Posted by scrubsupwell on Wednesday, 07 March 2007 23:09:48

Phew! So glad you support our young doctors David, Please keep an eye on the review (slightly disappointed, it would have been nice to see you grill Blair in question time). Bless you for that.

Posted by despairingmother on Wednesday, 07 March 2007 23:20:32

I am so disappointed by your reponse to the crisis facing our young doctors. A review which is initiated by this government and fails all criteria for being assessed as independent is just another example of being seen to take action rather than admitting the scale of their mismanagement and reverting to a tried and tested system until a properly structured and tested system can be introduced. The discredited computer system supporting this recruitment process is only a small part of the problem, the real scandal is that those best qualified are not even being interviewed and 75% of the marks on the application form are for creative writing not clinical skills, experience or qualifications. Furthermore there have been allegations of plagarism and other irregularities which have to be investigated before any appointments are made. Surely you should have been influenced by the BMA and those Deaneries who have had the courage to stand up and be counted.

On a personal level my son, who attended a neighbourhood comprehensive school and never had additional help, worked his way through university and medical school incurring huge debts and has established a truly exceptional reputation as a clinician and teacher, will emigrate as he has been offered a registrar's post abroad. We are an exceptionally close family and if he is forced abroad my other three children, all extremely decent and high achieving young people, will join him. My husband and I also intend to leave. I have always loved my country with a fierce passion but I feel betrayed by this unbelievable fiasco. I think you have seriously underestimated the strength of feeling this issue has prompted and unless you very urgently adopt a more robust position you will lose the chance of securing hundreds if not thousands of votes. If your response is the extent of your support you have definitely lost my vote and those of my family and friends.

Posted by kozmicstu on Wednesday, 07 March 2007 23:32:06

Interesting answers, hope you can get some promises in place on inheritance tax - it's a real issue that's going to hit lots of people as they have to sell their family homes, while coping with the loss of a parent.

Totally in agreement about Fox Hunting - it does indeed make the government, the media, and the law something of a mockery for a useless and unenforceable law to be passed with little thought for consequences. The fact that fox hunts have been steadily on the increase since the ban shows what a mockery of a law it really is.

As for the Doctors, the review must be swift and decisive. You really should have had a dig at Tony for their willful mismanagement of NHS training and their lack of forethought, of consideration, of risk analysis. It's just ridiculous.

Posted by canvas on Wednesday, 07 March 2007 23:46:29

Interesting response... I hope you continue to challenge the government about the security issues surrounding biometric passports. I imagine your views about fox hunting will be a vexation for many people - but I'm sure you will respond by saying 'That's tough, I don't care'. Others might care. Time will tell. :)

 

Comment edited by canvas on Wednesday, 07 March 2007 23:46:52

Posted by DaveGould on Wednesday, 07 March 2007 23:49:41

Thank you thank you thank you for clearing up the issue about the National Identity Register. Although most people won't understand the terrible threat it poses to them I know a lot of people will be sleeping much better tonight.

Here's a link which hopefully explains why this is easily the most important statement David Cameron has made as Tory leader:
http://www.bristol-no2id.org.uk/blog/?page_id=5

Posted by physics911comfan on Wednesday, 07 March 2007 23:50:59

bloodsport and more roads
unsustainable policies
Oil is running out at 3% per year (peak oil)
what use are more roads in in 10 years time 30% less traffic/oil
what use road pricing in 10 years with 30% less oil/traffic
these plans are no use in 5 years in 25 years they will be extinct policies
the doctors , (a poor workman blames his tools)
i dont want to sound negative : )
id cards ,a rational point of veiw
inheritance tax the real poverty line huh
is it just a sum of money picked from thin air?

 

Comment edited by physics911comfan on Thursday, 08 March 2007 00:32:08

Posted by webcameronator on Thursday, 08 March 2007 00:25:37

It's excellent to hear such an assurance that the Conservatives will not be implementing a national ID database and don't agree with the "all eggs in one basket" approach proposed by the current Government.

I was disappointed that Cameron didn't comment on compulsory interviews, involving fingerprinting, revealing of aliases, disclosure of past addresses etc. Does his evasion on this part of the question suggest that such interviews will take place under a conservative Government?

I support David's decision to respond to the 5 blog posts with the most votes as in previous weeks; perhaps his goons will take down statement under ask David saying he'll respond to the top three and some randomly chosen posts? Though I think commenting on posts made on the most popular tags would be great too.

This week's video leaves me wondering what we're missing out on with the uncut version - there appeared to be a lot of edits in there - as if it's been cut down - and what was printed on all those pages of paper between the questions. Perhaps as he's getting closer to Government we're seeing DC through a more edited and more closely controlled filter?

I can't understand why he needed the questions printed out at all - hardly very in keeping with his environmental credentials - or giving us an assurance of his competence at even browsing the web. If he was reading of the web I'd have confidence he was seeing the questions exactly as they were written, along with the comments too.

