| Author | Message | ||
| Anon Guest |
WHEN I read the Guernsey Press the other day and it said renal patient not happy, I just had to put pen to paper. Years ago I had a relation who was on dialysis and sometimes we had to go to Jersey and even England, sometimes three days a week in order to live, but he did it because he knew he had to. Now, how would this person survive if she had to do this? I went to see the new block at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital and it seems very nice. I have even spoken to a couple of dialysis patients and they seem to love the new unit. It is very big, nice and light with new televisions and still the same excellent renal staff, so at the end of the day I think this woman should realise how lucky she is instead of being negative and writing such a big article about it. Name and address withheld. | ||
| P. G. E. Rivaz Guest |
I HAVE lived in Alderney continuously since 8 August 1966. I think the States of Guernsey's mismanagement of the redevelopment at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital is reprehensible, as are their economies - not apparently any regrets or even apologies. At the very least they could repay the £10,000 spent on the glass statue as a small gesture. I understand that an offer of sponsorship was turned down. Why? Have these people no shame and no consciences? P. G. E. RIVAZ (Mrs), Alderney. | ||
| Anon Guest |
BEFORE more cuts are made in healthcare etc., perhaps the use of HSSD cars could be looked at. As an ex-employee of HSSD, it is well known that some car users enjoy the 'perks' of unpaid private mileage. Two forms have to be filled in monthly - one for private miles done and one for work-related mileage. Both have to be signed off by a manager but a lot never bother to check or question mileage. Department cars were used during work hours and left at work daily so only work mileage was given in. A lot of users have the use of the cars to take home and use privately. It's known that some fill in their private forms with only mileage put down from their home to work and return - the other private miles like shopping, school runs, outings etc. are 'lost' in the work mileage sheet therefore costing the HSSD pounds in unpaid petrol. The HSSD petrol bill must run into thousands. It would be interesting to know what percentage of that is honestly paid back with private mileage. The HSSD buys the cars - 50/60 in fleet, pays for servicing, pays insurance, pays petrol and pays for damage repairs. Are we, the taxpayer, being taken for a ride? Name and address withheld GP Editor's footnote: A HSSD spokesman responds: The HSSD has an established policy on the use of its cars, while the rate for private mileage is published annually by the Public Sector Remuneration Committee. Each HSSD staff member who uses a fleet car for private purposes is required to log that mileage, which is then checked by their manager. The payroll section is notified and the appropriate amount is deducted from the person's salary at source. Failure to comply with this policy is considered to be a disciplinary offence and, if discovered, will lead to the department taking appropriate action. | ||
| K. M. Solway Guest |
I READ with incredulity the proposed constraints being implemented by HSSD. Obviously no consultation occurred, so how was it determined which areas would be affected? Did Hunter Adam choose at random, because that is how it appears? Mr Hughes states HSSD would not be cutting jobs to ensure the same level of care. How can that be provided with less staff? If agency nurses are now not required, staffing levels will be lower. This does not equate with good practice. If agency nurses, locums and consultants are being reduced or stopped, I beg the question, were the millions of pounds spent on them in the past really necessary? Mr Hughes also states that only people who cannot be treated here will go off island for treatment - should that not always have been the case? The recruitment and retention of local staff will now be more difficult following the childcare allowance being removed. This is an old chestnut, going back many years and only implemented in 2001, now withdrawn without consultation. This facility would have been a powerful incentive in recruitment and retention. While on the subject of recruitment, why can't some of the money paid in bonuses to non-local staff (i.e. the retention bonus) be used in a recruitment drive for the plethora of locally based people interested in health care? Is that too easy a way of saving money? Local people would not abuse this benefit as some apparently do. As locals they would not be trotting off to pastures green after a year with a £1,000 bonus or more. Regarding staff facilities at night, obviously HSSD personnel have never done night duty. Enough said. The other areas where cuts are being made I cannot comment on, other than listen to their representatives and think this is all pathetic. Is there actually a department in our beloved States who are doing their job properly and not spending our money unwisely with no curbs? At the end of the day it's our money, not theirs. One last thought: why not put a housewife who has to budget every week to make ends meet as head of all States departments? I don't think there would be huge overspends and health taxes inflicted on all of us because, believe me, all of us will in one way or another be paying for HSSD's incompetences. K. M. SOLWAY | ||
