It is disturbing to think that senior clinicians in the NHS in Wales are afraid or unable to speak out publicly about their concerns because of so-called 'gagging orders'.
Welsh health minister Edwina Hart thinks so too as she embarks on a series of wide-ranging reviews into the state of our NHS, declaring she wants to rid the NHS of a 'culture of fear'.
Clwyd West Conservative AM Darren Mllar asked the minister in the Senedd: "There have been many occasions when senior members of staff and senior clinicians have come to me privately to express their views, but they have not been prepared to do so in public because of gagging orders, basically, from local health boards and trusts.
"That is clearly an unacceptable state of affairs. I hope that this review will overcome those problems."
Mrs Hart replied: "It is important that we get away from this culture of fear and that there is a mechanism by which people can express their views and know that they will be secure.
“Naively, I always thought that it would always be restricted, but not necessarily to professionals.
“However, the professionals have a harder time of it than some of the auxiliary staff, who have Unison representatives who are well trained up front and laying it on the line.
“It is quite different from what happens sometimes with the British Medical Association and other organisations.
“Some people feel particularly vulnerable, especially when talking about their own specialism, because it looks like self interest rather than the expressing of concern about the health issues.
“Therefore, I am happy to look at those particular issues.”
Peter wrote...
The NHS should be returned to it's former status and the Trust management should be dispensed with.
Wales should be divided into four economic regions, e.g. N/W, N/E, S/W and S/E and full health care provided in each region eliminating the necessity for patients having to travel to England for treatment.
Until this becomes a reality the current practise will have to continue.
It does not help matters when certain politicians and members of the media state that the problem is the north south divide and blame the people in south Wales.
The political boundaries were set by both of the major parties and they have only themselves to blame for the unholy mess they have created.
The alarming fact is that they are never ever prepared to listen to the public.
Posted by: Peter | September 27, 2007 4:19 PM