The wrong priorities and objectives

At the weekend I met up with a friend who is a completely dedicated doctor. She told me what had happened recently at her hospital. She looked at the new rotas and pointed out to the managers that they might be better for staff in some way, they would result in worse patient care.

“You sound as though you think we should put patient care first.” Responded the manager in tones that indicated that this was not his goal.

My friend was horrified.

Patient care is the priority

If any manager in the NHS is not intent on putting patient care first, I think we really need to ask what he or she is doing in that job. We need to know why they were recruited and who was responsible for such an error.

I would find it hard to justify their continuing employment.

Good patient care does not cost more

As we talked I was glad to see we were in complete agreement. Good patient care does not cost more. Often it costs less.

A young friend who is currently working as a healthcare assistant told us that part of her job is to move food from where one person has put it - just a few inches out of reach of the patient - to where the patient can reach it. She does the same for their drinks.

This is completely wasted effort and it is inexcusable that people are so badly managed that they are apparently completely unaware of the priorities in their work.

The objectives are wrong

In a case like this it is clear that the objectives at the top are wrong as are the priorities. These things need to be got right by those in charge. Otherwise no one stands a chance, patient or employee.