French Resistance and Roman Fiction
UK
Shopping Basket
Your Basket is Empty
Quantity:
Subtotal
Taxes
Delivery
Total
A World War 2 Trilogy
By FRED NATH (Novelist and Neurosurgeon)
Fred's Blog
Fred's Blog
Blog
Covid-19 [4] The NHS
| Posted on 16 April, 2020 at 18:49 |
I may seem like a bitter old git,
but I have serious reservations about all the praise for NHS workers. I see how
people are clapping and join them unreservedly in praising how front-line NHS
workers are going to work every day facing fears and genuinely risking their
lives to save patients in the present Covid-19 crisis. It is what the NHS
and the wonderful people in it signed up for, are committed to, and execute
with kindness and empathy. I’ve been a consultant
neurosurgeon for 34 years in the NHS and have had the privilege of working
beside the finest nurses, porters and ground staff any system could offer. Many
of them worked without demur despite poor conditions, under staffing and poor
remuneration. The nurses on my neurosurgical ward never went home at the end of
their shift on time because they had to make sure that in the presence of staff
shortages (always there) the patients would be OK. I loved those people for
their kindness, care and empathy. About
time you appreciated them too. But… And there is always a but… Think about it. Those people you
are all praising, and admiring have been doing that job for a long time. What
have successive governments done to them? Yes, not just Tories but Labour
Governments also? Margaret Thatcher wanted to dis-empower doctors and abolish ‘shroud waving’ because she and her Government
were underfunding the NHS and under-paying the hard-working staff – doctors,
nurses, porters and cleaners. She put doctors into management to divide and
rule – setting doctor against doctor to make them blame each other instead of
the niggardly governments. There was a review body which did what the
Government wanted and never paid anyone in the NHS even at the level of
inflation. Next came successive Labour and
Conservative Governments who engaged in and encouraged ‘doctor bashing’ –
vilifying doctors generally. The press joined in and the politicians tried
their best to redress the balance between the public view of doctors compared
to the public view of politicians. NHS workers – all of us- felt
undervalued and underpaid. Morale was rock-bottom and descending. Suddenly – Covid-19! Yes, you are going to die without
our glorious NHS. Well, buddy, let me tell you the NHS was always bloody
glorious! Not only are we there for you
now, we always were, despite what the politicians did to us. They tried to
damage our status (nurses and doctors). They cheated us over pensions. They
underpaid us. And Now? Wonderful NHS – saving lives
– we are so grateful! You for real? We have one of the lowest per
capita rate of cost for health care in Europe. We have had desperately
insufficient ITU beds in the country for years. Patients died for the lack of
them and no one cared. We cajoled, we urged, and we begged for more ITU beds
and were laughed at. No one cared and people died unnecessarily. Perhaps now, even Boris Johnson realizes what the NHS is. It is a wonderful institution and the people working
in it do so and give everything they have, even their lives for others without
complaint (or remuneration). Shouldn’t you be paying them for
what they do? Shouldn’t they have a right to a decent wage and a feeling of
security? Keep clapping and wafting your
virus at the people round you. It wont pay anyone’s mortgage. |
Categories: thoughts
Post a Comment
Oops!
The words you entered did not match the given text. Please try again.
690 Comments
Reply
Unfinee
6:13 on 10 June, 2022
Evjkpe https://newfasttadalafil.com/ - Cialis Posyag Xrztik cialis 40 mg Rwbzdn Generic Cialis Los Vegas Avapro https://newfasttadalafil.com/ - Cialis
Reply
creativehauz
16:52 on 11 June, 2022
james harden nets jerseys mens cleveland cavaliers 23 lebron james 2015 the finals yellow jersey moncler marus black halo sanibel 2 piece mini dress mens houston texans 7 will fuller red alternate game jersey snapback cap dodgers
creativehauz http://www.creativehauz.com/
creativehauz http://www.creativehauz.com/
Reply
kozeis
10:58 on 12 June, 2022
lebron james black and gold jersey peach moncler jacket moncler valentino coat port vale tracksuit red dressy pants 50s inspired outfits
kozeis http://www.kozeis.com/
kozeis http://www.kozeis.com/
Reply
belpages
21:54 on 12 June, 2022
female tunic new york yankees bling hat menu nike zoom air white eagles on field hat for uk dress fish cut lacoste ladies slip on shoes
