Report to the People
24th November 2003
An
Inquiry, Not a Post-Mortem
Although
I’m sorely tempted, I assure you that I will not lower the tone of a
respectable family newspaper by mentioning the F-word.
Yes,
absolutely no mention of football. Also
banned from my lexicon for the foreseeable future are clogs, Amstel, tulips and
Lee Wilkie.
But
the inquest into last week’s capitulation at the Amsterdam ArenA is not the
only newly launched inquiry into a cherished institution which has been
struggling to live up to the expectations of those who support it.
After
a summer of lobbying, persuading and cajoling, my colleagues on the
Parliament’s Health Committee have agreed to
hold, for the first time ever, a full inquiry into how the recruitment, training
and retention of NHS staff is affecting the delivery of health services.
As
we know all too well, Royal College guidelines, the sub-specialisation of
clinicians, a lack of flexibility and the impact of external factors such as the
agreement on junior doctors’ hours have all contributed to intense pressure to
centralise NHS services across Scotland. The
highly controversial maternity reviews in Argyll and Clyde, Glasgow, Falkirk,
Stirling and Perth are just the most recent example.
But,
rather than tackling these pressures at source, the NHS seems trapped in a cycle
of crisis
management – clearing the ball from the goal line, rather than playing a
thoughtful pass up-field, you could say.
So
it’s the job of this inquiry to examine how these issues have arisen and
consider how they can be effectively addressed.
Not
a small task. But, the breadth of and depth of this inquiry certainly gives
us a sporting chance.
It
will, for example, identify the pressures affecting the NHS workforce and how
they impact on service delivery. How these problems are being addressed will also be examined
and the areas with difficulties in recruitment and retention will be
highlighted.
It
is likely that health bosses, senior medical figures and doctors’
representatives will all be called to share their thoughts and explain their
actions. Patients are also set to have a major say and plans for a civic
participation event will be looked at shortly.
Like
a 6-0 drubbing from Holland, a major Committee inquiry is never a quick or
painless experience. And this
particular one will doubtless be uncomfortable for all sides.
But
we cannot duck our responsibilities. If
the issue of service planning is not tackled soon, it could lead to irreparable
damage in the NHS.
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