I do sometimes wonder if the NHS might benefit from just getting on with what it actually does rather than being subject to endless, constant change and calls for change. It's impossible to do good work when you're in a permanent state of revolution at the whim of politicians - ThreadSky

katebevan.com • 58 days ago

I do sometimes wonder if the NHS might benefit from just getting on with what it actually does rather than being subject to endless, constant change and calls for change. It's impossible to do good work when you're in a permanent state of revolution at the whim of politicians

Reposted from Stuart Hoddinott

Extremely damning Public Accounts Committee report about the NHS yesterday

Very strong language for a committee report: "senior [DHSC & NHSE] officials do not seem to have ideas, or the drive, to match the level of change required"

Other highlights 👇

committees.parliament.uk/committee/12...

Comments

scientits.bsky.social•58 days ago

There was a doctor I followed on Twitter who said she felt less stressed working for MSF in a conflict zone than she did working for the NHS - because she could just *be* a doctor and do whatever was best for the patient without worrying about endless targets and having to attend management meetings

katebevan.com•58 days ago

I mean, obvs the NHS has to adapt to new techniques, eg AI-aided diagnosis, and to make digital services much better, but yeah.

kevanm.bsky.social•58 days ago

My friend, a respected senior psychiatric nurse, is retiring despite her love of the job because she can’t handle the arse ache of the paperwork, which is primarily there to protect the Trust from incrimination

synvuk.bsky.social•58 days ago

The apochryphal quote of Gaius Petronius seems apt:

... I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.

m4tthall.bsky.social•58 days ago

Totally agree. While I don't pretend to know the details and challenges that face the NHS, constant change is certainly a barrier to getting things gone. The last organisation I worked for seemed to have a fundamental shift to strategy every year or two. So wasteful, not to mention consulting fees!

handle.invalid•58 days ago

Quite!

patrick.seurre.com•58 days ago

The doctors and nurses taking care of me for the past 30 years since my 1st transplant 30 years ago (two now, with a 3rd on the horizon) have done a bloody good job though in some very difficult circumstances. Their hard work has kept the NHS going despite the politicians, not thanks to them.

yellsonpolitics.bsky.social•58 days ago

The only thing I'd do is to have the quote "any improvement not made at the constraint is an illusion" plastered in large letters anywhere it can be seen by decision makers

stuarthoddinott.bsky.social•58 days ago

I agree that there's been too much tinkering over the last few years, partly because of political chaos. The system would benefit from policy and funding stability

But I also think the status quo is broken. "Getting on with it" = more hospital funding and activity, which isn't working

stuarthoddinott.bsky.social•58 days ago

Central govt should set out its priorities, provide a stable policy and funding environment, create the incentives to drive desired activity (targets, funding flows etc), and *then* get out the way to let local systems work out how to achieve priorities

Or something, slightly half-formed thoughts

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply