jb wrote: ↑7 Aug 2022, 7:17pm
It's a great shame that we have become a society that thinks we know more than qualified experts. How many people I wonder were waiting for the equipment to become available.
Experts can be wrong of course but less likely than self proclaimed internet authorities, they are also more aware of the bigger picture in our struggling health service.
I'm not sure here is the place to discuss this, but isn't it the English deferential attitude and unquestioning trust in what some on this forum label 'the ruling classes' which lands us, time after time, with mis-management and scandal?
I'm not suggesting those in positions of power are in some way naturally unsuitable to be making decisions on behalf of others with less knowledge, less ability and less inclination for responsibilty since I've known the most outstanding people, pretty high up on the non-managerial side of the NHS, who are among the finest on the planet you'd ever wish to deal with, in the most trying circumstances known to Man. So inspirational that every last person working with them, including cleaners, have shown qualities that the finest management schools could only dream of instilling.
But, there are less idealogical, self-serving individuals who use the reverence which exists for others as cover to meet their own ends, and unfortunately a state run organisation the size of the NHS is the perfect place to remain hidden for the greatest possible time. Relatively few, but enough for horrific scandal after horrific scandal to have been exposed throughout the last four decades, at least.
So, I don't automatically say the NHS must be right, but in this sort of case it's likely the most which has gone wrong is an individual doctor's lack of ability to use the right words, perhaps a lack of sensitivity, followed by more inability to understand the psychology of a parent in these circumstances, possibly only made worse in the eyes of the family by a swift recourse to the legal system, full of more procedures and terminologies which although dealing with the most basic things in life, are alien to most of us.
On a broader note regarding 'experts', the economists and financiers are perhaps good examples of people who need a very careful eye focussed on their predictions and plans. Rishi Sunak is clearly an intelligent guy, but he and his civil servants at The Treasury have consistently got things wrong over the last year or more, despite many 'pundits' telling them exactly what would happen, which is now happening.