It's been a while since I've written. I think like many bloggers, the passing of the Health and Social Care Bill knocked the stuffing out of me and the will to write. But a fine article by Oliver Huitson on Open Democracy has prompted me to pick up my keyboard again, if only to signpost you to another site. He details here what we all thought; that the Beeb was pulling its punches on the NHS and in the run up to the final reading of the bill, there was a virtual blackout. One grimly funny detail was that the only report in March of this year on the bill was on the Today Programme. It was two minutes long and other articles that day included a French theme park on Napoleon (four minutes), International Bagpipe Day(six minutes) and the Queen's Jubilee (eight minutes).
I don't mind bagpipes that are minding their own business. In a glen. Forty miles from here. But on the Today Programme? For six minutes? When the NHS is being dismembered? Talk about 'la-la-la' not listening. Or skirl -skirl-skirl..
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Welcome back Julie. I agree with you, there has been a deafening silence. If only the doctors had gone on strike against this bill as well as against pension reform they would have some credibility instead of the public thinking they are just greedy and selfish - which in fairness some of them are.
I was in Cornwall and Devon a few years ago and was asked to sign a petition to allow them to gain trust status for their hospitals. I was there again this year and they are now talking about reducing pay for all staff as this is a "lower cost area". How much worse will it get when private contractors are the only NHS employer? Actually I can answer that one, you only have to look at the debacle when private initiative was brought in to the domestic and portering staff a few years ago. Dirty hospitals and nurses cleaning instead of looking after patients.
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