David Prior of the CQC has called for the closure of a significant 
number of acute beds.  (BBC and 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/09/demand-a-and-e-out-of-control)

WHAT?

How does this solve the problem of trolley waits or unnecessary A&E 
attendances, which if unnecessary are unlikely to result in hospital admission?

Answer - David Prior is an "expert" otherwise known as a lawyer, 
businessman and ex-MP and Conservative Party vice-chair.  In fact 
he's so smart he knows  about schools too.  Strangely such a plan and 
view may make it easier for the CQC to identify and close down 
"failing" hospitals, rather than having the awful challenge of trying 
to improve them.  What a player!

There is a campaign at the moment that insists older people don't "do 
well" in hospital.  Equally we must not discriminate on the grounds 
of age.  The campaigns tend not to be backed up with any randomised 
controlled trials that reflect the real world situation in England to 
show that older people do better if not admitted to hospital - though 
they cost less at the time, and may do the decent thing by dying and 
saving loads of money that way.  Best of all the GP can then be 
blamed for not admitting them and the politicians can look good at 
our expense all over again.

Why does the public put up with regulatory bodies being led by those 
with such a startling degree of insight?

But perhaps I've misunderstood everything....

J


"David Prior

Chairman of the Care Quality Commission

After graduating from Cambridge University with an Exhibition and MA 
in Law, David qualified as a Barrister in 1976, and for the following 
four years worked as an Associate with Lehman Brothers and Lazard 
Freres in London and New York.

David spent the next 15 years working as a Senior Executive within 
British Steel and a number of private companies. In 1997, he was 
elected as a Member of Parliament for North Norfolk and went on to be 
vice-Chairman and Deputy Chairman and CEO of the Conservative Party. 
He was also on the Select Committee for Trade and Industry.

In 2002, David became Chairman of the Norfolk and Norwich University 
Hospital and a Director of Aurelian Oil and Gas Plc. He is also 
Chairman of the Governors of Ormiston Victory Academy Chairman of the 
proposed Sir Isaac Newton Free School."