Gordon Brown's - NHS Constitution Nightmare.

Is there a word that instils greater feelings of dread amongst public sector workers than "reform?" That's what Gordon Brown is planning for the NHS this year with his new NHS Constitution (or is it a treaty? - It seems he can't tell the difference between the two). Anyone who is involved with the NHS must be thinking "bloody hell (or possibly something more profane), here we go again." Why can't politicians just leave things alone? They are just like bloody Admirals. When you have just got near to getting to grips with the last set of pointless changes, some idiot from the "good ideas club" comes along and changes everything again just to prove they are doing something to earn their wages.

Dr Michael Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance, said:

"A constitution is not as big an issue as it once was." We've had the NHS Plan and there are some fairly radical reforms going through, like practice-based Commissioning, and getting the implementation of these things right is the absolute priority." To the average member of the public and patients and, frankly, doctor or nurse it doesn't mean much. It's just another big idea from on high."

Why the hell do we need a NHS Constitution to tell us what to expect from the NHS? If we are ill we go to our GP. If our GP can't help, he refers us to a specialist or sends us for tests. What we do know is that we expect to be made well again at the end of the process and that any problems can be discussed with our GP and he will chase them up. This Constitution seems to me to be a measure that will look good, rather than be of any practical use to the public. A bit like a diamond encrusted snooze button on a smoke alarm.