How to save the NHS
“In essence it’s a guide to how to become a politically engaged citizen. It would appear that we are only going to be able to save the NHS if we can save democracy while we’re at it.” Jonathon Tomlinson reviews NHS SOS.
The political class: If the Government’s approach to policymaking seems deliberately bad, that’s because it is
A new book on government blunders highlights how the ‘professionalised’ political class increasingly lacks the practical experience required for wise decision-making. Will they listen to its advice?
Shadow politics: The NHS is more than a logo
Perhaps the most blatant example of the shadow politics is what the political class has doing to the NHS over the past 30 years. To most people, the NHS is more than a logo - but for how much longer?
So who is in charge?!
Here’s what’s wrong with mental health care in the UK << he modestly claimed! No one is in charge of it – at all. It’s not a system – it’s a coincidence. You might want to pop the kettle on before you tackle this one! You’ve only got to follow the @Twitter feeds of a few MH trust Chief […]
Six months in… health
It’s six months since we launched this version of Guerilla Policy. Here’s a selection of some of our favourite posts we’ve published in health - from scandals to targets, cuts to major changes in commissioning, and some fundamental questions about what healthcare should be about.
Frontline Friday round-up 19th April 2013: Understanding and empathy
Here’s our round-up of frontline blogs we’ve particularly liked from the week of 15th April 2013. This week: understanding and empathy - and where they seem to be lacking in political leaders.
Lobbying MP over new NHS rules
“I appeal to you as a member of the legislature to give this matter your attention and demand a debate and a vote on the floor of the House of Commons, to have these regulations withdrawn. We should not feel rushed into this given the importance of its implications.” Dr David Wrigley shares a letter to be sent to MPs asking them to support and defend a publicly provided NHS.
History is written by - bloggers or the GMC?
It’s the end of a tumultuous week on two fronts. Firstly, the Health and Social Care Act has come into force. Secondly, the GMC has issued ‘guidelines’ on the use of social media. These two events are not unconnected I think. This is not the beginning of the end for the NHS. I thought it was until […]
Am I an extremist?
Last night I debated with journalist Ian Birrell on BBC Radio 3 Nightwaves The question was, ‘Is nostalgia for the idea of an NHS inhibiting necessary, clear-eyed debate?’ NHS workers are united on 2 fronts, The need for care to be based on need and a dislike of constant interference by government BMJ I believe that there […]
Frontline Friday round-up 29th March 2013
Here’s our round-up of frontline blogs we’ve particularly liked from the week of 25th March 2013. This week, the rights and wrongs of online anonymity for health practitioners - but who’s really hiding in the shadows?
Guerilla Voice: Why some issues are off the Government’s evidence agenda
The Government’s ‘evidence agenda’ appears beguilingly apolitical, with its implicit promise to take the politics out of policymaking. In fact, it’s highly political – not in what it focuses on, but in what it chooses to ignore.
The irreversible process of privatisation of the NHS
Statutory Instrument 257: NHS commissioning regulations 2013 Subsidiary to the Health and Social Care Act 2012 Guide to the content of SI 257 which will enable the process of privatisation and make it irreversible (unless England leaves the EU and World Trade Organisation) The entry into force of the Health and Social Care Act Clause 75 […]
Urgent new threat to the NHS - 5 ways you can help
Right now, the government is trying to sneak through secondary legislation (under Section 75 of the Health & Social Care Act) to force virtually every part of the NHS to be opened up to *compulsory* competitive markets, open to the private sector. We have just over a month to stop them, and we need to […]
Frontline Friday round-up 8th February 2013
Here’s our round-up of frontline blogs we’ve particularly liked from the week of 3rd February 2013. This week we focus exclusively on the Mid Staffordshire scandal and the reactions to the Francis report - many of which question the reforms which the NHS has been subjected to under successive governments.
Roll up! Roll up! The NHS sale continues…
CCGs are at the forefront of the huge NHS re-organisation that we were told by David Cameron would never happen under his watch. There are three letters on the lips of everyone closely associated with CCGs at the moment - these three letters are CSU. These letters stand for Commissioning Support Units and you would be forgiven for not […]
Frontline Friday round-up 11th January 2013
Here’s our round-up of frontline blogs we’ve particularly liked from the week of 7th January 2013. Let us know which posts we’ve missed and which other bloggers we should be following for next week’s round-up. Contrary to the idea of the New Year as being a time of hope, a big theme this week was […]
The madness of King Nicholson
Since June 2009 the NHS in the UK has been told it MUST make ‘efficiency savings’ (cuts) of £20bn. The original edict came from Sir David Nicholson - then chief executive of the NHS and now chief executive of the all powerful English NHS National Commissioning Board. Since that time no one has been able to properly explain […]
The NHS Mandate – a missed opportunity for carers?
“Whilst I’m pleased carers weren’t wiped out of the Mandate altogether, I can’t help but feel that it was an opportunity lost.” Moira Fraser at Carers Trust reflects on the recently published NHS Mandate - and wonders where the carers went.