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NEWS: Susan Mayor Health secretary pledges to continue NHS changes BMJ 2006; 333: 617 [Full text]

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benjamin dean   (28 September 2006)

Enough is enough

Barry E Monk   (1 October 2006)

Re: Enough is enough - and soon too much !

L S Lewis   (1 October 2006)

relevant quote 28 September 2006
benjamin dean, sho oxford Send response to journal: Re: relevant quote	" "Don't you want to abolish state power?" Yes, we do, but not right now; we cannot do it yet. Why? Because imperialism still exists, because domestic reaction still exists, because classes still exist in our country. Our present task is to strengthen the people's state apparatus-- mainly the people's army, the people's police and the people's courts--in order to consolidate national defense and protect the people's interests. " - a quote from Chairman Mao. It seems amusing that Patricia Hewitt claims to be representing 'the people' and so called 'patient choice' with her never-ending cascade of reforms, just as Chairman Mao claimed he was protecting the 'people's interests'. It is sometimes clear that politicians are doing the exact opposite of what they say they are doing. This seems to be the case with Patricia Hewitt's 'improvements' and 'reforms' to the health service. After all the word 'reform' is meant to get across the idea of improving a particular thing, Patricia Hewitt seems to be doing the exact opposite of this. Can anyone see the irony in comparing Chairman Mao's 'cultural revolution' to Hewitt's 'healthcare revolution'? Competing interests: None declared
Enough is enough 1 October 2006
Barry E Monk, consultant dermatologist Bedford Hospital MK42 9DJ Send response to journal: Re: Enough is enough	I am grateful for Susan Mayor for mentioning that, together with a number of my consultant colleagues at Bedford Hospital, we have founded a political party, currently being registered with the electoral commission, called Save Bedford Hospital, and that we intend to campaign for the sort of health resources which we feel that the local population of Bedfordshire need and deserve; we shall, inter alia, be putting forward a candidate at the next general election in the currently marginal Labour held seat of Bedford and Kempston. In recent years we have seen the NHS brought to its knees by initiatives, targets, directives, and plans which are variously irrational, poorly thought out, contradictory or simply deranged. As a simple example,one might simply quote the inherent contradiction between improving patient choice and reducing the number of providers. Locally we have, just this week, been told that 26 of the hospital's 60 medical secretaries are to be made redundant, with no thought to the impact on patient safety or patient care. Now is the time to tell our political masters that "enough is enough". Competing interests: Dr Barry Monk is the prospective parliamentary candidate for the Save Bedford Hospital party for the Bedford and Kemspton constituency
Re: Enough is enough - and soon too much ! 1 October 2006
L S Lewis, GP Surgery, Newport, Pembrokeshire SA42 0TJ Send response to journal: Re: Re: Enough is enough - and soon too much !	What if every local Hospital group did the same ? We would soon reduce to the current slanging match between localities for 'what our people need and deserve' in health budgets - but to the neglect of Primary Care, Community Care, Social care, and just about all other political needs ? What political clout does the Kidderminster candidate have ?? Is this any way to run a country ??? Get real. Competing interests: Saving Withybush Hospital