Adrian,

We are passing all queries onto our communications team  to handle, I
will send your question over today and get back to you as soon as
possible.

Kind Regards
.....
eSpace Central Team

-----Original Message-----
From: Dr Adrian Midgley (At work at Isca medical Practice)
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 15 April 2010 08:38
To: ......... (NHS Connecting for Health); Espace Nhscfh (NHS
Connecting for Health)
Subject: Re: eSpace and pre-election communication rules

NHS CFH eSpace wrote:

> > eSpace and pre-election communication rules
> >
> > During the run-up to the General Election, civil servants and
> > Government departments are bound by codes of conduct that affect how
> > and what they can communicate. As eSpace is a product of the
> > Department of Health, we are affected by these rules. The Cabinet
> > Office has confirmed that no online spaces should be closed at this
> > time, and that visitors may continue to engage with each other.
> > However, because the majority of eSpace users are bound by tight
> > restrictions, it is likely that activity on eSpace during this time
> > will be minimal. General guidance for eSpace users Department of
> > Health staff and other civil servants The basic principle for civil
> > servants is to follow the rules published in the 2010 election
> > guidance document. You should not to say or do anything that could
> > call into question your political impartiality, or give rise to the
> > criticism that you are using public resources for Party political
> > purposes. This principle also applies to non-civil servants
> > working in Departments. You should not participate in any discussions
> > at all, old or new. This is because as a civil servant, what you say
> > will be scrutinised and judged by others during this time. Even
> > seemingly innocent comments could be misrepresented. Additionally, you
> > should not post any new content or news items. NHS staff NHS Chief
> > Executive, Sir David Nicholson, has advised NHS staff that although
> > aimed at civil servants, many of the principles outlined in the 2010
> > election guidance document (please see the paragraph above) are
> > relevant to the NHS and, if followed, should help them and their
> > organisations to avoid being caught up in issues of propriety or
> > political controversy. All NHS staff should be sure to follow the
> > guidelines set out in Sir David Nicholson's letter and by their
> > organisation. Other eSpace users You should adhere to your
> > organisation's policy around conduct during the Election, wherever one
> > exists. Please bear in mind that even if your
> > organisation does not have such a policy, eSpace would consider it
> > inappropriate for you to start potentially contentious discussions, or
> > to try and engage others in existing discussions that are politically
> > sensitive, during this time.
> > If you have any questions or concerns with regards to the contents of
> > this email please contact the eSpace central team at
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
>

Are you suggesting that this applies to contractors to the NHS?
That would expand to a high proportion of the working population.
I'm a GP.
I'm a contractor, not an employee.
Would you please clarify whether by sending me this email you are
suggesting that you think I should be bound by it.

Dr Adrian Midgley
Exeter




Addendum: interestingly, the NHS mail gateway reports that
mailbase.ac.uk is an unroutable address. Anyone got a conspiracy
theory handy?
I suppose if it is taken as extending only to eSpace, which is the
DoH's own toy, then that is one thing, but the response I got
suggested to me that someone thinks GPs are ordered to be politically
silent.  And that I think is not correct.  As far as Espace goes, if I
used it, I'd be disinclined to acquiesce to their request, also.


--
Adrian Midgley   http://www.defoam.net/