| Mrs A. Richardson Guest |
FURTHER to my letter (Guernsey Press, 13 January), I enclose a copy of a letter from Jon Beausire, chief ambulance officer, dated 2 July 2009. '... Some progress has been made during this year for the introduction of community first responders in Guernsey. I am happy to be able to tell you that 12 members of our voluntary ambulance reserve have recently completed the training required, which has given them a national qualification as a community first responder. 'We still have some way to go in setting up the infrastructure for activating these people and to ensure that we have the necessary procedures in place to ensure their safety while responding for this service. In realistic terms, I guess it will be 2010 before we can commence such a scheme... ' For your further information, I have been told by John Hopkins (Essex manager) that the cost for the equipment for one first responder is £2,000. MRS A. RICHARDSON. | ||
| Anon Guest |
THERE has been, in the wake of their 'budget cuts' announcement, some criticism of the HSSD for avoiding redundancies. An alternative view might be that, by reducing the use of agency and locum staff, they are protecting local jobs and avoiding adding to the island's unemployment figure. Yes, it may be cheaper to pay these people the dole rather than their salaries - but perhaps we should also consider the loss of tax-take and of revenue from their spending in the local economy. It has even been suggested that they could be re-employed in the private sector - despite several headlines in recent months announcing significant redundancies in the private sector. The HSSD has said it will evaluate every vacancy that occurs and may scrap posts as a result, which suggests that a reduction in staff numbers will indeed be achieved in due course - but by evolution, not revolution. Finally, the nursing unions have denounced the loss of childcare subsidy and meal provision - yet police officers, firefighters and teachers do not get those perks. Perhaps some people should be grateful that they still have a job and should consider the loss of additional perks as a small price to pay for keeping it. Name and address withheld. | ||
| Rev. Eric Gaudion Guest |
AS A regular user, unfortunately, of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital and also of new NHS hospital facilities in London, I want to thank the Health Department for allowing me a preview of the new clinical block. It is outstanding in its thoughtful design, integrated facilities and superb office and ancillary areas - far above anything I have seen in the UK. The whole block is a testament to the excellent care that we enjoy in Guernsey and the vision and forward planning of all involved. Bearing in mind the cost of the new block, both financial and political, I know that this level of excellence does not come cheap, but I feel islanders have good cause to be really thankful for the development. Whether we need it or not, it enhances all our lives as a sign that Guernsey still does care for its own. So, thank you HSSD, for this new block, and thank God for the privilege of living where such good care is available to all - free at the point of need. REV. ERIC GAUDION | ||
| Alfred Taylor Guest |
IT APPEARS that the States spokesman reported recently to have said that the States does not want to renew the reciprocal health agreement with the UK is unbelievably arrogant and ill informed. There are elderly visitors who come to Guernsey who find it hard to pay the high insurance premiums and of course many visitors are unaware that Guernsey is neither part of the UK nor the EU and they need to take out travel insurance. They can travel throughout much of Europe including such faraway places as Romania and are covered by the NHS. Most Guernsey people must know that they should take out travel insurance to go to the UK or take a risk. However, the States should make every effort to resurrect the scrapped reciprocal health agreement. Accidents happen and since the agreement was scraped, an elderly visitor has had to be flown to the UK at a cost to his family here of some £4,000. It only takes a few adverse articles in the British and/or Continental press to have some effect on the island. ALFRED TAYLOR. | ||
| Pamela Rivaz Guest |
I HAVE just read Opinion, the voice of islanders. I am totally amazed and appalled by the opinions expressed. My late husband Vincent and I moved to Alderney to live and to work in 1966 accompanied by our three young children, then aged six, five and three. The children and I flew over on 8 August and were met by my now late mother, Mrs Hoyes, who had moved to Alderney to live full time in the early 1960s. My husband followed that December, having completed the sale of our house and of Jubilee Nurseries, together with a large amount of live and dead stock. He had founded Jubilee Nurseries in 1955, having purchased additional 'acreage' to add to what had been a successful free-range commercial poultry farm, run by his father, Claude Rivaz. I still have medals he won for his light breed commercial poultry from 1923 and 1924. This may be of little interest to the majority of your readers. We purchased Le Maison Blanche, 23, High Street, and land at the Val du Sud and also rented The Valley Gardens, so had two thriving nurseries. Sadly, this came to an end on Vincent's death 19 years ago. I could not continue to run the business on my own. He had