The cursor an Apple Mac blinks once every second.
Not a lot of people know that.
I’d guess, only writers know that. Only writers, looking at a blank page.
Looking at the page for the want of inspiration. Watching the cursor, blinking. Defying them to touch a single key.
They might be staring at the page in indignation.
Each blink of the cursor a pulse. Syncopating, as their blood pressure rises to the point where the only relief is an explosive tattoo.
The cadence of the keys. Scorn hammered onto the page. Eventually resolving into a Rosanna Shuffle… feeling all the better for it.
Or it might be… exasperation.
The kind of exasperation that drives me to have a conversation with the blinking cursor. Talking to the blank page.
Like when I discovered I had Covid. I had a conversation with the little plastic thingamajig with the two red lines. ‘Are you sure…’ I asked. It looked back at me with an infuriating, dumb insolence.
I’m asking the cursor… ‘do I have to say it again?’
Do I have to write it again? Why are these people so, soooo stupid? They are bright, intelligent, educated and qualified… but without an iota of common sense between them.
My day started badly. Wrong foot. Grumpy.
I listened to the BBC Today Programme. Always a mistake. The blackhole of broadcasting.
I’m waiting for the day when one of the presenters asks a centenarian not, what’s the secret of your longevity… instead; ‘when do you think you’ll die’. It has to happen.
They were in their element with this;
‘… the Royal College of Radiologists is warning [of] “chronic staff shortages”, with patients waiting too long for vital tests and treatments….’
Half of all cancer units are now reporting frequent delays for both radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
This isn’t new. As gloomy as it is, it really isn’t new. It’s not news.
In 2020 the Clinical radiology workforce census pointed out half of Trusts said they left some categories of images unreported.
The consultant radiologist workforce shortfall stood at at 29%.
As far as I can see. No one took a blind bit of notice.
The report echoes the findings of the 2020 diagnostic radiography workforce census published by the College of Radiographers showing an average vacancy rate of 10.5% in diagnostic radiographers.
In their survey 92% of respondents reported vacant posts.
As far as I can see. No one took a blind bit of notice.
In 2022 Mike Richards’ Review, advised; 4,000 extra diagnostic radiographers, 2,000 radiologists and 220 physicists, plus several other imaging workforce groups… needed to keep up with demand… to enable the development of networks and community diagnostic centres.
As far as I can see. No one took a blind bit of notice.
I think I’m the only person to have read it and perhaps Mike’s mum?
Staff shortages were so obvious, even EU journals were picking it up…
… they noticed.
HMG’s best idea was community diagnostic centres… which they knew couldn’t be staffed.
Dr Katharine Halliday, the RCR president, said:
“There are simply not enough doctors to safely treat the volume of patients needed, and this will only worsen as demand rises and more doctors leave the NHS….”
No one took a blind bit of notice
I know it. You know it. Everyone working in the NHS knows it. Patients know it. Their relatives, carers and friends know it.
The dogs in the street know it.
We knew lots. Including this…
Application of Generation Theory showed how the emphasis on the influencing factors to leave or remain, within the NHS, changes across the working life of radiographers.
Early career radiographers were a more transient workforce, leaving for increased career opportunities.
Mid-career radiographers more likely to leave due to the lack of progression and CPD.
Late career radiographers due to the inflexibility of working patterns and conditions.
See, we know all this stuff.
We can’t keep good people doing the good stuff coz the NHS is an inflexible, unaccommodating, tin-eared employer.
No one does anything about anything.
What ever is in the upcoming NHS workforce plan, it’s too late.
Diagnostic radiographers must complete a degree or masters in diagnostic radiography… it takes three or four years, full-time. A radiologist takes a minimum of five.
Everyone knows but no one does anything.
The Royal Colleges and professional associations… have no influence.
NHSE have no power to publish their own plans.
The DH is up to its armpits in dissembling and distraction.
If there is a solution it is in digital, machine learning and AI but there’s no money, no will to take this on and vested interests will impede it where ever possible.
This is too exasperating to write about.
So I won’t.
I see West Ham did well on Wednesday night.
Have the best weekend you can….
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.
