Dear All,
Please let me apologise to all those who find this material boring and
uninteresting. I spend most of the time ignoring the material and every
so often I find I can not stand by and ignore the often inaccurate
statements any longer. I will try harder in future. I know from
conversations in Boston at the World congress with Australian Board
members that very many similar problems to the UK face them and I hope
that we will have an international forum for such exchanges very soon.
I have said before and will repeat one more time, the SCP site is a
member benefit and those who choose not to subscribe can not seriously
expect access. The APMA site is also secure to members and in my view
rightly so.
Those who use this site as a substitute for a professional body should
consider the other subscribers when posting and I will oblige my
colleagues by declaring that I will not reply to the forum on non
academic posts again.
This forum needs those of the calibre of Kevin and Jim to exchange ideas
freely.
Kind Regards
Ralph Graham
Consultant Podiatrist
Witham, Essex, U.K.
-----Original Message-----
From: A group for the academic discussion of current issues in podiatry
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark Russell
Sent: 03 September 2004 00:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Grandparenting non state registered chiropodists and
podiatrists.
Jim,
I'm terribly sorry if you think this list has been hijacked for purposes
out-with its intended use; perhaps you could enlighten me as to what you
think its intended use actually is? Are there rules and guidelines
somewhere that I have missed? We've seemed to be down that particular
road before vis-à-vis suitability of political postings. As you rightly
say, the delete button comes in awfy handy at times. As a Lang Toun lad
(like
myself) you’ll understand what it means to scunnered by aw yon gripings.
But it works both ways, doesn’t it? Without a dynamic practice base,
there would be little point in podiatric research, aside from some
academic kudos for the individual. Or do you think you exist beyond the
professional bounds? These issues, as unpalatable as they may seem to
you, are critical to this profession’s future; and not just in the UK.
The role of the Society and the actions of its officers, have far
reaching implications for everyone in this profession. As Mr Liggins
suggests, the role of their [SCP’s] appointed nominee to the HPC impacts
on all out working lives. The Society’s forum might have been a more
suitable platform, but given the restrictions on access, not all the
profession can contribute or disseminate the information detailed
therein. Besides, this is the only forum that senior officers of that
organisation bother to respond.
Can I include Clive in the next comment?
It’s all very well sounding high and mighty about the ranters and
ravers, but I think you’re both missing the point here. Forgive me if I
get personal, but you are both fairly advanced in your careers – a
reader of musculoskeletal disorders and a podiatry manager – you’re both
doing very nicely. That is not the case for many others, especially the
younger members and recent graduates.
I’m reasonably fortunate insomuch as I have a parallel career which
enables me to drift in and out of podiatry as I see fit. Recently, I had
the pleasure of working with a new graduate – a young lad from Scotland
whose father grew up with me in (of all places, Jim) Lochgelly. He was
an honours graduate from QMC in Edinburgh; qualified in July this year.
Imagine my horror when he told me that he was packing podiatry in and
starting a Law degree (in three weeks time) because this profession was
“complete pish”. When we start losing graduates of this calibre, then
I’m afraid, gentlemen, something has gone terribly awry. You might be
doing all right chaps, thanks very much, but for many others, this
profession is not living up to anything like the expectation it promised
when first we embarked on its path.
It seems to me that there is an unsaid rule that we cannot discuss and
debate governance of this profession. The Society, until recently, never
published concise minutes of the council meetings and barred ordinary
members from attending proceedings aside from their AGM. In a democratic
organisation, this is completely unacceptable and ultimately self
defeating. The entire profession in the UK feels completely alienated
and disenfranchised from the organisation. Last December, less than 15%
of its membership voted in its Council elections. If this was reflected
nationally, there would be a public outcry. Perhaps in your more
reflective moments you might care to ask yourselves, why?
I would suggest that there is a lack of maturity in political debate
within the profession; we all wish for a vibrant, dynamic profession,
but we appear incapable of discussing openly and honestly the critical
issues that are required to get us there. Clive’s post earlier today was
a good case and point. I’ve spent the last four weeks reading all the
archives of this forum since its inception and every so often these
issues raise their heads. Whether it be ‘pseudopods’ or psychopaths,
something always blows- up and folks get the hump and sulking becomes
the order of the day. I know I’ve been as guilty as anyone in the past
for reactive postings, but it doesn’t do anyone any good at all and
what’s more the problem about establishment and structure never gets
properly addressed. Net result – intransigence, bitterness, squabbling
and most destructive of all, division.
The issues that face podiatry today are manifest. We must regain our
independence in the face of political interference. That means taking
difficult and sometimes disagreeable decisions. The matter of
registration and regulation in Britain could be solved if podiatrists
resigned en masse from the HPC and stuck two fingers up at the political
masters in Whitehall. We would have to have a realistic alternative
which ensures public safety and confidence - a task that is not out-with
our capabilities. We could have a closed profession provided all the
players entered into discussion with the same set of goals and ideals.
This profession does best when it employs thinking outside the box; when
it doesn’t it becomes parochial and entrenched which invariably leads to
self destruction and annihilation. Whether you like it or not, we’re all
in this boat together and no matter if you’re at the rudder or the oars,
it makes little difference. Unless we all pull together and start
working as one, landfall will never be reached. Not in our lifetime
anyway.
I’m sorry Jim if you feel annoyed at all these posts but try and see it
from the perspective of others for a change. As I said to Ralph some
years ago, the view from the bottom is very much different to that from
the top.
Next time you’re in Kirkcaldy, there’s a pint behind the bar in The
Feuars for you.
Kindest
MR
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