never let me drive either tractor, just our Land Rover. I am now aged 80 and am fortunate to be alive and as well as my GPs and the specialist care I receive from Mr Patterson and Mr Vhadra can enable me to be, but I have chronic cardiac failure. I gave up car ownership some years ago, as a small gesture towards lessening the congestion on our roads. I am proud to have an unblemished driving record. Public transport is vital to me, both in Guernsey and also in England. I no longer drive because of the state of my heart. My doctor and I decided that it would be more sensible not to do so about seven years ago. This means that subsidised transport is a great boon to me and no, I have not obtained a free travel pass, so I pay the 60p fare. As I have chronic cardiac failure, I am limited as to how far I can walk. I also have osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and was scheduled to have elective orthopaedic surgery to replace my left knee joint on 30 April in the PEH. At a routine pre-op check up with Dr Holland she 'did not like my pulse' and sent me for an ECG as a direct result. Having spoken to Dr Patterson, she then wrote a letter to the physician in charge of A&E and telephoned for an ambulance. I was an in-patient in De Sausmarez Ward for 22 days so that Dr Patterson could adjust my pills. I was unable to have orthopaedic surgery on this occasion and have been told on Monday 16 November, at a follow up appointment with Dr Patterson, 'that unfortunately he does not think that it would be advisable for me to undergo the two-and-a-half hour surgery to replace my knee.' He went on to say 'I am sorry, because I do not like to think of you being in increasing pain from your knee.' The other knee is now beginning to 'play up'. Thanks to six weeks' rest, staying in my son's beautiful seaside house in Pagham, where it is 'totally flat' my heart is now much better than for the past 12 years. I am only alive today thanks to having been sent to The Derriford Hospital in Plymouth on 5 February 2000. I was so ill then that my life expectancy was seven to 10 days and I was in dreadful pain. Thanks to my surgeon's skill and part of an American calf's heart, which was used as a replacement to my aortic valve and two coronary artery grafts, the two-and-a-half hour operation literally gave me a new lease of life. I was amazed when I 'came to' in the ICU, free of pain. Every day of my life since I look upon as a bonus day and I am profoundly grateful for all the medical knowledge and the skills used on myself - not least to my GPs here in Alderney and to our excellent local pharmacy. However, I wonder why the States of Guernsey refuses to pay for a vital drug for me, prescribed by Dr Patterson? I have to pay £56.20 every 28 days for a further 56 tablet supply. Why? This is a vital drug. I do not smoke and have not done so for 40 years. I live in my own house and have meals on wheels (means tested) six days a week. I have no help in the house. For goodness sake, get real. Stop being so selfish. PAMELA RIVAZ (Mrs). | ||
| M. Taylor Guest |
I READ with amazement on 21 December that a woman is complaining about not having her hip replacement replaced. The NHS is notorious for its long delays and it's less than satisfactory standards. I was sent to the pain clinic at St James in London and found the staff inadequately trained (certainly in comparison to our pain clinic). The rooms where the meetings were held were dirty (badly cleaned) and facilities poor. If a surgeon wrote to me to tell me he thought I needed a more highly skilled person to do my operation, I would thank my lucky stars he realised this. I would also contact his secretary to find out when and where my op would take place. I would also ask to see our pain clinic to see if they could help me, explaining how much pain I was in. I have found the Guernsey pain clinic extremely helpful and caring. Never once have I been turned away and I've been having help from them since I returned to the island in 2002. While I recognise that pain is debilitating and extremely upsetting (I'm not an expert), I don't understand why this woman didn't ask what could be done to help her? I've found that all the Medical Specialist secretaries are very helpful and caring and this is what the pain clinic is there for, to alleviate pain, to advise on what the patients can do to help themselves and, if necessary, to ask for help for patients. Maybe not enough is known about this relatively new facility? Having said all this, I do hope the woman concerned soon gets the help she needs. M. TAYLOR | ||
| Deputy Hunter Adam Guest |
The Health and Social Services Department has a well-established complaints procedure and, if your correspondent had contacted the department in the first instance, the concerns as detailed in the penultimate paragraph of the letter would have been addressed. The Health and Social Services Department does not comment publicly on individual cases and so most of this response is in general terms only. The theatres are always closed down for two weeks in August to allow for maintenance and thorough cleaning. Only emergency surgery is carried out during this period. In addition, it does happen that doctors, nurses and other staff become ill and theatre lists may therefore need to be cancelled at short notice. In this particular instance, the anaesthetist became unwell and, as there was no other anaesthetist available, the operating list had