Been a bit busy to blog but decided this one was worth a post...
As I got off the bus the other day at my usual stop, opposite a former hospital which is now derelict, I noticed a small group of men (and one or two women) in suits standing in the (open) doorway of the former hospital. The bus driver noticed straightaway and he and most of the other people sitting in the front few seats all agreed it was a disgrace it was that the building had fallen into such disrepair.
Once I was off the bus, a passer-by also pointed out the people in suits and repeated the views about the need to rescue such a building. However, her concerns were not about the state of the building per se. She told me the hospital had been built with 'miners' money' - including that of her father - who paid weekly from meagre wages to build and run the hospital pre NHS. She herself had worked there and had given the best years of her life to caring for people. She was in no doubt that health care belonged to the people - not in some vague collective way but directly, by her and her family. Her family had paid for it, she had worked in it, and she wanted a say in what happened to 'her' health services. She most certainly didn't feel she had a say in it now, and she felt bewildered and betrayed by the changes that she had read about and experienced herself.
I am sure this lady is not unique. Very very many people in Wales contributed to building the fore-runner of the NHS and politicians meddle with it at their peril. The committees and consultations we have at the moment are no substitute for genuine public involvement in the planning and provision of their health care - quite what proper involvement would look like I don't know but be in no doubt, anything that spontaneously gets 6 people talking at a wet bus stop has got to be worth notice.
Monday, 17 March 2008
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10 comments:
Victoria said...
"Very very many people in Wales contributed to building the fore-runner of the NHS and politicians meddle with it at their peril. The committees and consultations we have at the moment are no substitute for genuine public involvement in the planning and provision of their health care."
johnny says....
It's far too late for the Public to have a say in what happens in the Health Service, I'm afraid.
The process to remove Public Health Care from Public ownership is well under way.
Edwina Hart AM, Minister of Health, is due to receive the recommendations for Health Service reconfiguration in the Merthyr area from that doyen of the private health and medical insurance world, the well known Merthyr 'boy', Professor Mansel Aylward.
This is the same Professor Mansel Aylward whose other 'job' is as Director of the UNUM School of BioPsychoSocial science at Cardiff University.
For the benefit of the unaware, UNUM is the American insurance company who were described, in October 2005, by the then Insurance Commissioner for California, Mr. John Garamendi, as "an outlaw company who have operated in an illegal fashion for many years".
Yes, that's right:
"an OUTLAW COMPANY".
UNUM have been fined many millions of dollars in the USA for unlawful denial of legitimate insurance claims.
UNUM's NYSE value is descending and they have chosen to seek new markets for their products. The UK is their prime target and by the use of their 'local agent' Prof. Aylward, they seem to have found a nice little starter in Wales.
UNUM have already put their methods and influence into the DWP via Prof. Aylward, when he was Chief Medical Adviser at the DWP and have already provided "independent medical report review" services for the DWP, although they deny it.
Unfortunately, for them, I have the correspondences to prove this.
Further information on UNUM's activities are available on my blog via the above blue link.
Here's a good question for the Bevan Foundation to put in the tank and think about and hopefully provide a response.
"Please provide your observations on Welsh Assembly associations and involvement with UNUM, who have been described as "an outlaw compnay who have operated in an illegal fashion for many years".
I have asked this question frequently around the Welsh blogmosphere and seem to have met with silence, claims of defamation from Huw Lewis AM and a general denial of knowledge of UNUM's activities.
Naturally, my statements are all in the public domain and are verifiable via Google. Try any combination of search terms: UNUM, John Garamendi, Mansel Aylward, DWP, CFS/ME, Peter Dewis and Simon Wessley to reveal a good read.
For a further eye-opener try: UNUM Hungry Vulture. You will then see what's in store for us.
It's really time that the public of Wales woke up to the shenanigans that are going on right under their noses.
Your pal.
johnny.
Just an update for you:
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/jonathan_rutherford/2008/03/e_pluribus_unum.html
Your pal.
johnny.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/jonathan_rutherford/2008/03/e_pluribus_unum.html
Dear Victoria
I recall that the Dept of Health made a special visit to North Glamorgan NHS Trust as they were especially inpressed with the Public Involvement Liason Group (PILG) that, at the time, was cutting edge in terms of the ways by which it engaged the local communities. You were a Non-Executive then. What happened to it? Does it still 'do what it says on the tin' or not?
Hello anonymous, the Public Involvement and Liaison Group has been running well until it was put in abeyance on 31st March whilst the new trust, Cwm Taf, sets itself up. If I do have a role on the new trust - and that decision rests with Mrs Hart - then I will try to ensure it continues. Watch this space.
Hello Victoria.
I do appreciate that you have been very busy, what with one thing and another, but I am a little disappointed, that a member of such a grandly and appropriately named 'think tank', has chosen to ignore my comments regarding the imminent proposals for reconfiguration of NHS Service provision within Wales.
Have I mentioned the unmentionable? Have I crossed the bounds of my station? Have I addressed a concern that you would prefer to ignore?
Presumably, one or other of you 'tankers' has Googled the necessary and has found that my comments are absolutely true, despite their somewhat controversial nature.
Could it be that as Ms. Hart has chosen Prof. Aylward as the best person for the job that you would prefer to avoid 'rocking the boat'?
Your last two sentences in response to your previous anonymous correspondent would appear to bear this out:
"If I do have a role on the new trust - and that decision rests with Mrs Hart - then I will try to ensure it continues. Watch this space."
Please don't be too concerned about ignoring my comments as you are in quite distinguished company. Very few in the 'official' political blogmosphere appear to wish to 'rock the boat' by addressing the matter of Governmental association with those who have been described as "outlaws".
I wonder why?
As you say: "watch this space". There is certainly more to reveal on this matter, particularly in terms of further 'interesting' associations.
Your pal.
johnny.
Johnny,
I am waiting for Prof Aylward's report, rather than pre-judging the outcome. If I believe it not to be in the interests of the people of the area then you can be in no doubt that I will 'rock the boat' whether or not I am a non-exec director of the new Trust.
You can also be assured that I am not ignoring your comments - the lack of reply was only due to a. total work overload and b. I didnt think they needed a reply - your comments speak for themselves.
Victoria
Hello Victoria.
Thanks for your response, my faith is restored.
I appreciate that you would not wish to pre-judge the good Professor's recommendations and will await them with you.
I would like to think that his intentions would be to improve facilities purely for the patients' benefit but, given his CV, I rather foresee a round of financial savings and an erosion of service.
As a grateful recipient of a veritable small fortune's worth of skilled attention from the NHS I would dearly love to be proved wrong.
Nevertheless, the current and clear association of Government, at the Sennedd and Westminster, with the "outlaws" UNUM, remains to be addressed. I await your pleasure.
Your pal.
johnny.
Dear Victoria
In a genuine way 'good luck' with Cym Taff! There is something really vital about having effective Non-Executives..so I hope it goes in your favour.
Heard last week that I have been appointed as a non-exec director of the new Cwm Taf NHS Trust.
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