Officials 'encouraged NHS boss to strengthen strike letter'

[Northerner]

Whitehall officials encouraged a health service boss to strengthen a letter that raised concerns over whether striking junior doctors would be available to respond in the event of a Paris-style attack, it has been claimed.

Emails reveal that Sir Bruce Keogh's letter went through a number of revisions to ensure concerns about the possible impact of a major incident during the walk out were made as "hard-edged" as possible, according to the Independent.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was also given approval of the text, emails between the Department of Health (DoH) and the national medical director of NHS England reveal.

Liberal Democrats warned the revelations raised "serious concerns about potential political interference" and suggested that trust between the government and doctors would be damaged further.

http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/off...ss-to-strengthen-strike-letter-11364032499726

Stop playing silly games and start supporting the NHS properly! 😡

 

[trophywench]

Hah!!!

Pub bombings in Brum - remember them, over 40 years ago now but God - it really was awful in town, and I worked there - opposite the Penny Black.

However as soon as it was on the News - a bulletin in the middle of whatever progs happened to be on the TV and the radio - 100s of off duty docs and nurses turned up, unasked, to their nearest hospitals to help in A&E, to do whatever they could wherever they could. The mere suggestion that this wouldn't happen again is yet another absolutely VILE insult to NHS staff and - I think they are doing it deliberatelywith malice aforethought, to make them feel even more like shit.

Bastards !

 

[AlisonM]

The same thing happened in London on July 7th, doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics, anyone who could do anything at all to help, turned up and did whatever they could. Unasked. Suggesting that NHS people are anything less than committed is disgraceful. For all my problems with certain members of the NHS, even I realise and appreciate how absolutely dedicated the great majority are, they keep on going under terrible pressure. Jenny's right, they are being undermined and belittled at every turn. In an attempt I assume to justify the ongoing cuts to budgets and make us believe private medicine is the way to go. Heaven help us.