This Radio Scotland Broadcaster in this clip suggests that we need a film about the Great Nadar:
A lot of hot air from omphalos.
Fortunately I made the following film a few years ago:
"The Great Nadar" by Adam Begley can be purchased here. [I made my film before Adam Begley had published this book]
I submitted a rapid response to the BMJ last September after viewing galleries of photographs of the British Association of Psychopharmacology (BAP) Summer Meeting of 2016. The BMJ did not publish my post. This year’s galleries of the British Association of Psychopharmacology (BAP) Summer Meeting have now been shared. This is an amended version of what I sent last summer:
I was recently shared the published photographs of the British Association of Psychopharmacology 2016 Summer Conference.
At this BAP conference, an accredited CPD conference, the rising stars are seen to mix with today’s key opinion leaders. We all welcome the sharing of experience between generations and I have repeatedly stated how important I believe this to be. Some of the BAP key opinion leaders have declared significant financial interests with the Pharmaceutical Industry.
Up-to-date declarations of BAP speakers can be viewed here
I support transparency. I have understood that this can only ever be a means to an end.
Robert K Merton once insisted that science should be based not on interest but ‘disinterest’. Merton’s star rose long ago and he is now dead. I do hope that all generations of scientists might be able to see his ‘disinterested’ star, still in the sky that we all share.
Sunday 23rd July 2017.
“Dementia overload“: how the Scotland on Sunday titled their front cover
My view is that there is no shortage of “awareness” of dementia in Scotland!
The Editor of the Scotland on Sunday outlined a related concern:
The Scottish Government continues to struggle to understand the difference between “timely diagnosis” and “early diagnosis”. The response to “delayed diagnosis” should not be one which encourages earlier and earlier diagnosis which is increasingly likely to be wrong. Another worry is that if this top-down approach continues we will struggle to support those most in need.
A few closing thoughts:
(1) We need to hear the thoughts and views of Scotland’s older generation
(2) An approach based on human rights must include recognition of biological ageing
(3) “Realistic Medicine” has the potential to encourage a more healthy approach to caring
I was in Kilmarnock on Saturday the 22nd July 2017 to explore Sidderybrae and Asloss.
In preparation for a film about the Laird who first recognised brilliance in Rabbie Burns.
In Kilmarnock Churchyard I spotted a relief of a young man on an otherwise insignificant monument. I was drawn to his representation.
Underneath the relief of James Woodburn Dunlop, who died aged “19 years and 6 months” was this quote by Milton:
“So Lycidas, sunk low, but mounted high,
Through the dear might of him that walk’d the waves”
This was poem written for Edward King,a fellow-student of Milton’s at Cambridge, and also an aspiring poet, who had drowned.
Like all those involved in healthcare I take delirium very seriously. I share in the collective determination to improve our approach, understanding and care of those experiencing this serious condition.
To improve it is important that critical thinking is given room.
This post is about the validated 4AT Rapid Assessment Test for Delirium:
In a recent medical educational lecture organised by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the 4AT was described as a “screening” test.
One of the authors of the 4AT Rapid Assessment Test described it recently as a “screening tool”:
There seems to be a lack of consistency in the stated purpose of this test/tool. Has this test/tool been validated for screening or has it been validated for assessment? This is an important scientific and ethical matter in terms of how this test/tool may be both validated and implemented
On the 17th July 2017, the Scottish Government announced an “Enhanced service for NHS Scotland staff”
The Scottish Government began this announcement stating that:
“Staff in Scotland’s health service will continue to benefit from external support should they have any concerns about patient safety or malpractice”
From 1 August, the NHS Scotland Confidential Alert Line will be re-branded as the Whistleblowing Alert and Advice Services for NHS Scotland (AALS).
This was reported in the Scotsman of the 17th July 2017:
The Scottish Government confirm the enhancements that have been made:
Some personal thoughts:
I have never been a “whistleblower”. I have however raised concerns relating to patient wellbeing and safety in NHS Scotland, and in particular for our older generation. I share the view of Sir Robert Francis that “freedom to speak up” is a better and more encompassing term.
My experience of trying my best to put patients first in NHS Scotland has left me with an interest in this matter and I have followed developments over several years now.
My concern is that this “enhanced service” has taken little account of the evidence presented to the Scottish Parliament from a wide range of individuals and professional bodies, including Sir Robert Francis.
Lifeboat NHS from omphalos on Vimeo.
The “enhanced” service will still not be able to independently deal with any concerns raised and so can offer only to “pass concerns on to the appropriate Health Board or scrutiny body for further investigation”. In practice this will be either to the NHS Board the employee works with or to Healthcare Improvement Scotland which is neither independent of Government nor of any of Scotland’s 23 other NHS Boards.
It worries me that senior Scottish Government officials continue to use words such as “grievance” or “pursuers” when talking about those who are trying to put patients first in NHS Scotland. It seems that the Scottish Government are as quick as any of us may be to label individuals. This “expanded service” has been re-labelled in a positive way when the opposite has happened to many of us who have raised concerns about patient care.
In summary:
I feel that this is a disappointing outcome given the determination of the Scottish Parliament, and the Health and Sport Committee in particular, to ensure that there is freedom in NHS Scotland to speak up and put patients first.
I would suggest that despite this “enhanced service” that it is still going to take a great deal of courage to care in NHS Scotland:
Courage to care from omphalos on Vimeo.
What follows are three slides taken from a talk given by Dr Brian Robson, Executive Clinical Director, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and IHI Fellow, given at the Edinburgh International Conference of Medicine in September 2016:
I most certainly agree that culture is important. But what kind of culture? Is it healthy just to follow one? In this case the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, Boston.
The “Improvement Goggles”, it would seem, come as part of the “toolkit”?
As a doctor who is passionate about improving care it matters to me that I follow science that does not risk being pre-determined.
It is important that there is philosophical depth to the approaches that we take to healthcare.
I understand the overwhelmingly good intentions of all those involved in “improvement science”, however I would suggest that we should carefully consider the potential benefits and harms of a most determined “one organisation” approach that starts and ends with reductionist and mechanical algorithms.
A few ‘borrowed words’ from the novel Hot Milk by Deborah Levy:
