Management cover-ups

ThE reason cover-ups (such as those at Gosport War Memorial hospital) occur is that my profession, especially those in authority, have decided to let sleeping dogs lie. ‘ Managers’ have then seized the opportunity to control events. They cannot allow criticism of their fiefdom and so suppression of anyone raising the alarm is to be achieved by any means.

This would encompass threats of ‘ no promotion’, being ‘ sent to Coventry’, being placed on the poor end of the ‘roster’ and even expulsion from the hospital. I know of two topclass surgeons who have had to leave their posts after such treatment.

I did ten years as chairman of one of the largest health authorities. When I was working there was never any problem in getting hospital doctors to also ‘manage’ the NhS.

These days, when I hear of managers entering wards to question why this or that patient cannot be discharged, I am astonished. They have no place in the clinical scene.

If we are to restore the humanity in the hospital system then my medical colleagues have to step up to the plate and take back all decisions relating to their patients’ welfare and the running of the hospital. Let’s put managers back in their box.

‘The impulse to conceal runs deeply,’ Professor Jarman says. of course. The managers are safeguarding their pockets and their egos. Dr GwilYM eDMOnDSOn-JOneS,

ledbury, Herefordshire. BET the majority of the extra £20 billion announced for the NhS will go on employing yet more senior and middle management.

There are too many chiefs on ridiculously high salaries and not enough workers. Think of the workings of a clock; it has more small cogs than big ones.

carOl HOrne, liverpool.