The word 'reform', once uttered, is expected to be greeted by rounds of applause, cheers and general approbation. "What's not to like?" Lansley and Cameron declare that if it's reform - it must mean 'things can only get better'.
However, you and I know that when another former British premier uttered that slogan - things only got worse and worse and worse! He - Blair that is - even proposed that Casinos would regenerate impoverished areas! Tell that to the fairies! If that's what Labour thought reform of the gambling laws meant, then they must have been nuts!
To get back to the word 'reform' which is the crux of the matter. In the Oxford English Dictionary, the definition of the word is to:
'make changes in (something, especially an institution or practice) in order to improve it'. Well, what could be better than that? We all want improvements, don't we? In the past, when politicians made reforms, in general, things were improved. But not always. Mr Beeching's 'reform' of the National Rail Service left communities isolated and abandoned. Mrs Thatcher's many, many 'reforms' left the country on its benders from which it is yet to rise!
The problem becomes apparent when the word reform is associated with money or profit. Then, you need to beware. The impact of one person's reform is butchery for someone else.
Just think of some of the present Coalition's long list of 'reforms'. The Draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the love child of 'Disgusting' Clark is a case in point. It is so drafted that it gives a “presumption in favour of sustainable development”. In reality, it is a Developer's Charter and will allow large swathes of much loved countryside to be concreted over. All in the fair name of 'reform'.
There is worse though! The three words National Health Service have been used for generations of politicians as some sort of talisman.
The NHS is safe in our hands. The elderly are safe in our hands. The sick are safe in our hands. The surgeons are safe in our hands. The nurses are safe in our hands. The doctors are safe in our hands. The dentists are safe in our hands.So said David Evans, Conservative MP for Welwyn Hatfield way back in 1996.
It's interesting to note that the present MP for Welwyn Hatfield is none other than 'Apple Schnapps' Shapps - a great champion of the word 'reform' but one who plays fast and loose with its dictionary definition!
The NHS: safe in our hands wrote Norman Lamb, member of the present Coalition government in Liberal Democrat Voice! Well - if he says so, you know there's bound to be trouble for the NHS!
The Big Cheese of the present Coalition, none other than 'Boy David' Cameron himself showed all his brilliant PR training when on Jan 4 2010, he wrote:
Remembering that when it comes to our public services – protecting them and investing in them, we are all in this together. We will cut the deficit, not the NHS because the NHS is the bedrock of a fair society.http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2010/01/David_Cameron_ill_cut_the_deficit_not_the_NHS.aspx
So, what exactly has this great reformer of the NHS done to protect it? If the so-called reforms go through the House of Lords, as seems likely, there will be considerable anxiety and disquiet among those who have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the NHS than the reforming PM and his Secretary of State, Lansley.
According to Professor Sir Neil Douglas, Chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges:
“Across the medical profession there are continuing concerns that the Health and Social Care Bill could damage patient care. All the Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties representing the whole medical profession have come together to support this clear statement of our anxieties.
He went on to say:
We are not completely opposed to all aspects of the Bill but have grave concerns that the reforms will undermine the provision of joined up services for patients and lead to a widening of health inequalities which would run counter to the expressly stated wishes of the Government.http://aomrc.org.uk/component/content/article/38-general-news/277-senior-doctors-to-lobby-lords-on-health-and-social-care-bill.html
Oh well! There you have it! "the reforms will undermine the provision of joined up services for patients and lead to a widening of health inequalities".
As worrying are the revelations made in the Guardian by Daniel Boffey. He highlighted the manner in which some of the 'reforms' of the NHS are being implemented.
A global consultancy firm seeking to profit out of the fallout from the shake-up to the NHS is being paid £250,000 a year by the government for advice on the transition towards health secretary Andrew Lansley's vision of the service.
The American firm, McKinsey Inc, with estimated revenues of £4.1bn a year, has been advising the Department of Health on how best to manage the radical changes since March. McKinsey is also one of a group of private consultants that have united to provide paid-for advice to GPs as they prepare for life after the reforms.
Daniel Boffey went on to quote the head of health at Unison:
...what is also becoming obvious is the close relationships being built between this Conservative government and the private companies who are making, or want to make, a profit from the reforms in the health and social care bill.(http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/nov/05/nhs-reforms-mckinsey-conflict-interest)
So, there it is in a nutshell. For the word 'reform', just substitute the word 'butchery'. Of course the phrase - the planned butchery of the NHS - does not appeal to the punters in the quite the same way as - the planned reforms of the NHS. The results are the same - it's a plain old-fashioned carve-up!
But as always, Arturo hit the nail on the head with his now familiar expression, 'Plus ça change: plus c'est la même chose'. He's what you would call an educated cat, 'n'est pas'?
'Bye' from me and my pal, Arturo.
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