Sheep magazine Archive 2: issues 10-17

10
Hunt has succeeded in uniting doctors in a
front against the government, a move few
could have predicted considering doctors’
usual reluctance to strike and historical
support for centre-right politics. He has
allowed services to be stretched beyond
breaking point. He has triggered the biggest
exodus of doctors, many of which are
from struggling specialties, and has acted
as a walking advertisement for Australia.
Contributing to a brain drain wasn’t
supposed to be part of his job description.
Even in terms of speaking to patients, our
Health Secretary has been left wanting. In
February of this year, he was criticised by a
meningitis charity for making a “serious error
of judgment” after he seemed to recommend
that parents worried about a rash their
child have should look on the internet and
compare pictures rather than visit a doctor.
It is about time politicians were held
properly accountable for their actions. As
medical professionals, if we are found to
be dangerous or personally difficult, we have
to answer to the General Medical Council,
who will review our registration. Hunt has
been dangerous and difficult. Policies that
harm patients and the medical staff who
treat them have been introduced under his
watch. He has been obstinate during contract
negotiations and is reluctant to listen to or
accept any criticism of his imposed plans.
This is a minister who has been previously
been implemented in the BskyB scandal, he
has demonstrated previous arrogance and
dishonesty. In 2012, he was caught up in
the BSkyB scandal, where many called for
him to resign and the Guardian stated that
“he appears to have blotted his copybook
beyond repair.” It took him just three years to
involve himself in a scandal of even bigger
proportions.
Hunt will go down in history as a person
with astounding abilities to cling onto
power despite reaching record levels of
unpopularity. It was an unprecedented move
when 98 per cent of junior doctors voted
to go on strike last year, one followed by
marches in support that were attended by
record numbers of the general public. The
fact that Theresa May kept him in power
beggars belief. I can only think that she
wants him to sort out the mess he created.
Hunt is working on his legacy; he wants to
be known as the man who changed the NHS
for the better. But if he wants to succeed,
he needs to open his eyes and he is ears
because currently, he is failing. I fear we
needed new blood in the cabinet to achieve
this, and that nothing can save the NHS if
Hunt is allowed to continue. I hope that he
can prove me wrong.
SHEEP IN THE ROAD : NUMBER 13