health - beware statistics
WORKERS, SEPTEMBER 2003 ISSUE
Along with many justified criticisms of our National Health Service we often hear comments about too much money being spent on administration and not enough on "front line services". A recent incident illustrates the need to be cautious about such comments - and official statistics.
A patient at St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight had to be referred to a specialist on the mainland. After a month he asked whether St Mary's had the relevant telephone number so he could chase up his appointment - only to find that his papers were still in medical records on the Island and the letter had not yet been typed!
Shortage of administrative staff was blamed. This delay will not appear in the Government's "waiting list" figures, of course.
If a crucial part of hospital administration is virtually at a standstill because of lack of staff, hospital specialists and skilled technicians are unable to provide a proper service either.
The lesson is clear. All hospital staff are a team; all need each other. Nothing is to be gained by mutual recriminations when the real need is for a properly resourced health service.