Dr Alf is right to say that the NHS is suffering from a “terminal cancer” but so is the BBC in general and in relation to this story.

A few months ago, the BBC in my region and nationally reported on the financial disaster at Hinchingbrooke hospital, Huntingdon. According to the BBC, it was all down to Circle, the private company which ran the hospital. In reality, I suggest that the fault lies partially with the Unite Union, which engineered a situation under which the hospital could not function, thus forcing it back into the NHS proper, rather than being in the NHS and being run by a private company.

The BBC failed to report on this because they know that they are in the “cross hairs” and are facing a rough ride over the licence fee settlement.

Over the past 3 months, we have had the BBC reporting on the A & E crisis, whereby too many people turned up at hospital, precisely the opposite of what they are now saying. The reality of this A & E crisis is that:

–The 101 call center refers too many people to A & E.

–Too many pensioners with hypochondia and a whinging attitude attend A & E rather than using common-sense and alleviating their own condition

–Too many night-clubbers, pub-goers and rowdy people injured over the weekend in an excess of drug and alcohol fueled violence, ending up in A & E, taking up valuable doctors time which should be reserved for the genuinely ill.

The BBC reports none of this but continues with its narrative of “savage cuts” rather than analyzing the mismanagement of these issues by NHS Managers.

John Gelmini