Nigel, Lord Crisp used to run the NHS

February 26th, 2012

“It [The Bill] has tried to elevate the ideas of competition and the use of the private sector, which are just mechanics, just mechanisms, as if they were the purpose.” he is reported b y the BBC to have said. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17169519

Good point.

“Confused and confusing” he said, and it is. My worry is that when I see something being made so complex as not to be understood, there often turns out to be crime behind it. Obviously not if it is being run by HM Ministers of course, but chaos and floppage are likely to ensue if the Bill is not reversed.

IMF alarmed by Argentine economy

February 26th, 2012

http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2012/pr1230.htm

The Torygraph economic blogger reports that the Argentinian government have been misreporting their inflation rate, and it is running at close to 30% per year.

The renewed concentration on the Falklands seems less surprising, in this context, but no less alarming.

I do wonder what the UK rate of inflation really is though. The part of the economy which is qangos subsisting on covert taxes – fees for things they regulate – seems to be inflating rather faster than our announced figures, and I don’t think that will do us any good.

Prof. John Ashton

February 21st, 2012

http://www.johnrashton.securemachines.co.uk/default.asp

I’ve not met him, but I suspect him of being better able to give an unbiased opinion of the proposed changes to the NHS than the Chief Executive of the Cumbrian PCT, whose organisation has declared disciplinary action upon him.

A career change is indicated. But not for the Prof, I think.

Torygraph: Doctors rebut…

February 13th, 2012

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9052582/Doctors-rebut-claim-most-favour-health-reforms.html

Huskies

February 12th, 2012

Huskies (selective colour)

On the mountain at Les Arcs. Not quite so cold that day as later. Cannon G11, then adjusted with The GNu Image Manipulation Program

Christian GP gives it away really

February 4th, 2012

Missionary in doctor’s chair.

Observing behaviour rather than advice

January 31st, 2012

http://zocalopublicsquare.org/thepublicsquare/2011/11/30/how-doctors-die/read/nexus/

Were Massive Reforms necessary to Save the NHS? No.

January 29th, 2012

“Summary
Overall, we concluded that the NHS did not need a wholesale restructuring. We were also oncerned at the cost of the reforms, 2-3billion (Kieran Walshe, professor of health policy at Manchester Business School) in light of the Government wanting the NHS to save £20bn by 2015,
However, with much of the reorganisation underway despite the Health and Social Care Bill still being debated, our recommendations are to minimise the disruption to NHS patients and we hope that what emerges from the reforms helps deliver a more efficient, patient centred NHS that is sustainable long into the future.”
All Parliamentary Group on NHS report (PDF)

Mind you, I thought the tumour of management was destroying it. Alas, I don’t see a reduction occurring, planned, or likely.

NHS: Health and Social Security Bill

January 28th, 2012

Tribal and astroturf: http://www.spinwatch.org/-articles-by-category-mainmenu-8/70-british-politics/5422-revealed-government-secretly-uses-doctors-to-spin-tribal-war-for-nhs-hearts-and-minds-oh-and-p80-billion

FLOSS for Healthcare – links.

January 27th, 2012

VistA on GT.M http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20120116/BLOGS02/301169914 and http://medsphere.com/news/885-Kern-Medical-Center-Awarded-Federal-Funds-for-Meaningful-Use-of-OpenVistar-Electronic-Health-Record

See also http://openvista.org