to be cancelled. There are occasions when it is preferable to refer patients off-island for treatment, namely in situations where the consultant considers this is in the best interests of the patient. The usual procedure for requesting a second opinion is through the GP and whether a second opinion would be appropriate is for the GP to decide, having taken all the facts into consideration. I am sorry if your correspondent feels that I was not being as helpful as I tried to be. I would point out that the complainant's husband put the telephone down on me when I was simply making enquiries to try to ascertain reasons why the decision may have been taken for the patient not to have the operation in Guernsey. I did telephone back to ask what your correspondent wanted - which was a second opinion. I took the unorthodox decision to write to another consultant. At no time during the conversations did I make any assertions about the complainant's condition. I note that your correspondent states that the hip operation was performed 12 years ago; this may be one reason why it failed. As I have said, there is a procedure for dealing with patients' complaints - which would have been a quicker route to take than raising concerns with two States members who have nothing to do with the HSSD. In retrospect, it would have been preferable to advise the complainant to follow the formal procedure. Deputy Hunter Adam Health Minister | ||
| Sheila Kendall Guest |
WE ARE hearing all the time that our health service in Guernsey is as good as anybody could expect. My experiences since 22 August do not bear that out. On that day, as I was hanging the washing in the garden, my artificial hip joint, inserted 12 years ago, shattered and broke. I was taken to hospital and remained there until Wednesday 26 August. During my stay I was seen by a surgeon who said that he could not operate on my hip because the operating theatres were being sterilised and that I would have to wait two or three weeks to see him at his fracture clinic. When I did see the surgeon at the clinic he said that I would have to wait until 23 October for the operation. A few days before the projected date I was called to say that the operation had been cancelled because there was not enough time available in the operating theatre to deal with my injury. The next date set was 10 November when I was admitted to hospital, prepared for the operation and then told that because the anaesthetist was unwell the operation was being cancelled and rearranged for a later date. I was told that my case was now a priority and it was rescheduled for 10 December. Just imagine my feelings when, on Wednesday 25 November, the surgeon telephoned me to say that he did not think his expertise was adequate to deal with the operation envisaged and he would try to get me an appointment to have the surgery carried out in Exeter. By now my husband was getting somewhat irate about these delays and frustrations. He called deputies Bernard Flouquet and Ivan Rihoy to ask if they could use their influence or good offices to get matters moving. The efforts of the two deputies obviously succeeded because I soon had a call from Health minister Hunter Adam, who questioned how an artificial hip, installed 12 years previously, had broken. He implied that this was not possible. Shortly after this somewhat edgy conversation with the minister, he called back again to say that because I was 'obese' this breakage had all been my fault. I know that Deputy Adam has a current serious focus on obesity but how he could have made this diagnosis of my condition without having ever met me was quite a surprise. The 'bedside manner' of the former doctor was not very encouraging. Eventually the minister offered me a second opinion about my situation and said that he would try to arrange an appointment with a different surgeon, who had done the original operation. What I would like to know is why my case was treated with such little urgency; why appointments were cancelled; how there was only one anaesthetist available as I sat on the edge of my hospital bed waiting to go to theatre; why the surgeon I had seen since that day in August took until late November to appreciate that he did not have the skill or expertise to deal with the required operation and why it was only when two deputies took up my case that a second opinion was offered, but not yet arranged, I would add? We all hear volumes in praise of our health service but it is only when you are on the receiving end of casual and cavalier treatment, trapped in a wheelchair or reliant upon a walking frame for months, that you realise that our system here can have the same feet of clay as have just been exposed by reports on the UK's health service. SHEILA KENDALL. | ||
| Deputy Hunter Adam Guest |
