We Have Your Details..

Some years ago in California, there was a speedboat accident in which a couple of people were killed. The men had been drinking and had ignored a host of safety precautions that they should have taken. When the Governater of California, Arnold Scharzenegger was asked if he was going to tighten up the law, he replied, 'No. You cannot legislate for stupidity.'

This is a prime example of why we should not have a centralised medical records system. Because no matter how many laws you make to protect information, you cannot legislate for stupidity. Period.

With thanks to National Death Service Blog.


Update: it looks like the NHS aren't the only ones guilty of absentmindedness. At least it was left in the best possible place to ensure a return..

How the Lords Can Defeat the Government

I came across a very interesting paper in my hunt for information about how the Lords work. If you still think the Lords can't defeat the government on the Health and Social Care Bill, read this.

Better to Light a Candle than Curse the Darkness

I have risen from the slough of despond that I went into, after the Health and Social Care Bill got passed through Parliament. I have adopted a Lord and I have been given an interesting choice. I'm not going to tell you his name, but the above picture should help you work out who it is.

So have you adopted a Lord yet? Here's something to encourage you if you haven't. This is the breakdown of the political parties in the House of Lords;

Conservative 218

Labour 240

Liberal Democrat 91

Crossbench 184

Bishops 24

Other 31

So it should be possible to stop this bill, if we all write. Go on. I know how we're all feeling just now, but it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Do it.

Circle Bid for Epsom Hospital

So it begins.

The Summer Soldier

These are the times that try mens’ souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be so highly rated.

I turn with the warm ardour of a friend to those who have nobly stood, and are yet determined to stand the matter out: I call not upon a few, but upon all: not on this state or that state, but on every state: up and help us; lay your shoulders to the wheel; better to have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake. Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and repulse it. Say not that thousands are gone, turn out your tens of thousands; throw not the burden of the day upon Providence, but “show your faith by your works,” that God may bless you. It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and the near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor, will suffer or rejoice alike. The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.

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We are fighting with pens, not swords. We will not lose our lives as ordinary soldiers do. All we need to do is write. Can we not do that much? Can we not keep going? Are we going to give in to despair?

We lost in the Commons. We now march to the Lords. Adopt a Lord. Keep writing. Keep fighting. And keep the faith we need to save the NHS.

Health and Social Care Bill - Letter to the Herald

This is my bit to help the campaign against the HSCB. I got this letter printed today in the Herald, a broadsheet in Scotland. Hope the Scottish MPs are all paying attention.

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Dear Editor,

Today the most important vote on the NHS since its inception takes place. After a 'pause for reflection' the Health and Social Care Bill returns to Parliament for its third reading. It remains unchanged in substance despite the protests of the BMA, the RCN and various other medical and political bodies. If it is passed, the duty of the health secretary to provide healthcare will be abolished and the NHS will be handed over to private companies to commission healthcare as they see fit, together with an annual budget of £80 billion. It will be the end of the NHS.

This is not a policy that has been sprung on us suddenly by David Cameron. Since the early 90's, the NHS has gradually been taken over by private concerns.The buying up of primary care services, particularly GP practices was permitted and it is this that has led us to the present situation. If GP commissioning is passed then effectively the companies that own the GP practices, will be deciding what healthcare services are provided. As they also provide many of the services that they commission, it means that they can be both purchaser and provider in many areas. This built in abuse means that this bill is the precise opposite of what it is deemed to be. It is the gifiting of a blank cheque to private companies, guaranteed by public largesse, because the NHS is too large to fail.

Although this bill is for England, it will severely affect us in Scotland if it gets passed. As those who are disabled and chronically ill get turned away by the new profit based services in England, they will look north to where those services are still available. Scotland will find itself in the invidious position of either allowing them to come north for treatment and risk our services getting swamped, or turning away some of the sickest and most vulnerable in our society. There is a third choice, and that is for all of our Scottish MPs to turn up today and vote against this iniquitous bill. The NHS is not the property of government or private companies - it is our NHS.