Posted by Letdowndoctor on Thursday, 08 March 2007 01:04:25

From your response I wonder whether you fully appreciate the mess that doctors training has been left in by the government. The new system currently being implemented (at great expense) has caused great concern amongst us all for some months now. It has always been clear that the numbers of training posts and the numbers of doctors hoping to fill them has not matched up. It is outrageous that only once we are so far down the road there is no turning back, this has become apparent to anyone with any influence.

The problem will only get worse. The government has wasted millions increasing the intake of medical schools as well as creating new ones since 1999. The number of medical graduates is increasing year on year. It is important to bear in mind that it costs 250-300,000 pounds to train a doctor. With an estimated 8000 doctors out of work from August (or working in a different country) the waste is scandalous. The number out of work can only grow. In addition, I am sure that this crisis has at least in part lead to the government's disgraceful treatment of non-EU doctors who, after years of vital service to the NHS have also found themselves out of work.

It is important for you to be aware that these changes will not improve training. Despite what MMC's advocates may say, if you ask any junior doctor, the changes to training which have already been implemented in a similar way for newly qualified doctors have not and will not improve the quality of doctors produced.

Morale amongst junior doctors is extremely low. It is very disappointing that after such abhorrent treatment of an entire generation of junior doctors, nobody is willing to take the government to task.

Posted by gst101 on Thursday, 08 March 2007 09:08:54

The MMC/MTAS debacle is more than just a computer error. It is a whole systems failure. This is a scandal for the NHS. Please look at this more closely and get some action from the government to sort it out. The spin machine and whitewash have alredy started. Come on David, this is a big stick for the Tories, use it please!

 

Comment edited by gst101 on Thursday, 08 March 2007 09:09:16

Posted by Carlayla on Thursday, 08 March 2007 10:01:16

Recently Lord Hunt gave his assurance that only the best doctors would be selected for posts in both round one and round two of the selection process.
This is simply not the case. I strongly urge you to raise questions about how this can possibly be the official line on this issue.

It is entirely inappropriate to select junior doctors on their creative writing abilities, rather than their ability to be a safe and effective doctor. In no way does the MTAS selection system provide a method of differentiating a good doctor from someone with poor clinical judgement. It allows for exaggeration and fabricated claims.

The problems with the computer system were anticipated and although the system has caused problems, this is not the main issue.

The fundamental flaws in the selection process are not acceptable.

Posted by PsychiatrySHO on Thursday, 08 March 2007 15:15:15

What a sad disappointment. This government is ruining the lives of thousands upon thousands of young doctors who will never again be able to pursue their careers in this country, and your response is exactly the same as theirs: "sorry, don't care and won't get involved."

You've lost my vote.

Posted by DaveGould on Thursday, 08 March 2007 15:42:53

The Government are hell bent on ruining the entire country. I think you got a decent response. Try getting a response from Blair or Brown some time.

Webcameronator - David said biometrics were necessary and I might agree they are useful. So centres to take your biometrics are necessary.

What isn't necessary is retaining this information along with your bank records, your tax records, your benefits records and your car journeys for the last year.

Isn't it funny that George Orwell's real name was Blair...

Posted by Stjimmy on Thursday, 08 March 2007 16:12:38

The fox hunting law doesnt work, so you think the Commons should discuss it.

Oh yeah and the Cannabis laws are doing a great job arent they.

Posted by cathymac on Thursday, 08 March 2007 16:18:05

Dear David,
I am really disappointed in your response to the junior doctor fiasco. I want someone as prime minister who can act decisively to prevent a large problem from becoming a catastrophy.
I do not want someone who expresses sympathy, but allows a later 'review' to spin things out until media attention falters.
You need to show us all that you can act and are be effective. And that you will look after the NHS and its doctors as carefully as you expect them to look after you.

Posted by Frank on Thursday, 08 March 2007 16:44:37

Very nice answers.
But , even though hand-held camera work is very trendy, can you please buy a tripod for your camera?

On a slightly serious note; how much would it save to get rid of vehicle duty tax discs and put a few pennies on petrol?
All these tax disk price-hikes under the pretence of getting high emission vehicles off the road are very silly. What does a 100 quid mean to someone who can afford a RangeRover? It is simply to make Gordy some money and make him appear environmentally 'right on man'.

Surely he-who-uses-most should be charged most? An extreme example: My dear mother drives 200 miles a year, but living rurally cannot rely on public transport. With that sort of mileage she could drive a Challenger 2 tank and do less environmental damage compared to the average car driver. A few pennies on petrol (not diesel) and saving the administration cost of tax discs could provide a few bob to finance other things, whilst discouraging people from copying Jeremy Clarkson and doing 10mpg.

It shouldn't cost to OWN a vehicle, it should cost to USE it.