‘Bread and circuses’….
Or to give it its correct Latin nomenclature ‘Panem et Circenses’.
From Roman times… refers to a;
‘… political strategy of appeasing the masses with superficial distractions, such as entertainment or material provisions, to prevent them from questioning or resisting the ruling authority.’
Psychological manipulation. Giving people enough to keep them pacified, while serious problems are ignored.
It’s what governments do… manipulate perceptions, to maintain power, avoid accountability, or distract from pressing realities.
That’s why the Romans built coliseums. Keep the masses happy.
Not the sort of thing modern governments do…
… err, don’t be so sure.
In today’s environment we’d call it ‘distraction propaganda’ and yes, it’s happening right under our noses.
So blatant, we just don’t see it happening.
This government, or I suppose I should be more accurate and say this Department of Health+’s lap-top-warriors, the SPADs, have just pulled of one of the best best ‘Panem et Circenses’ of modern times.
What’s happened? Well, in case you missed it…
… Streeting and Co., have one job. It’s simple. One thing they have to focus on and get right. The one thing that dominated the last election, above all other public considerations.
The people wanted their people, relatives and friends to get treated and off NHS waiting list… and Labour, as Charmer said; is there to do ‘the people’s business’.
The five ‘gets’;
- get in,
- get diagnosed,
- get fixed up,
- get out and
- get on with their lives.
They are not. They’re getting stuck. Waiting is stalling.
The much touted election promise, to fund waiting list initiatives by hammering the tax regime for non-dom’s has collapsed in a heap of undoable.
There’s been no guidance on funding the overtime and costs it would take to provide the extra 40,000 appointments and operations a week. At a guess, about £320m a month, £3.8bn a year.
It’s not happening.
You know, I know, we all know it can’t be done because the NHS is already busting a gut, running hot, running the assets ‘till they sweat’, and running out of money.
‘Empty-Street’ and his coterie of advisors, don’t know what to do.
Their solution; ‘Panem et Circenses’. Roman politics. Distract us… set the obesity hare running.
Most of us who are fat would rather be thin.
Those of us in the know, know obesity is the second biggest cause of cancer and we we know it’s costing the NHS £6.5bn a year… heading to north of £11bn.
Oh, for a magic pill, or in this case, mainly an injection, to make us as thin as our shadow on a summer’s evening.
Oh, to stop looking longingly at the little black dress we wore three Christmases ago… to take it off the hanger and sashay one more time.
Oh, to lose weight, find some energy, kick start life, enjoy a job, the fellowship of workmates and a salary cheque at the end of the month.
‘Panem et Circenses’.
Free, drugs on the NHS, to solve our personal over-weight-ness and the nations under-employment-ness.
‘Panem et Circenses’
The lure of millions spent on our dreams as we are distracted and forget the nightmare of millions marooned, abandoned on waiting lists.
‘Panem et Circenses’
Weight loss drugs work, make no mistake. The mistake is to think they come without risk of side-effects. Shouldn’t really be consumed without proper, regular medical supervision.
We would be even more mistaken to believe they are an end unto themselves. They are only the beginning of new lifestyle choices.
As much as they reduce the inches around the waistline they cannot come without adjustments to the five inches between our ears. How we think about food.
How long before HMG says no-jab, no-benefits. How long before HMG says have a jab but if you don’t work, we’ll take the cost out of your benefits.
Around 49,000 patients a year have access to specialist weight-loss drugs. The eligible population is probably millions.
The Obesity Policy Engagement Network recently emphasised the lack of access to weight management services, stating that fewer than 50% of people in England have access to Tier 3 or Tier 4 weight management services.
‘Panem et Circenses’.
Will it happen? No… there’s not enough money for the drugs. Not enough professionals to make it happen. Not enough clinics and not enough of anything…
… but there are plenty more added to waiting lists every day…
… and there are plenty of us who recognise ‘Bread and Circuses’ when we see it.
News and Comment from Roy Lilley
Contact Roy – please use this e-address roy.lilley@nhsmanagers.net
Reproduced at thetrainingnet.com by kind permission of Roy Lilley.
