I don't know much about epidemics of swine flu in Scotland, a few cases of an over-inflated scare story, which doesn't appear more dangerous than the flu we already have, isn't too inspiring to be honest.
There does seem to be an alarming epidemic of righteous fuckwititus north of the border though.
Scotland is first with many of the loony initiatives which gravitate south, and it seems there is no let up as the term 'public service' up there is fast proving to be an oxymoron.
The method usually works. Create a scare not backed by any science; issue a 'public' consultation which is hidden from the public; if those who do disagree find it, airbrush out their responses; if caught out, lie.
NHS Grampian must have done something drastically wrong then. Their consultation on banning smoking in all NHS grounds came up with entirely the wrong conclusion, as detailed in their report. Here are a few snippets.
Nearly 500 responses were received during the consultation period, with just over half from staff and nearly three quarters of respondents stating they were non-smokers.
87% of respondents thought there would be problems going completely smoke free. The most commonly cited were:
- Smoking going “underground” leading to a fire risk
- Non-compliance with the ban
- Infringement of human rights/ personal choice
- Rise in aggression, abuse and increase in levels of stress
- Difficulties in enforcing and policing the ban
The most frequently suggested way to deal with potential problems of implementation was to have a designated area for smoking away from hospital entrances.
Well, that seems eminently fair, does it not?
Agreement with the plan was 46%, so there is considerable doubt as to its wisdom. Maybe a middle ground could be trodden?
Or maybe not.
Smoking to be banned at hospitals
NHS Grampian decision comes despite opposition claims that rule will be difficult to enforce
NHS Grampian’s director of public health Dr Lesley Wilkie said: “I am totally in favour of a smoke-free NHS. We should show some leadership on this.
“We want to introduce policies that work and we will look at how to make this work, but we are a health organisation and we need to set an example.”
Leadership? The scottish government has shown leadership and there ain't nothing about smoking in the open air in the already ridiculous Health Bill of 2005. Grampian's 'ban' is entirely unenforceable, as their report acknowledges. As for setting an example - such incredible arrogance by Grampian. They are public servants, no more. Paid for by the public. The public have said no.
Grampian NHS have spent bucketloads of cash on this unenforceable 'ban' (so therefore voluntary) on the whims of Dr Wilkie and a few of his holier-than-thou friends. When the responses, three quarters of which are from non-smokers, show dissent, this public sector organisation simply ignore the public ...
... and the unions too!
[Unison] warned: “It is unrealistic to expect fair and consistent enforcement of a more stringent restriction.”
Taxpayers pay for the wages of these self-important, idealistic, delusional fucknuts, but Grampian NHS have, as is increasingly apparent in the oxymoronic 'public' sector, brushed aside the views of those who pay for their service in favour of their own bigoted and unworkable crusade.
Now, Derby NHS Trust are much more enlightened. They are acutely aware that they are accountable to the taxpayer. Same dreary result, though.
Smoking costs the NHS around £1.5billion a year. As a public service, funded entirely by the tax payer, we cannot condone smoking in our hospital grounds.
If the taxpayer also gives Derby a big thumbs down, do you think they will reconsider? We know the answer to that one, don't we?
So the last word must be left for the Grampian report.
A few respondents commented on the consultation itself, feeling that it was a “done deal” and NHS Grampian was conducting a “paper exercise”.
Now, considering no-one asked for this voluntary 'ban'. That a 'public' consultation provided ample evidence that the public were uneasy with it, that there was a consensus which agreed there were better alternatives, and that the proposals were unenforceable in law, yet they passed it anyway ... perhaps those who commented as such had a very valid point.
There is nothing public about the public sector when it comes to the NHS, merely a cabal who spend our money without recourse to listening to opposing views. And, with the health system currently operated by an authoritarian Department of Health, there are numerous ways for a few righteous morons to inflict their personal preferences on end users, whilst merely paying a passing lip service to public consultation. And if all those methods fail, they can simply stick their fingers in their ears and ignore ... as they tend to do.
