Liberation root and branch style

Liberating the NHS the new Health White Paper on “equity and excellence” could turn out to be, in Chris Ham’s prophetic words today, the “biggest organisational upheaval in the health service, probably, since its inception”.  This is about England only of course: the contrast with... 
[Continue reading]

A long hot summer for user and citizen engagement?

The budget sparked a debate  about postponing retirement and getting your pensions.  Elder citizens and users who are involved in public engagement must be heard in any such  debate about retirement ages and reform of the job market. They frequently form a majority  of volunteers in citizen participant... 
[Continue reading]

MAC’s Eight New Laws of LINks – and an acknowledgement to Dr Einstein

Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  It’s a curse the new Coalition Government must avoid when it gets around to considering its plans for Healthwatch in England and what it intends doing with Local Involvement Networks (LINks).... 
[Continue reading]

The May Newsletter: A Spring Fever of Politics and Participation Possibilities

Overcooked Rhubarb Rhetoric Politicos have gone mad for it – so many of the election issues and debating points are about citizen engagement  and involvement. We have characterised elections as the biggest citizen participation opportunity going although as we pointed out in our  blog straight... 
[Continue reading]

Aspiring Prime Ministers should address hard health choices not services

As an example of engagement and participation, last night’s  “leaders debate” failed.  If MAC tried to organise a public participation meeting with these rules – “please sit there like dummies and say nothing unless you are asked” – we would be lynched. Our only hope of escape... 
[Continue reading]

The individual budget bandwagon is rolling; who’s got the map?

Labour A quick browse through both Labour and Conservative manifestos – and what will the LibDems effort bring? – reveals a bandwagon rolling about personalisation and individual budgets.  Here are some excerpts: Labour –   Everyone with a long-term condition, such as those with diabetes,... 
[Continue reading]

Health Act rag bag delivers part of the real prize

Health Act Rag Bag Almost unremarked in the rush of bills getting  the Royal Nod on Friday  the 13th was the rag bag of measures collectively known as the Health Act 2009. Tucked away among new powers to strengthen tobacco control; to place a duty on all NHS bodies, private sector and third sector... 
[Continue reading]

The November Newsletter

Dread Moment, Dead Time – the Roots of Laughter and the Prompt to Action I was in the queue at the Post Office – two positions open for business; 12 people in the queue; having to pay £5 for special delivery because of strike. The message on the QTV? ‘The only real laughter comes from... 
[Continue reading]

Broon’s Care Bunny – Trick or Treat?

Broon’s Bunny makes roadkill of consultation? Was it a conjuring trick to thwart the consultation or just a soundbite one has to wonder?  We find it strange that with little over a month to go for people to have their say about the government’s social care proposals for England, the Prime... 
[Continue reading]

England needs a Welsh lesson

The Conservatives created them in England and Wales without appreciating their full potential.  Labour neglected, belittled, callously fragmented their functions and then destroyed them in England as an afterthought in the NHS Plan, despite widespread agreement that they could and should have been... 
[Continue reading]

« Previous Page — Next Page »