belpages http://www.belpages.net/
belpages http://www.belpages.net/
Reply
besafeab
1:49 on 14 June, 2022
white grey red nike darwin mens uk shoes michael kors sonnenbrille outlet anorak denali nike air max 98 ii white shirt dress with sneakers celtic away football shirt
besafeab http://www.besafeab.com/
besafeab http://www.besafeab.com/
Reply
fayamatt
7:35 on 14 June, 2022
black and white jordan 6 mens nike philadelphia eagles 10 chase daniel game black alternate nfl jersey boston red sox hats flex fit schedule salomon qst 99 skis san francisco giants newborn hat outfit nike mercurial vapor 14 red
fayamatt http://www.fayamatt.com/
fayamatt http://www.fayamatt.com/
Reply
milumba
5:48 on 19 June, 2022
ken griffey jr shoes max 1 louis vuitton cheese hat t co necklace zx flux j core black boarderline tank dress
milumba http://www.milumba.com/
milumba http://www.milumba.com/
Reply
hyo-kin
5:49 on 19 June, 2022
formal baby dresses burgundy night short dresses cali outdoor hustle perforated lace up sneakers fox hat phat mongrel guess kaysie sneakers childrens visor
hyo-kin http://www.hyo-kin.com/
hyo-kin http://www.hyo-kin.com/
Reply
tamrecording
18:34 on 21 June, 2022
rb2132 601 womens nike arizona cardinals customized white game jersey long sleeve england football shirt old navy short dresses tote 40 in signature chambray pandora cremation necklace
tamrecording http://www.tamrecording.com/
tamrecording http://www.tamrecording.com/
Reply
dietibg
8:37 on 23 June, 2022
adidas terrex ax2r beta mid climawarm coral michael kors wallet nike performance epic react flyknit puma rs x puzzle womens jersey nfl hombre pandora near us
dietibg http://www.dietibg.net/
dietibg http://www.dietibg.net/
Reply
blturnerintl
8:38 on 23 June, 2022
new balance stray rats 827 raybans discount code moncler womens fur hood jacket soccer goalkeeper shirt custom knicks shirt deion sanders black atlanta falcons jersey
blturnerintl http://www.blturnerintl.com/
blturnerintl http://www.blturnerintl.com/
Reply
howtoans
13:07 on 27 June, 2022
long sleeve jersey polo shirt aaron donald black jersey old navy boston celtics tr8 kanadia cloudfoam police uniform hat
howtoans http://www.howtoans.com/
howtoans http://www.howtoans.com/
Reply
laeamerica
17:50 on 28 June, 2022
arizona cardinals sideline hat for eu nike flex free run 2018 air jordan low 1 men spurs logo fiesta atlanta falcons leather jacket washington nationals beanie hat zions bank quest nutrition
laeamerica http://www.laeamerica.com/
laeamerica http://www.laeamerica.com/
Reply
jfpnyc
17:50 on 28 June, 2022
limited deone bucannon mens jersey arizona cardinals 20 alternate black nfl mini prada bag pink ralph lauren designer sale zimmermann boho dress van heusen classic pants greece 6 alexandros tziolis away mens adults short sleeves 2016 2017 country national team soccer jerseys
jfpnyc http://www.jfpnyc.com/
jfpnyc http://www.jfpnyc.com/
Reply
storams
13:40 on 29 June, 2022
joel embiid youth t shirt st louis blues original jersey adidas ozweego bunny raf simons core black brown chuck 70 high redskins tshirts silver glitter wedding dress
storams http://www.storams.com/
storams http://www.storams.com/
Reply
osamusushi
13:40 on 29 June, 2022
moncler grenoble jacket blue white moncler vest suns fan shirt mermaid two piece plus size blue party dress under armour hovr infinite 2 mens running shoes
osamusushi http://www.osamusushi.com/
osamusushi http://www.osamusushi.com/
Reply
nardulan
7:47 on 30 June, 2022
altra lone peak 1.0 light baseball hat adidas ultra boost running course a pied ugg mini ii sale vital seamless long sleeve
nardulan http://www.nardulan.com/
nardulan http://www.nardulan.com/
Reply
cuakpsi
7:47 on 30 June, 2022
og sole canvas low sneaker chiefs hat rally house oakley ski goggles fogging up nba jersey clippers justin bieber maple leafs jersey ladies nike air thea
cuakpsi http://www.cuakpsi.com/
cuakpsi http://www.cuakpsi.com/
Reply
k-editions
16:32 on 1 July, 2022
north face heritage ripstop down parka mens kimes ranch hats nike san francisco 49ers 53 navorro bowman red limited womens jersey north face fanny pack jacket jordan hat bhm ingenieure ray ban rb3447 gold
k-editions http://www.k-editions.com/
k-editions http://www.k-editions.com/
Reply
selenechew
16:32 on 1 July, 2022
army navy game hoodie design your own boston red sox hat amazon r m richards high low dress emilio pucci bucket hat charm pandora cat new adidas yeezy boost 650 cheap white and green shoes
selenechew http://www.selenechew.com/
selenechew http://www.selenechew.com/
Oops!
Oops, you forgot something.