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I do have a bit of a predilection for unusual words…
… or words that just sound ‘nice’.
I know from my in-box, I am among fellow logophiles.
Today, there’s a word that’s just aching to be used. Banging on the screen. Perhaps it’s not that unusual but it does have a nice sound to it and…
… I think it's a bit different in that it can be categorised under; orthographically irregular... pronounced differently to it’s spelling.
The word?
Superfluous: \soo-PER-floo-us\. Exceeding what is sufficient or necessary.
Examples?
Excessive packaging materials. Most kitchen gadgets. Expensive bottled water and closer to home… the NHS Constitution.
Do you know what’s in it?
Let me help. The NHS;
- provides a comprehensive service, available to all
- access is based on clinical need, not … ability to pay
- aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism
- the patient will be at the heart of everything
- works across organisational boundaries
- is committed to providing best value for taxpayers’ money
- is accountable to the public, communities and patients that it serves
Seven superfluous statements. Because…
The NHS Act 1946, enshrines equity of access to the NHS based on need and not the ability to pay.
Excellence and professionalism is the purview of regulators who demand that of their registrants. The NHS has to wait for regulators to get rid of poor performers.
Patients, have very little say in anything, are often faced with impossibly complex choices and resort to; ‘What would you do Doc?’
The NHS cannot work across organisational boundaries because of tariff limitations and working with social-care using the Better Care Fund is limited.
‘Best-value’ is part of Trusts’ fiduciary obligations in the NHSCCAct 1999…
… and unlike Local Authorities,
The NHS is not accountable in any way to the public and NHSE is only accountable to Parliament.
You can add to all this, a load more palaver about principles, values, rights and pledges which seem to me equally superfluous.
The Constitution has no legal standing. It's what’s called a ‘declaratory document’… in plain English… codifying what’s already out-there, someplace.
Under the Health Act 2009, the Constitution applies across the NHS and has to be reviewed every ten years.
It's being reviewed now and the upshot of this review will be published in 2024.
Do the maths. ‘Every ten years’…
2009+10=2019
2019+10=2029. Errr?
Come on, wake up, there’s an election coming and looking busy is very important!
Politicians can't leave it alone. Changing it is free. The document was messed-about-with in 2013, adding;
- patient involvement
- feedback
- candour
- end of life care
- integrated care
- complaints
- patient information
- staff rights, responsibilities and commitments
- dignity, respect and compassion
And again in 2015;
- creating a more patient-centred NHS
- clarifying that patients have a right to safe and high-quality care
- clarifying that staff have a duty to help
- inserting the expectation that staff will follow guidance and comply with standards relevant to their work
- reflecting the establishment of fundamental standard patient rights
- reflecting the introduction of a more compelling statutory duty of candour
In addition to the Francis Report changes, further changes were made which:
- highlighted the importance of the transparency and accountability within the NHS
- gave greater prominence to mental health
- made reference to the Armed Forces Covenant
I can't think of anything much that has actually changed as a result? This pre-election wheeze plans to add more compost to the pile of the obvious;
Single rooms for transgender patients… good, but enough beds for everyone, rather than corridors, might be a better start.
Reducing disparities in access, experience and outcomes for all… great, so create more front doors and more staff behind them and the NHS’ll do it.
Greener NHS; ‘while prioritising value for money’… the conflicts are obvious.
Make patients keep appointments… How? Tasers, nets, kidnap, bribes?
Research integrated into care… it already is.
Leadership, to provide ‘good workplace culture’… try a no-blame culture instead.
Right to a second opinion… was always there.
Referencing ‘unpaid carers’… paying them might be better than 'referencing' them.
There are other, technical changes, you might want to look at.
… yup, you are right. Superfluous. If we have to ‘declare’ anything, couldn't we just make it simple;
The NHS is free at the point of access, to everyone. The people working in it will be cherished, supported and well organised, to provide the best personal and respectful care they can, within their skills, knowledge and resources.
Works for me.
Forget the pages of web-guff.
Thirty nine words.
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