On Wednesday, Kieran and I went to see the BP ‘Classified’ exhibition at the Tate Britain. Two things stood out for me and really got me thinking.
The first was an oil painting by Gillian Carnegie. Using only black paint she’s created an amazing picture of trees, which seems to have more texture and atmosphere than a coloured painting would have had.
But what made her decide to do it in just black?
The second was a collection of sculptures by Jake and Dinos Chapman. At first glance they look like traditional aborigine sculptures, but when you look closer there are numerous references to McDonalds. It’s a comment on our lack of understanding and appreciation of the culture that this type of art originates from, and also on our own culture, and the predominance of huge commercial organisations such as Maccy D’s.
Again, it’s such a clever idea, but what made them think of it?
At Hive, our business is built on doing things differently, thinking in a different way. But it’s all too easy to get stuck thinking ‘differently’ – and then different becomes the same. The challenge is to keep finding the inspiration to think outside an ever-changing box.
When I was nine, I decided that I was going to be a doctor.
When I was twenty four, I decided that I wasn’t.
So then I was faced with the difficult and somewhat unexpected decision of what to do instead. With a background in medicine, my recruitment consultant gently nudged me away from my plan to advertise cars, and I found myself working for a medical education agency. It was the right move to stay in healthcare, not only is it my area of expertise, more importantly it is what I care about.
Having worked on the wards, I have seen the miscommunication and sometimes complete lack of communication that occurs between patients and their doctors. I have irritated numerous consultants with questions on their patients’ feelings and opinions. It is the great privilege of the medical student to have the time to talk about such things! (Perhaps partially as a disguise for our limited medical knowledge)
But on a serious note, I absolutely believe in the importance of having a patient-centered approach to medicine. So when I met the team at Hive, by unexpected fortune, I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect place for me to be.
I’ve been here for 6 days now. So far, so good.
The NHS constitution was today unveiled, two years after it was first suggested. The document sets out the rights and responsibilities of the patient. Critics have been quick to speak out against the constitution, claiming that it tells us nothing new.
The content itself may not be new – but the message it sends certainly is. Information on patients’ rights is of little value if it is hard to find and hard to read. This constitution aims to provide a ‘one stop shop’, where patients and NHS staff can easily access and understand the rights and responsibilities of the patient. It provides a foundation for true patient empowerment, by increasing the transparency of the system, and thus its accountability. It is an exciting step away from the traditional paternalistic doctor-patient relationship, towards a more sustainable and mutually satisfying partnership model.
But as Mike Sobanja of the NHS alliance points out “If it remains a piece of paper, it won’t help – action not words will bring it alive.”
Hear for yourself - The R4 Today Programme with Alan Johnson.
