Action speaks louder than words!

Posted 20 Feb 2012 by Walaa Idris

I can’t see what all the fuss is about over excluding those who disagree and object to any NHS Reforms from the Number 10 round table summit with the Prime Minster and Andrew Lansley. Especially as they (those excluded) have already made it perfectly clear where they stand on the issue. It makes good sense to talk to those who want to dialogue bring something new. And, no, it is not about only speaking with those who agree with you, it is about speaking with willing contributors, those who listen and want bring something to the table those who want to help move the matter forward one way or the other.

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Love alone is not enough!

Posted 2 Jun 2011 by Walaa Idris

We Love the NHS

Although I lack a learned and sophisticated understanding of the NHS’s unique operation, I know from using the service there is a lot of waste and in some instances there is also a lack of compassionate care while in others there is an attitude of ‘take it or leave it’. Yes, we all love the NHS, but sometimes love alone is not enough and that’s why something must be done – that’s why something needs to change!

The notion by the left and now some liberals – that the service is a sacred cow that should never be reformed or God forbid, touched by a Tory is nothing but scaremongering nonsense in Labour’s case – as for the LibDems it’s an identity and self assertion exercise. Both are designed solely to appease those whom for years have been deliberately ill informed by both sides.

However, as a user, I expect the NHS to be free at the point of use and it is – efficient and current, and in many areas it is not. Being current and efficient can be tricky, because for some people it means spending more money, and that’s precisely what Labour has done for over a decade. While for most people (efficient and current) means sourcing out the best possible service for the best possible price, even if it meant creating a little healthy competition between providers, and why not, the users deserve the best at the best possible price.

That’s exactly what Andrew Lansley set out to achieve. For over six years all he did is look at how best to bring this much treasured ageing service competently and compassionately into the twenty first century. Not dismantle it but improve and modernize it. However, when it became clear that not everyone has understood his vision and what he’s trying to achieve, he took a pause to further debate and help clarify his idea.

Talking with some doctors I came to discover there is a great deal of distrust amongst those who work in the NHS. Somehow there seems to be a culture of ‘us and them’ mainly between the GPs who refer patients and the specialists who treat those referrals – and its there where the privatization alarm stared.

GPs via their consortiums get to better manage theirs and their patients’ needs directly; part of this management is sourcing out and appointing how and where the best treatments are offered to their patients. The best, in quality, time and of course cost and this can in some occasions mean not provided locally and even done privately. Of courses that will have an adverse effect on some specialist – but instead of rocking the boat why don’t they step up to the plate and offer a competitive alternative!

Because from where I’m standing, we seem to be going around in circles – both the left and liberals might have a minor victory if Lansley’s current proposals get watered down – but in the long run patient care will suffer and sooner or later the HNS and the public will pay the price.

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Prevention is better than a cure!

Posted 18 Nov 2010 by Walaa Idris

Reports today that suicide and depression are on the rising is heartbreaking and troubling yet it is not surprising. Nonetheless, it is most unfortunate as the rate of suicide cases had dropped to its lowest for the first time just when the UK economy started to falter. According to NHS Choices, before the economic down turn, rates of suicide in the UK was steadily falling and in 2007 the figures displayed the lowest rate on record. The year before that, 2006, saw 5,554 suicides in adult aged 15 and over – three quarter of which were men. The rate started to rise again as the economy started to bite and at the same time the NHS saw an increase in the number of Mental Health cases and the number of those claiming incapacity benefits.

Even though the UK is not alone – results are still alarming and should not be taken lightly – evidence form across the world shows that the economic down turn has a negative impact on wellbeing of individuals, its also anticipates its improvement to lag behind the economic recovery as we are seeing the highest number of cases in the last year or so.

The Prime Minster’s ‘Wellbeing Measure’, the means by which happiness of the nation is to be measures, and although wellbeing measure is not a cure is very opportune, because it is a good pre-emptive and preventative measure by which risks can be detected, uncovered and hopefully managed and treated in time.

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Oh dear, there we go!!

Posted 27 Sep 2010 by Walaa Idris

Again, who dreams up this nonsense?

Now we have ‘Nice’ saying we need to incentify people with cash to give up vices and to lose weight – in other words we pay those with little or no willpower to look after their own healthy!!

Although I am surprised, am really not surprised – because it’s the same mentality that makes it more financially lucrative to claim benefits rather than work, and have half a dozen babies before the age of 25 to get on the social housing ladder!

We seem to keep going around and around the same circle, like a hamster on a wheel with no direction reaching no where. That’s why our solution to every problem is to throw cash at it and hope to buy it away.

This might be a leap in the dark, but I think maybe it is time for Nice to inject some new blood with fresh ideas that makes sense – because so far all they seem to be doing is chasing their own tail!

You can read more here

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