If the NHS was run like a business, each paying user would be considered a 'customer', instead the user is referred to as 'patient', because that's what you're expected to be, very, very, very patient.
Today, we find ourselves highly divided on public services yet the worst examples of the latter's conduct, prevail on a daily basis. Free speech and the right to protest undemocratic actions by these institutions, is curtailed by arrest and imprisonment. Democracy, which was historically defined as rule by the people, requires a new definition to make this Nation's claim to being one, legitimate.
"If the NHS wants to run itself as a business, shouldn't it have a business continuity plan for unforeseen events?" She does have a continuity plan for unforeseen events, she's just told you what it is. Her problem is that patients (customers if you prefer) are not going to like it, and she'll get the resulting grief.
Of course, if you've got a better idea, do tell her about it. Bucko's suggestion is all very well, but it wouldn't work in a heavily unionised, public-sector employer like the NHS.
In the meantime, shall we face the facts? The Queen's funeral and associated flim-flam are going to *harm*some*people*, either medically or financially or both. If you're not one of them, be thankful, but don't preach sermons to those who are. - Spiro
Elsewhere today (Daily Mail) there's an item titled "World leaders travelling to the UK for Queen’s funeral ‘will have to pay to use the NHS’" - Why shouldn't they pay (much the same as we have to pay when we are abroad), but, I wonder what Dr. Salisbury thinks about the concept of foreigners having to pay for NHS treatment??
The NHS is the epitome of Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy:-
Iron Law of Bureaucracy In any bureaucracy, the people devoted to the benefit of the bureaucracy itself always get in control and those dedicated to the goals the bureaucracy is supposed to accomplish have less and less influence, and sometimes are eliminated entirely.
"If the NHS was run like a business, each paying user would be considered a 'customer', instead the user is referred to as 'patient', because that's what you're expected to be, very, very, very patient."
Spot on!
"In the meantime, shall we face the facts? The Queen's funeral and associated flim-flam are going to *harm*some*people*, either medically or financially or both. If you're not one of them, be thankful, but don't preach sermons to those who are."
I think I'll 'preach' to use your term, to whoever I like. If you don't like it, don't read it.
"The NHS is the epitome of Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy..."
If the NHS was run like a business, each paying user would be considered a 'customer', instead the user is referred to as 'patient', because that's what you're expected to be, very, very, very patient.
ReplyDeleteThey could do what our company did. "Don't be daft, we're not closing on such short notice. If you want to watch the funeral on telly, book a day off"
ReplyDeleteWhenever twats are given the reins to do as they like as a public 'service', eh, Jaded?
ReplyDeleteToday, we find ourselves highly divided on public services yet the worst examples of the latter's conduct, prevail on a daily basis. Free speech and the right to protest undemocratic actions by these institutions, is curtailed by arrest and imprisonment. Democracy, which was historically defined as rule by the people, requires a new definition to make this Nation's claim to being one, legitimate.
ReplyDelete"If the NHS wants to run itself as a business, shouldn't it have a business continuity plan for unforeseen events?"
ReplyDeleteShe does have a continuity plan for unforeseen events, she's just told you what it is. Her problem is that patients (customers if you prefer) are not going to like it, and she'll get the resulting grief.
Of course, if you've got a better idea, do tell her about it. Bucko's suggestion is all very well, but it wouldn't work in a heavily unionised, public-sector employer like the NHS.
In the meantime, shall we face the facts? The Queen's funeral and associated flim-flam are going to *harm*some*people*, either medically or financially or both. If you're not one of them, be thankful, but don't preach sermons to those who are.
- Spiro
Elsewhere today (Daily Mail) there's an item titled "World leaders travelling to the UK for Queen’s funeral ‘will have to pay to use the NHS’" - Why shouldn't they pay (much the same as we have to pay when we are abroad), but, I wonder what Dr. Salisbury thinks about the concept of foreigners having to pay for NHS treatment??
ReplyDeleteThe NHS is the epitome of Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy:-
ReplyDeleteIron Law of Bureaucracy
In any bureaucracy, the people devoted to the benefit of the bureaucracy itself always get in control and those dedicated to the goals the bureaucracy is supposed to accomplish have less and less influence, and sometimes are eliminated entirely.
"If the NHS was run like a business, each paying user would be considered a 'customer', instead the user is referred to as 'patient', because that's what you're expected to be, very, very, very patient."
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
"In the meantime, shall we face the facts? The Queen's funeral and associated flim-flam are going to *harm*some*people*, either medically or financially or both. If you're not one of them, be thankful, but don't preach sermons to those who are."
I think I'll 'preach' to use your term, to whoever I like. If you don't like it, don't read it.
"The NHS is the epitome of Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy..."
Quite!