed – the consultation document on the new Medical Education Standards Board omitted any reference to such training being part of postgraduate medical education. The public may rate doctors as the most respected professionals (according to a BMA survey in 2001), but it’s time that the Government showed it does too by considering how to get the best out of us instead of trusting that league tables will have the same effect.