The use of waiting times and their choice as a PI is a political exercise,designed to demonstrate to the public that the politicians are "improving"
the system, and to emphasize to the staff that they are "accountable". he
use of quotes indicates that I do not accept these words are neutral.
Publication is a smokescreen, in that as an individual I am not interested
in average waiting time, but only in getting my own treatment quickly. The
effect on individuals will reflect their psychology:
a) the waiting list is six months, so some will choose to go private, with
more or fewer qualms about "jumping the queue"
b) can't afford to go private, but treat the waiting time as a target, so
after seven months feel entitled to *demand* treatment; if sufficiently
noisy will be treated
c) submissive types can be fended off by citing waiting list and staff
shortage, so there will always be a pool of patients to fill up any slack.
That last point is the basis of the problem. Modern efficient management
(Thatcherite/Blairite) *hates* slack and insists that every system be
driven to and beyond its limit. Apart, that is, for ministerial cars,
which are on tap as and when required and, I understand, have their tires
changed at 4mm tread rather than after failing an MOT.
Please do not confuse manipulative management with the objective analysis
of data.
R. Allan Reese Email: [log in to unmask]
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