I hate it when columnists write for the sake of attacking their political opponents, rather than for the merit of a good bout of writing and an expression of ideas.
I dislike David Cameron for most of what he stands for and for being so ignorant, but he presents nuggets of sense from time to time. Nurses? Various reports from 'ordinary people', from medical folk, and from documentaries reveal that they're not always up to scratch. David Cameron recognises that they waste time. Generally speaking, of course. So he is hoping to make a change amongst them. Barbara Ellen, columnist for the Guardian, defends nurses seemingly because she is a Lefty and that's what we do. We stick up for 'the people'.
She clearly only has a small amount of space in which to write, and she is not an investigative reporter. But why sensationalise 'the plight of the nurse' and the extraordinary work that they do in return for pittance and criticism? So that she can offhandedly attack the Tory opposition. It's a careless piece of writing that merely fills the space she is meant to fill.
I suppose her underlining theory is that this government is in some of its early stages of dismantling the NHS and gradually and tragically morphing it into a private organisation. With this I stand by her. The NHS, in theory, could be magnificent. It is a far better system than those that most other countries hold, and it would be a tragedy to lose it.
However, the fact is that it is far from perfect, and the failing of the nurses - generally - is definitely something that needs to be addressed. They waste time, energy and money. If it is Cameron who is performing this ugly task of addressing the issues, even if it is with the future agenda of making it private, then so be it. It cannot continue as it is.
According to Ellen, the problem with the nurses is that they are "under-staffed and over worked", when the reality appears to be more along the lines of the fact that they appear to be disorganised and inefficient. I refer to the previous entry that I wrote about the medical profession, which includes a first hand account from a newly qualified doctor who trained in London for a few months. Obviously, A&E in London offers a different scenario to your average local medical centre, and there are probably some marvellous nurses and carers, but the bottom line is that the structure of the nurses and their work within hospitals, clinics, A&Es needs to be rejigged or overhauled.
I'm sure that there must be an overwhelming sense that they are over worked when they are running around all over the place trying to find a file for a patient that wasn't put in the proper place because there isn't a proper place, but sadly this wreaks of incompetence to me. If all it takes is a restructuring of a few filing cabinets (electronic or otherwise), training in how to take blood so that the basic levels of care can be taken to a good schedule, and knowing where the operating equipment is even kept, then a more efficient use of time could be embraced so the nurses won't run around looking as if they have misplaced their sense, and they may look and feel less harried.
I am simplifying this, of course, but then so is Ellen. Everyone knows it is not all fine and dandy amongst the nurses, but injecting more money into a seemingly structureless organisation will only allow incompetencies to flourish. Bring in an external team of assessors, shake it up, restructure, reorganise and implement. Yes, this would involve an injection of cash (an injection that this government is unlikely to provide considering their ruthless withdrawal of pounds), probably some resistance from the older medical hands who will defend their practices, but it will be an investment.
In the likelihood that government money will not be provided, surely someone out there has just come into some extra cash? Perhaps they received a bonus? Or someone with excellent interest rates in an off-shore bank account? Anyone? These good people could fund the wise business strategists to give the NHS and the staffing an overhaul...
*cough* Please forgive my idyllic sentiments and my silly wish for Utopian health care. Foolish of my thoughts to wander so.
So yes, Barbara Ellen, the NHS should be targeted. And after the nurses, it should be the organisation of the medical centres and how to register; then how to book an appointment; then how long an appointment can last; then re-teaching GPs about creating a rapport with their patients; then.........
