FRONT PAGE

The Editors of BMA News so so like using that lazy and meaningless, catch-all phrase "doctors' leaders" and they do it again today.  Sloppy journalism, mesdames.   It could mean just Chisholm and Fradd - or, worse, some part-time secretary of an obscure LMC and his mate.   In this case they amaze readers by making it the headline feature that "doctors' leaders" support the contract.  Well, hit me with a rhythm stick!

A committee has been set up to find out why the BMA has made such abysmal cocks up of the two major negotiations - the consultant and GP contracts.   With more astounding wisdom, just to show he's on the ball, Ian Bogle tells us that the BMA owes it to members not to do it again.  More useful news such as who is on this review committee is denied readers but one must suspect that Chisholm and friends will be examining their own navels.  In other words, in the absence of any other names, it will be the usual suspects.

Chisholm puffs on again, telling those who may trouble to read his piece that even sliced bread comes a poor third to the appallingly incompetently negotiated and unpriced contract he has presented to the nation's GPs.  In the spirit of all spiv used car dealers he incites colleagues to buy his unpriced product - and what's more thousands are foolishly agreeing to do so.

Meantime, the new CCSC demonstrates what a resolute negotiating team should do - and gets tough with government.

ELSEWHERE

Junior doctors at their conference are continuing their enviable reputation for determination and no-nonsense negotiations with government.   Juniors' leader, Paul Thorpe (who doesn't mind being named, incidentally) is preparing to name and shame obstructive Hospital Trusts.

The late Milburn has left a blunder behind him in the form of the non-principal supplementary list.  Scots "GP leaders" (there it goes again) are objecting to the fact that non-principals have to apply to each PCO area in which they may want to work and that the process takes an age, even in an emergency.

The GPs registrar's committee chairman, probably hoping to advance his medico-political career, has entreated his young colleagues to vote for the contract.

Being conference season there is a report of the Staff and Associate Specialists Conference.  There is comment about SAS doctors being bullied into taking jobs which juniors and consultants do not want..   The BMA will be surveying the problem prior to...?

"Doctors leaders" are at it again in a report on the government's new plans for death certification.   Apparently, these beings who refuse to allow their names to be divulged (or is it only Chisholm and Bogle?) "welcome" the recent report.   However, one "leader" - and only one - has allowed his name to be used.  BMA Treasurer Dr David Pickersgill.

You've got it !  "Doctors leaders" don't like the Conservative Plans for healthcare.  Well, surely, as they are Tory plans it would be astounding if the BMA did like them.   Again just one "leader" has commented - Ian Bogle.  His response was predictable.

"Too many targets are bad for health" shrieks the headline on page 7.   Once again revealing the blindingly obvious to the GP in the surgery.   At this late stage in his career, Ian Bogle tells us "Well, I have never liked them".  In that case Ian, and Chisholm for that matter, why did you not complain loudly and bitterly all the way through from their introduction?   It is Labour Policy to have targets. Could it be that the BMA has been too sensitive to Blairite policies?    Blair and Milburn are both NHS fools - but at least they have guts and determination.

The magazine devotes nearly two pages to the new chairman's reasons for increasing BMA subs by over 5% next year, to a standard rate of £335.04p.   There must be many BMA members of both the consultant and GP bodies wondering what they have got for their subs this past year.  Certainly they did not get competent negotiators/trade union representation - and what else should the BMA be about?    David Pickersgill is doing his job well and countrydoctor attaches no blame to him.  He can only work with the material he has been given.

God knows what the cost of placing a full-page ad on the back cover of BMA news is but it must be considerable.   Let us hope that GPC, as an autonomous craft committee, paid the full rate for their deceptive, simplistic and propagandist advertisement entreating GPs to vote Yes, on the back page in this edition.  I don't suppose we will ever know.

And so the political content comes to an end.

7 June, 2003

FRONT PAGE

Unsurprisingly the lead article covers the GP Contract, voting for which started somewhat precipitately this week.   The Chairman of Council, Dr Ian Bogle "urges" GPs to accept it, saying it is "impressive".  Well, he would hardly say any other.  Even the bluntest Council Chairman, and ex-GMSC chairman, is hardly likely to say it is rubbish.  However, that apart, Dr Bogle is disgracefully and inexcusably sitting on "Plan B", an alternative to the contract, thus only allowing GPs only a take it or leave it choice.  There is no logical reason other than playing politics that could possibly be preventing Bogle from releasing the details as demanded by the recent LMC Conference.   An earlier excuse by the negotiators was that it would upset that delicate flower Milburn during the negotiations.   The negotiations are over, GPs demand to see Plan B, so, Ian Bogle, get your backside off it and publish it on the BMA net today.

Gagging consultants seems to be the aim of Milburn.  The draft Local Contract for consultants drawn up by Milburn's lackeys contains a clause which states:

"You have an obligation not to disclose any information of a confidential nature concerning patients, employees, contractors or the confidential business of this organisation.  Any disclosure other than to members of NHS staff immediatley and properly concerned, or as required or permitted by law, will render you subject to disciplinary action and could be regarded as gross misconduct and make you liable for dismissal".

The CCSC believes this clause will stop consultants acting as patients' advocates and will stop consultants speaking out against managers who are fiddling the figures (as they do).  As they did in the recent A & E "waiting time" scandal where double shifts were worked.   Heil, Stalin.

ELSEWHERE

Milburn is now reaping the whirlwind he so richly deserves.   The Staff Grade doctors group may take legal action against Trusts which do not adequately reward hard work.  Goodwill is flying out of the window.

In another example of diminishing goodwill, consultants have received advice on setting up chambers after leaving the NHS.   The BMA health policy and research unit has produced guidance, "Alternatives to Sole NHS Employment".   It is long past time for the unctuous GPC to do something similar.  Or, have they and is that why Bogle is sitting on it, because it is more attractive than the NHS?

Milburn came up with yet another stupid wheeze this week.  Patients should sign a contract with GPs to lose weight, stop smoking and drinking ... or else!

Family doctors have welcomed the tweaks to the contract, says BMA news, inaccurately.  Some have and many haven't.   The examples quoted are hardly ordinary GPs, they are, without exception LMC chairmen or secretaries or the like.   Perhaps not oddly, the "rebellious" Gillian Braunold (conflicting interest: she is an LMC Chairman) has fallen into line.

The 100th ARM, in Torquay at the end of this month will debate several matters which oppose government policy:  targets, foundation hospitals, NHS funding and many others.

Post-mortem retention of organs is discussed at length following the Isaacs affair where a depressed doctor's brain was kept for research without the knowledge of the family.   Since 1961 that practice has been illegal.   The inspector of anatomy has called for further changes amongst which is the use of methods other than PMs to establish cause of death.  These would, he says, include MRI scans.  This is the ultimate in PC.  There are scarcely enough staff and hardware for MRIs on the living (who must come first) to indulge in the luxury of scanning the dead.

Surfing for health advice can be dangerous, we are told in an interesting item which should be more widely read, perhaps by Sun subscribers.

GP negotiator, Laurence Buckman, in a reasonable piece, begs colleagues to vote whether they like the contract or not.  Vote.  For or against but Vote.

Sporting injuries and the NHS get some attention.  There are 29 million are year and the NHS cannot afford them.