"It depends on the name in question." I replied. "But knowing you, I guess there's more to the query than meets the eye!"
"Got it in one!" Arturo said.
Then, the whole story came out. Let me tell you the flavour of it:
As you know, that Silver-Haired Fox, by name Andrew Lansley, the one responsible for the Health Bill and the so-called reforms of the NHS, is desperately hoping to get the Bill through Parliament. He has ducked and dived. He has smiled and nodded. He has fawned and favoured. Indeed, he has said anything, done everything, listened (but not actually heard) all and sundry - in an attempt to get the votes needed to push through his plans!
You can't say the slippery old fox hasn't worked hard. But that's about all you can say for him! This is the man of whom 'Boy David'Cameron proudly proclaimed :
No one in the House of Commons knows more about the NHS than Andrew Lansley… No one has visited more of the NHS. No one has talked to more people who work in the NHS than Andrew Lansley.
Yet - the old fox got it absolutely - WRONG - I'll say it again - He got it WRONG!! Lansley did not have a clue as to how doctors and other health professionals would respond to his 'brilliant' reforms! And now the chickens have not only come home to roost - they are running round headless! But will things improve - will those who really do understand the NHS have their fears heard and acted upon? Well - No - actually, they won't!
It seems that in the various ministerial amendments made to the fabled Bill, 1000 - yes! 1000 of them have been to do with names! It would appear that these ministers think that if you change the name of something - Hey presto! - those foolish doctors will think there has been a major change in direction. Do they really think that with a few clouds of smoke and some distorted mirrors they can get away with it? Well, obviously the answer is 'Yes, by Jove, we do!'
Until recently, the government had forwarded the notion that family doctors - otherwise known as GPs to most people - would form "consortia" to buy care. 'Boy David' Cameron - ever the ultimate PR man - got his team of experts, known as the Future Forum, to have a long, deep think about this! They thought long and hard - and as all PR men do - they racked their little brains - and I chose my adjective advisedly! They decided that "consortia" gave the wrong impression. It implied that GPs would be too powerful in Lansley's spanking new NHS. And Lansley was determined that the right impressions must be given! After all - impressions are everything!
So, my friends, this brilliant little team of Future Thinkers came up with a brand new name. One that wouldn't scare the rabbits! They advocated the term "clinical commissioning groups". To improve relationships with other health professionals these 'groups' will have, at least, one nurse and one specialist doctor.
So - that's all clear and correct, isn't it? Well, no actually - it is most definitely not! The so called changes to the NHS bill are, in truth, nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Nothing substantial has really been changed. Only the NAMES have changed! It seems that even the Department of Health have admitted that name changes would be "more than 75%" of the changes to the NHS bill.
So - it's all the Name Game! It doesn't matter what you do - just give it the right name and everyone will applaud. Break up the most valued institution in the country - the NHS - and give it out into the hands of private clinics - but change a few names and the process won't be noticed! That is the typical thinking of the PR men who are behind 'Boy David' Cameron and his band of Merry Men. But - unlike Robin Hood - this Merry Band aren't robbing the rich to give to the poor!
As Arturo said : "Ain't it all a bloomin' shame. Know what I mean, Bro?"
But this ain't no game, sir! This is the future of the NHS we are talking about. So, Mr Silver-Fox Lansley 'Stop playing games - name games - or other games. Leave the NHS alone!
So it's 'Bye' from Arturo - who gave me the story.
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