Tuesday 22 December 2009

Patients First, though not in parts of the NHS .... Me and Gus.

Well our complaint to the DH Competition Panel has set the cat amongst the pigeons, particularly as we made the complaint with the NHS Confederation.

I was amused at the press coverage of the reaction of the Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT Chief Executive. In the Health Services Journal he expressed "disappointment" but "hoped the challenge would soon be "disposed of" to end uncertainty for staff."

So there you have it. Important we are disposed of! And I had a vague feeling PCTs are there for the benefit of patients and carers and better health outcomes? This is a very Freudian response. It reveals exactly why we have a problem. The interests of staff are put above the interests of the best care for patients regardless of which sector the provision is from.

And he compounds the offence by suggesting the sector may have a role as sub contractors! Clearly does not see us as having a role in mainstream provision.

It will come as no surprise to read in the HSJ that this particular PCT, was named as one of the two worst performing PCTs in last year’s world class commissioning document. Perhaps the better course might have been to welcome competition to drive up standards.

An amusing email from Peter Housden, the Perm Secretary at DCLG, who reveals that there is a photo in the Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell's office featuring me! He even takes a photo to send me.


Well here it is. Myself, Gus and the CEO of Amey. We were celebrating the anniversary of the civil service Top Managers Programme which is one of the finest leadership programmes in the country. ACEVO can nominate a third sector CEO to each programme. And we do.




And I even have this photo in my own Office!

Last night was special. I braved the snow and went to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at my church, All Saints Margaret Street. Beautiful singing. Traditional readings and carols. One of the choir, Ian Lyon, has been helping ACEVO with its contacts and policy towards the Conservatives.

And let me finish this blog with the words of the chorus of the Yorkshire Wassail song:

"For it's Christmas time, when we travel far and near,
May God bless you and send you a happy New Year
. "





2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Agree - this is entrenched staff interest put ahead of progress. If we give the dinosaurs of old NHS the slightest chance, they will quickly rip apart a decade if progress. Crap, acute-dominated care, managing demand with "minimum waits" and a succession policy which is part peter principle, part Bloggs' turn: that is what 'preferred provider' offers us. It's right that NHSPN and ACEVO have lost patience and let's hope CCP is prepared to be brave.

Sir Stephen Bubb said...

Spot on Anon.i have my fingers crossed that the competition Panel will be brave , its a fairly obvious case after all !