INBOX


Email your views to opinion@nationalhealthexecutive.com


From: A community staff nurse (name supplied) Subject: Health visitor numbers


Good to hear more money is being spent on health visitors, however I feel that the school nurse service is being missed out here as school nurses are in a valuable position to deliver parenting classes / advice and generally follow on from the health visitor.


Currently in school nursing,


most of our time is spent in child protection issues and we are having less time to deliver basic health promotion,


parenting


advice, and support for parents. Health promotion in all areas is primary prevention for the next generation and unfortunately this is what is being compromised due to high workload in school nursing.


It is important to invest in


resources for school nursing for the future generation.


From: Tim Power Subject: Pensions


I for one am happy to see that fair treatment is making its way into the public sector. I am self-employed and can’t even afford to pay into a pension. Why should I pick up the tab for such huge pensions? Even cleaners in the public sector retire on more favourable terms than private sector middle managers. It is ridiculous and about time it was changed!


From: Name supplied Subject: ICO fine of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust for data breach


As told, this story is simply daft. A Trust is found to be reckless after a subcontractor of


its


contracted IT service provider is


negligent. How does that work?


I could see the HIS being held negligent, for employing a contractor who was incapable of doing the work, but only if it could be proven that they could or should have known that the contractor was not of an appropriate standard.


This looks like the ICO trying to show how tough it is, grandstanding for the public, and not letting the facts get in the way of a good story.


From: Adam Shaw Subject: UK third most inactive nation in Europe


I have just read with interest your article on inactivity and disease. Having worked as a nurse in the NHS for over 13 years I found a strong correlation between illness and a sedentary life.


After leaving the NHS I started a Walk Innovation project that was set up to encourage people to meet up in groups and go walking. This form of ‘netwalking’ proved to be an easy way for people to get more active. I’m glad to see that you have highlighted this link and would like to know of any other initiatives out there that encourage physical activity that I may refer my clients to.


From: Steven J Burnell (via www. nationalhealthexecutive.com) Subject: ‘Grim NHS spending forecasts mean free services may have to go’


Remove the politics (government & professional) and it cannot


be beyond the wit of man to design and deliver an integrated, sustainable, high-quality service focused on improving the health of our nation for £100bn per annum.


From: Lee Hull, director, public sector, at Virgin Media Business Subject: Decade-long period of NHS austerity


The buckle on the NHS spending belt is bracing for another squeeze. The IFS has warned today of a decade-long period of austerity up ahead – the likes of which we’ve not seen for 50 years. The financial situation clearly isn’t going to improve any time soon, and without anyone to swoop in and save the day, the NHS has got to do it alone.


But it’s not all doom and gloom. Creativity can


blossom in


adversity and there are signs that the NHS can do just that. The advances in telehealth are a great example of this. Huge cost savings are being made alongside technological innovation – in fact, it’s predicted that £8m could be saved by the NHS each year with telehealth services. It’s this kind of forward-thinking that will help the NHS navigate through the stormy period of on-going budget


squeezes. From: Jackie B (via


www.


nationalhealthexecutive.com) Subject: ‘Big drop in public satisfaction with NHS’


The King’s Fund says the drop could not be attributed to rising expectations or an actual reduction in the quality of NHS service, as other patient surveys showed no large change in patient experience. Indeed my trust has had very good and positive feedback from patients.


It may well be that people are worried and confused by conflicting messages and negative media reports. My opinion? They hear about longer waiting lists, privatisation, ‘postcode lottery’ treatments and an ageing population, and fear that when they need the NHS, it won’t be there.


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national health executive Jul/Aug 12 | 13


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