[lettie]

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Wherever it comes from it sounds like a waste of money that would have been better spent elsewhere.

I couldn't agree more. We have no money for extra staff, which would go a long way towards improving services, but the NHS (whether it is PCT or Hospital Trust) can produce a glossy mag which literally tells people nothing.

Bear in mind that when anything changes in the NHS it usually stems from some government report. These are lengthy, boring reads but basically recommend what they consider to be best practise within the NHS. Keeping patients informed of services is usually amongst them. The government get their info from surveying what people want, through the use of various working parties, research papers, pressure groups and Trust Boards which contain 'lay' members. They are shortsighted when it comes to setting up such services, in that they will often provide a certain amount of funding, but it is never enough to actually set up and staff the new service without cuts being made elsewhere, eg. staffing of general services in favour of specialist services.

When you look at the top government bods who are in control of health services, it is hardly surprising that the NHS is a shambles. Patricia Hewitt (the health secretary) has a background in working for Age Concern, National Council for Civil Liberties, Press Officer and the Institute for Public Policy Research. She was once investigated by MI5 and is actually Australian by birth. Liam Byrne (parliamentary under secretary for care services) has a background in investment banking. Caroline Flint (parliamentary sec for public health) was a local government officer and political officer for the GMB union. Jane Kennedy (Minister of state for quality and patient safety) was a social worker.

Where are the doctors, nurses, midwives, health visitors, radiographers, pharmacists or in fact, anyone who has worked recently in frontline NHS...........

No wonder we are in a mess...