IN HIS letter printed in the Guernsey Press on Saturday 5 December, Mike Tidd expressed concern that I was leading the Health and Social Services Department into a deliberate overspend and that I had no regard for the island's strained finances. I have spoken to him personally and as he appeared to have taken an incorrect inference from the Guernsey Press article, he suggested that I write to you. I agree that the States must live within their resources. The difficulty is that this means a change in mindset for us all: the politicians, all the staff of the States who provide the services for the people of Guernsey, and the public who must recognise that services may be reduced, or that they may have to wait longer for services or that they may have to pay more. The Fundamental Spending Review has certainly highlighted areas where savings could be made by greater efficiencies, but also those where savings will mean a higher cost to the users of the services concerned. Examples of this are Beau Sejour and the bus service. Regarding my comment on in vitro fertilisation (IVF), I was questioning the logic whereby society feels it appropriate to fund terminations of pregnancy but not to fund assistance to people who have difficulty in conceiving as the mental stress is comparable. It was not a proposal for such funding as I fully realise that new services cannot be funded unless they are given priority within the States Strategic Plan and money is allocated from the savings made through the Fundamental Spending Review. I was using this as an example of how society's values influence the spending choices for health. I trust that this clarifies my position. I would also like to respond to the letter from G. Mahy in the Guernsey Press on Monday 7 December. He says that not once has he heard trumpeted that savings have been made enabling the department to fund new procedures. He or she must have a very short memory as it was less than a year ago that we made savings by closing a ward at the King Edward VII Hospital which enabled us to provide a bigger and better range of services to people in their own homes. While people want the best for themselves, they may think services for others are luxurious or 'gold plated'. If your correspondent would like to let me know who these experts and specialists are that are 'pamphlet readers, tick boxes and smart talkers', I will investigate them. If he/she tells me of any expert or specialist that we don't need, I will either explain what they do or get rid of them. I assure your correspondents that I am by nature a thrifty Scot, and am ever mindful to achieve most effective results, whether it be personally or with the taxpayers' money. DEPUTY HUNTER ADAM, Minister, Health and Social Services. | ||
| Mike Hadley Guest |
I WAS shocked to read the letter from Dr Patrick Quanten. By giving such a letter prominence you gave credibility to someone who holds very bizarre views. Many of your readers may think that there is a question over the safety and efficacy of vaccines when there is not. Readers should be aware that Dr Quanten is not a registered medical practitioner (registered with the General Medical Council). He is an advocate of homeopathy and a range of unproven alternative medical treatments including ear candling or coning. He believes that a lighted candle cone burning at one end with the other end stuck in the ear can produce a large number of health benefits including improving concentration and the ability to study, improving general health and curing cancer. It is nonsense to suggest that bacteria arise from the debris of living cells. It is also nonsense to suggest that vaccination does not work. It is universally hailed for the total eradication of smallpox yet Dr Quanten denies this. Vaccination works and you do a great disservice to the people of Guernsey by giving prominence to such a freaky view. MIKE HADLEY. GP Editor's footnote: Dr Quanten was invited to respond but did not do so. | ||
| Anon Guest |
I AM sure I speak for many people when I say how let down I feel by the board of the Health and Social Services Department. I am confident that all staff understand the dire financial straits that the States of Guernsey find themselves in and the consequent reason for budget restraint. However, I was deeply saddened that, not only did our board not place an amendment to try to increase our budget, they nearly all failed to support Deputy Stephens' amendment which sought to continue ring-fencing the off-island budget. So, despite a small increase in our budget from last year, we, the staff, are expected to do more with less. One board member even went so far as to say that money was being wasted. Where is the support for your staff, Deputy Lowe? Perhaps she can be honest enough to say where she thinks this waste is. I am sure you understand why I don't wish to sign my name. Name and address withheld. | ||
| K. Solway Guest |
I AM absolutely appalled at Deputy Al Brouard's suggestion that resources spent on the dying be spent on preventable measures. There are two sure facts in life. We will be born and we will die, even Deputy Brouard will experience these two phenomena. Having nursed all of my working life I have never heard such a repugnant and uncaring statement. Nursing the sick is not all about the curing and healing process as this is not always achievable so within the holistic approach, care of the dying is a part also. Dying for most is an extremely frightening experience, where all resources available should be there in abundance to ensure alleviation of all the associated problems whether it be pain, fear, comfort and human contact and many, many more aspects. All require resources, not the withdrawal of such. Perhaps Deputy Brouard would prefer us all to head off to 'Dignatas'. It would certainly save the SSD money. I have never heard such a controversial uncaring opinion but perhaps Deputy Brouard feels he is infallible. He obviously has no knowledge of the complexities and dedication required when caring for a dying person, be it at home, or in hospital, nor has he the realisation that preventing death is an impossibility. It most certainly is not preventable in the majority of cases. It is a pathetic scenario when, as far as I know, someone who has no medical qualifications feels free to spout forth. Just where do these deputies come from? K. SOLWAY | ||
