Cure the NHS

Monday 14 February 2011

LCNHS is the London branch of Cure the NHS. They have very kindly been examining the National newspapers and sending links of to us for some months. It is time consuming research and the NHS Justice Group are most fortunate in having them as a source of information. We are pleased to be associated with them. The NHS Justice Group will now be able to run website content about the activities and campaigns that the entire Cure the NHS (CNHS) network run across the country.

We shall attribute sources of work correctly, publish copyright and give all branches of CNHS full unreserved editorial comment on website content that we may mount. We shall act in accordance with such comment by speedy modification of content as required.

Our own researcher, Bill, can attest to the time it takes to properly trawl the internet and find supporting evidence based material for any particular article of interest. Anyone can publish lunatic rants. We hope to be more selective, as is LCNHS. We have already used a link to an article featuring Joan Woodcock on our Press page (News, subsection Press) kindly provided by LCNHS.

From London Cure the NHS - Important information about the New NHS Constitution January 2010

LCNHS tells us about the NHS Constitution, which came into force in January 2010. I was completely unaware of this new constitution and therefore also unaware how it might affect the way complaints must be handled from now on. Here is the whole thing written up for us by LCNHS:

It would be useful to read the following disclaimer provided by the author in full before using the documents provided. These documents may be used for information and as self help guides only. There is no further support on offer.

Disclaimer

The legal profession has very strict rules about who can call themselves a lawyer. Although professionally qualified as a solicitor and worked as one for many years, I can no longer refer to myself as such, as I am not covered by a current practising certificate, as I am unable to work because of illness and therefore saw no point in spending over £1,000 for the certificate, or indeed several hundred pounds to do what is called “staying on the roll”. (Which controls can doubtlessly be contrasted with the medical profession, where apparently you can still refer to yourself as “Dr.” even though you haven’t practised as such for many years.) ¹ If I were to call myself “lawyer” or “solicitor” without the disclaimer of “non practising”, then I could be hauled up before a Solicitors Regulatory Authority professional disciplinary tribunal for "holding out" I give this disclaimer every time I give general legal advice.
Please also note that I do not in any circumstances advise individuals. I also have no knowledge of clinical negligence or other medical matters. Plus I simply don’t have the physical capacity to read through other people’s medical and complaints files and look up the relevant law to try to advise them. LCNHS is about giving general advice, referring people to available resources and offering support.
I have to give the standard disclaimer that I cannot be held responsible for the advice. By law, unless I give that disclaimer, I am legally responsible for it even though not paid for it and even though it is not aimed at any individual. Also, I am not permitted to advise the general public without holding appropriate insurance, unless I give that disclaimer.
So please repeat all of those disclaimers when you circulate the attached documents.

For webmasters there are further considerations which have been derived from LCNHS experience.

Don't necessarily expect thanks if you send these documents to people.
I had an extremely rude response from one individual who seemed to think that everyone should sort out his problems for him, and a suggestion from him that I was being lazy and unhelpful because I declined to do so.
Feel free to put them on your campaign group website or circulate them to anyone who may find them helpful, with the copyright and CNHS logo intact.

¹ Footnote by Webmaster: The title of "Doctor" was historically viewed by the GMC as an academic qualification, rather than a professional qualification. The modern requirement of lifelong learning has to be applied to ensure that the qualification remains at a professional standard. Especially as lives depend on the qualification. The notion of doctors being assessed in a meaningful revalidation process remains a notion at the time of writing, after more than a decade of discussion. However this notion, now badged as Appraisal/Revalidation is beginning to move ahead as doctors are given time to prepare for this change which belatedly brings them into line with modern professions.

Here are the LCNHS documents as provided to us without modification. Click the PDF image to read. If it looks as though it may be useful to you click the DOC image to commence download of an editable copy to your machine (MS Word format).


NHS Constitution 2010 Precedent documents	Recording Meetings The author does not recommend secret recording of meetings	Website Defamation Some legal considerations

There are also other methods available to those who simply do not have the time to fight unjustified allegations of defamation even if they have evidence to back up what is said. Not having the time available to go through a process that might be incredibly long winded and taxing I simply modified this site in accordance with a loose interpretation of the Data Protection Act. Full details on another page here.

The LCNHS Database of Useful Websites Feb 2011

A few months ago I circulated a draft list of potentially useful website resources, requesting possible additions.

The original list had resulted from hours of online research by me at the start of my hideous NHS experiences, and was put together to try to help others not have to go through such an exhausting, time consuming process in trying to seek useful information and support.

Please feel free to circulate it amongst contacts and put it on your campaign websites.

Please let me know if you think there is anything that could be added or should be removed, and in a few months I'll see about circulating a revised list.Similarly, if you have had a bad experience of any of the sites listed, please let me know.

If you want to make additions before circulating it, please make it clear that those additions have been made by you.

I have deliberately left off blogs.

I have specifically have left off soi-disant NHS campaign groups that exist to push their own extremist political views; that disclose people's email addresses in contravention of data protection law so that people's in-boxes become filled with bonkers spam about aliens and various conspiracy theories; that recommend unqualified and inadequate people to give purported legal advice or who claim that they can do forensic investigations etc; that seek to exploit the vulnerable NHS victims; that "flame" other NHS campaigners with abuse, insult and threats.

My regards Jan M

Website Resources
provided by Jan Middleton

Cure the NHS - Julie Bailey meets David Cameron with Andrew Lansley

Timeline 4:00pm Tuesday April 14 2009 Breaks Cafe Stafford

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David Cameron visits the support group for people who suffered from the mismanagement and disasters that beset Stafford Hospital. Julie Bailey presents her story and those of her group to David Cameron and Andrew Lansley.