A second NHS review in two years aims to win over flagging morale amongst staff but sceptics fear more money and time will be wasted.
In an attempt to turn around poor public perception of the National Health Service (NHS) Alan Johnson, health secretary, has announced a further review to be led by Ara Darzi, a surgeon who has been drafted into the Department of Health as a junior minister.
Johnson admitted the failings of past reviews and said: “We’ve put a lot of money in, but that hasn’t led to a lot of happy bunnies. If there’s a problem with morale, it’s our responsibility, and it’s our responsibility to put it right. The bit that has gone wrong is taking the public with us,” reports The Times.
The announcement has provoked a sceptical reaction. According to the paper, the British Medical Association and the Unison union welcomed the review but pressure group Keep Our NHS Public said that it did not go far enough.
Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary told the Commons: “The only thing the Secretary of State seems to have understood is that morale in the NHS is at rock bottom. Where is the autonomy and accountability that the NHS is so calling out for? Where is the leadership and direction that the NHS so badly needs?”
2 Responses
‘Happy Bunnies’? – I don’t think so!
Having just left the NHS after 5 years working in HR I can confirm that staff morale is at rock bottom and has been for a number of years! It seems that endless amounts of money is thrown at independent consultants, staff surveys, etc but nothing positive comes out at the other end!
I believe that a major part of the problem is that managers are in post who can’t manage but just bully and intimidate and especially don’t listen (and don’t want to listen)to staff and think that by ignoring the problem it will go away – or the staff will leave.
I speak from a non-medical view point but staff who work in this area feel unappreciated, underpaid and undervalued but without these people the NHS would be in an even worse position!
Respectful?
Does anybody else think that the tone set by the use of “happy bunnies” is an indication of the problem?