| K. M. Solway Guest |
I RECENTLY commented on the dictators from the EU. I would like, in this instance, to comment on the mini dictators here in Guernsey. I fear we are now living in a totalitarian state in this island, where certain groups of people are being targeted, namely smokers, drinkers and the overweight. Let's start with smokers, already they are treated like 'pariahs'. In comparison with the noxious fumes emitted from the traffic, how can anyone having a cigarette in the open air be a danger to anyone? We live in an island and because of that geographical situation there will always be an airflow resulting in any cigarette fumes being dissipated into the atmosphere. Another little murmur arose on the phone-in on Sunday 29th regarding people smoking in their cars. As I previously stated, a car is the property of the 'buyer' or is it only cars with children on-board? If this is the case, then logically these mini dictators would assume the right to enter homes where there are children - bring in the 'Stasi' they certainly knew how to do it. The next group of sinners are the drinkers, who all have pickled livers and will cost the health service a fortune. There is no such thing as a moderate social drinker. We are all bingeing behind locked doors just as an excuse for another stealth tax on alcohol. We move on to the overweight people and the ludicrous suggestion that a tax could be put on fattening foods (I think a pie was mentioned on the phone-in). It's unbelievable. Don't these puritans realise that as human beings no one is perfect, not even them. There are, of course, measures that can be taken to alleviate our sins. 1. Go down the A. Huxley route in a 'brave new world' i.e. bump us all off before we become a liability and cost the state. 2. Remove cigarettes from view - never mind the expense to retailers already struggling. 3. Remove all alcohol from view in supermarkets and bars - never mind the loss of business to these establishments. 4. Remove fattening food from view; close cake shops and fast food outlets - never mind the individuals attempting to make a living. How many of these despots don't drive a car? How many don't have a weight issue? How many don't have a tipple? How many don't have an occasional drag? God it must be wonderful to be Snow White. I diversify again. The stone plinth in the market. Why don't we have 'Trotsky' on this elevated site? That way he would have time to hop off, reach the war memorial and ensure that he laid the first wreath. MRS. K. M. SOLWAY. | ||
| William Audoire Guest |
DEPUTY LYNDON TROTT should be aware that obesity is not a joking matter for government - especially for the person - it could become a world epidemic. But for the grace of God, there go I. WILLIAM AUDOIRE. | ||
| Wendy De Bourgonniere Guest |
I FEEL the need to write again. Some weeks ago I asked the question, do women have to pay for abortions? No one was prepared to answer me, not even on the phone-in. But today (Guernsey Press, 28 November), I see they don't have to pay. Well now, don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of abortions on health grounds ,but not because women feel it would spoil their way of life if they were to have a child. There are, after all, precautions one can take or use to prevent pregnancy. I would hope that abortion isn't just used as a form of contraception because I'm sure some of these women have more than one abortion. The reason I'm speaking out is because I know a woman, who, on medical grounds, and on two doctors' advice, needs a gastric bypass, not just on a whim, but can't have any help and has been told this will cost her £5,000. What I'm saying is if it's not for cosmetic reasons, these women should be helped. And, on something totally different, I find it strange that staff at a bank can be offered counselling just because they witnessed some fool being arrested by police. Surely that sort of thing goes on in town centres all over Britain every weekend, including ours sometimes. Serving in Afghanistan and seeing the bloodshed, these are the ones who need counselling. Please get your priorities right. WENDY DE BOURGONNIERE. | ||
| G. Mahy Guest |
WHATEVER happened to that old Scottish trait of thrift? Via the media, our island appears to be time and again subjected to moral blackmail to increase the HSSD budget. Not once have I heard trumpeted that savings have been made enabling the department to fund new procedures. Why not? Instead HSSD grows like Topsy with an expert here, a specialist there, a wish list here and gold plating everywhere. How many of these experts are just pamphlet readers, tick boxers and smart talkers? The way in which society has developed in the last decade leads one to suspect a goodly percentage. Come on Hunter Adam, take some salt with your porridge and get a grip on your army of civil servants and experts of every persuasion. Bear down on them to produce the savings that will turn HSSD into the efficient, quality health service provider that this island needs. You retired from medical practice some time ago, so cease this doctoring and concentrate on sound management direction, surely the role of the HSSD minister? G. MAHY. |
