Thursday, March 28, 2013

Letter to Rt. Honourable Oliver Letwin (UK Aid)

Dear Mr. Letwin,

I am of course pleased that Britain is setting some kind of example in tackling the gross injustice and imbalance between the very poorest and the very rich. We have children and grandchildren and the thought that any child faces famine, starvation and endemic suffering is frankly intolerable and a condemnation of every government in the world, all of whom could have and still should, do far more to resolve once and for all, this blight on us all.

There is no more serious problem in the world and it has ever been thus. We have had millennia to get to grips with this inhumanity and have failed abysmally and continue to do so. Resolving these fundamental issues of hunger, famine, poverty and universal education requires a much deeper sense of humanitarian values than is currently exhibited globally by politicians, bankers and business. Every level of society should be and must be engaged in finding solutions.

These solutions are absolutely critical for the entire future of mankind and our planet. Without them we cannot hope to resolve the problems of overpopulation which is placing such a strain on the World's resources. As we have seen in the industrialised world, the eradication of severe poverty has very significantly reduced the number of children per family in two or three generations. My grandmother was one of thirteen children. I am on of four and most families now have no more than two children.

Exceptional leadership is required to bring about a consensus amongst leaders everywhere that a complete re-orientation of direction and resources is obligatory. Military spending has got to be reduced across the globe and the resources transferred to fighting poverty. Unnecessary investment in white elephant prestige projects must be replaced by projects that will make a real difference to the lives of millions. Every corporation must contribute more to their local communities on whom they depend for labour and infrastructure. Capitalism must find it's conscience. If this is done bridges will be built around the world between nations and the need for big military spending rendered unnecessary as we breakdown that which divides us and unite in a common and worthy destiny. Old enmities will be replaced by new friendship and so on.

I am sure you understand all this perfectly well but so far those in power have failed to translate understanding into action. It is not enough to make empty political promises or gestures. Much, much more than that is needed. Will your government be the first in history to make a real difference?

Sincerely,

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Letter to the Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt - Secretary of State for Health

Dear Minister,

There are something's that are not for sale, one of which is healthcare. The prime objective of the NHS is CARE of the sick. The prime objective of private companies is profit pure and simple either by cutting costs, raising prices or compromising on quality or all three. The public are already fed up with the rip-off mentality of the now privately owned rail transport and utility companies. The food industry is equally guilty of serious negligence with regard to the health of consumers. Greedy banks along with complacent government have ruined the economy for everyone.

So as we can see privatisation is not the holy grail this government seems to believe it is. The government believes it can escape responsibility for it's own duty of care by handing it over to someone else, whom they can then blame if things go wrong. This is unacceptable. Healthcare is a social issue not a business enterprise.

The government must act with integrity to reform the standards of inpatient care and the efficacy of strong leadership on the wards based on the humanitarian principles that are the foundation of the NHS.

Outpatient services are generally excellent but at the present time there are many wonderful nurses and staff who are being badly let down by an uncaring ethos amongst some of their colleagues which then reflect on the service as a whole.

Your job as Minister is to make the NHS better, not offload your responsibility and work load to others whose main empathy is with money, not healthcare!