Blogging Break

It is time for a blogging break, which allows more time to read other blogs, which I am enjoying.
Many thanks for the kind e mails and comments.

Cuddle Power

Today the BBC reported how Japanese women are buying the ultimate sleeping partner. As the picture illustrates it's a pillow with a 'built in comfort' to cuddle up to. It's shaped like a man's torso but is guaranteed not to snore or disturb them in the middle of the night.

Apparently, they have been selling in droves and Japanese women say they are good for well-being! For more information see here.

Can he Deliver?

So what omen does the new Secretary of State for Health bring with him? It seems ironic that the former postman takes over the helm of the health service exactly the same day as threatened postal strikes. However, putting that aside it’s a big chance for the health of our nation, if he can get it right.

There is no doubt the job is a great privilege and challenge. There will be much for him to learn and understand, but if he asked for three points on the first day of his new post, I would say:

First, 'put patients first'. It’s imperative for patients to be thought of in front of bureaucrats and quangocrats.
Second, the NHS should be there for patients and not be used as a political football.
Third, as there are calls for the NHS to be depoliticised; accountability should remain.

Although nobody will want to remember Patricia Hewitt, her legacy was of frequent political, ill-thought through legislation, whilst she refused to be accountable for her results. That must change.

Alan Johnson, my three words to you are ‘Patients, Patients, Patients.’

Good luck!

And Finally...

Patricia Hewitt has finally ceased to be Health Minister.

Cameron on the NHS

As we await the new leadership of the labour party, below is a clip from webcameron, explaining how the Department of Health will go public.

Working Women

Today Doctors.Net reported that according to a new study nearly two thirds of medical graduates are now women and most want flexible working arrangements. In fact 58% of doctors who graduated last year were women and a fifth of these expect to need part-time work during their careers. The study recruited some 435 graduates last year to take part in a ten year study of their career development and found that many were already showing signs of demoralisation.

These figures clearly show that work force planning will be necessary for the NHS. With current unemployment problems of the 'Modernising Medical Careers', it may be worth considering the impact of part time posts, perhaps there will need to be more doctors, not less.

Laurel and Hardy Politics

As the NHS awaits a new Prime Minister and the removal of Patricia Hewitt, hospitals have been left with yet 'another fine mess' to sort out. Nobody could have missed the Modernising Medical Careers debacle. It has been left to hospitals to save the day, as they scramble to fill medical jobs in time to ensure patient safety. This is no small under taking, as doctors have all been forced to change jobs on the same day (1st August) in a way which has never happened before... and will never happen again.

So, what does the future hold under new Gordon Brown leadership? There are mumblings that he will increase NHS spending. Hence, exactly the same idea he's had for the past ten years, which hardly inspires the feeling of a fresh start. Knowing the government's capacity for money to be wasted long before it reaches patients, leaves me with the concern that there will be more Laurel and Hardy NHS policies. There is no prize for guessing which one in the picture represents Brown.... but the person he 'points' to be new Secretary of State for Health will have a very important job on his/her hands.

What's in a Video Game?

Today a video game has been banned from British shops on the ground that it encourages extreme violence and "casual sadism". The video game is believed to have images of the toddler James Bulger, including the unforgetable CCTV image of him being abducted.

Violent acts are commonly believed to increase after exposure to watched or television violence. There may be a reduction in the emotional response to violence, as brains become ‘desensitised’ to viewing on-screen violence. This leaves a potential problem for both viewers and film-makers. Film-makers need to escalate behaviour in order to get the same level of emotional response, whilst the viewer develops desensitisation to viewed violence. A study in 1974 by Drabman and Thomas found that eight year olds were less likely to tell an adult about a fight in the playroom after viewing a violent programme than if they had not seen it. The ongoing debate about the relationship between media violence and aggression is far from resolved. In Britain the link between the two was last in the spotlight following the murder of two year old James Bulger by two teenage boys in 1993. At their trial, Mr Justice Moreland said “It is not for me to pass judgement on their upbringing, but I suspect that exposure to violent video films may, in part, be an explanation.” Let's hope we've learnt from history.

Cameron Keynote Speech

Today I was in Tooting listening to David Cameron give his keynote speech. He described how the re-building of the Conservative Party was well underway. David Cameron used the well-known house analogy, explaining how the centre ground had been prepared, foundations completed and it was now time for the exciting part - watching the house take form, laid brick by brick.

It was a great speech and addressed a wide range of topics with the central theme of social responsibility. It was good to hear a father of three (the day after father's day) talk about the family as the cornerstone of society, suggesting that "It is simply no use talking about opportunity for all unless we give every child in our country the secure start in life that comes from a stable, loving home.”

And it wasn’t just David Cameron who spoke today, there was Philippa Stroud explaining the background to the ‘social justice policy group’, Grant Schapps with his enthusiasm for local communities along with Francis Maude, Mark Clarke and Michael Gove. Overall, David Cameron's speech was a breath of fresh air for the political arena; it was clear he is not going to be building a paper house to be blown in any direction, but a brick house built for the future. The full pdf of his speech can be read here.

Father's Day

Six year old Connie singing on 'Britain's Got Talent' could not fail to bring a smile to the face and warmth to the heart, as she sang in the final and dedicated her song to her dad on father's day. Below is a clip of the six year old and her two supportive parents: