Behind the statue of George Orwell, author of Animal Farm, outside Broadcasting House in London, are inscribed the words from his preface to that book: ‘If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.’ Stifling […]
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NHS crisis – the role of the extended family
Discontent with the current state of the NHS, and in particular with its funding, has rumbled on with marches at the weekend; yet more proposals for a ‘hypothecated NHS tax’ to raise funds (and the counter arguments); pledges that more is being given than ever before, […]
Reshuffling health and social care – finding models that work
Monday’s cabinet reshuffle has opened up some interesting possibilities. With Jeremy Hunt not only staying on as Secretary of State for Health, he has now widened his official remit / title to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with the current Department of Health […]
Healthcare for immigrants – an issue of justice
From 23 October, there will be a legal obligation on every hospital department in England to check every patient’s immigration status before treating them, to see if they are required to pay for their care. In addition, charges are being extended to community health services. […]
Seeing the Person behind the disability
Late in June, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) abolished the role of Disability Commissioner. This happened 36 hours before Lord Shinkwin, newly appointed to the role, was due to hold his first board meeting. Shinkwin explains that EHRC’s chair, David Isaac, had declared […]