@microlabdoc
Consultant Clinical Microbiologist Current interests: Bacteriophage therapy, AMR, hospital water and ventilation, Airborne pathogens, IAQ, Fresh Air in the NHS= ventilation + Culture change Lots of gardens and hills too
Brian Devlin my friend is gone and I am heart broken
I miss his warmth, wisdom, friendship and solid support as I navigated the hideous realities of NHS whistleblowing
He was light and love
Irreplaceable model of ethical living in a messed up world
www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/nhs-and...
Prevention means stopping the worst happening by paying attention to the prevention measures assiduously www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
“The duty of candour is one of the fundamental standards below which care should never fall. It did with Laura" - This comment in a letter from the coroner to CQC has sparked a raft of new actions by regulators years after the family first raised concerns.
The place to read all the evidence submitted to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry about the QEUH and RHC hospital building and #infectionControl is link ed below
(Documents, transcripts and videos of all witness = Public)
The conclusions are awaited and sometime off
There is much food for thought
Very torn up for the families
The most devastating experience of the SHI was witnessing their visceral pain
What politicians don’t seem to grasp is that blanket verbal assurance is not confidence building, nor respectful
Transparent work with evidence is
We need to get there -starting now
Quite the neon fungus on pine stump.
Bright green fronds of moss growing into a circular tree stump
Clump of snowdrops
Moss’s Covered roots of a beech tree
It’s the details that cheer when the big stuff is too much.
We are now facing the largest measles outbreak since the disease was eliminated from the United States over a quarter-century ago.
The science is clear: vaccines are the best way to protect against measles. The NIH Director admits it. Why won’t RFK, Jr.?
Some people touch your life and inspire you and give you hope in a dark place. Jeanne Freeman was one such person. Devastated by her sudden death. She worked for the good of others and we are the poorer for her passing. Deep condolences to those who loved her. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
A lot of chat about keeping public confidence and the importance of reassurance.
Facts bring real assurance
Fiction brings false assurance
We need to discuss that more
That’s precisely the expertise that needs to be fed into any serious and authentic attempt to move out of the idiotic rut we are in. Perhaps Neil Gray and the Public Services Ombudsman should contact them
Thanks - much needed when all our professional bodies abandon us.
This letter has been on my mind for a long time. So many people reaching out and so many stories from different health boards. Something has to change. It’s not just about the QEUH and infections. That’s been just one symptom of a deeper malaise.
Having whistleblown myself I understand and offer my private support to anyone affected - please anyone affected dm me
It’s not a great look for a healthcare organisation who provides mental healthcare for a third of the Scottish population to have alleged sources slagged off with comments on their mental health to journalists. How may others were told the same ? Utterly despicable. Ps I am likely one target of this
Yeah - the story is important and the problem is very few journalists have followed through over the years with the commitment of Hannah. It’s an untold story in many corners of the press till very recently - very late in the day.
Tell me this isn’t normal treatment of a journalist in the UK? If it is we are so much further down the USA pathway than a rational being can be comfortable with www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
People commit suicide when suffering from the after effects of being vilified as a whistleblower/concern raiser.
All the professional bodies and the INWO have an ethical obligation that if they demand speaking up - that they ENSURE safety.
Currently it’s a fail on that ethical obligation.
Emma Harper MSP mentioned in her speech in parliament today that staff with concerns in the NHS should speak up and be listened to.
No doubt intends well, but demonstrates a shallow understanding of the current state of play.
Don’t ask people to speak up until you can PROVE it’s safe to do so.
The practicalities are preventing proper access and utilisation of Phage as a good option to treat AMR infections.
Good to see progress- also focussed work going on in UK.
Please please vaccinate your child against measles.
This is from our @independentsage.bsky.social report from last year, led by @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social & @helensalisbury.bsky.social
independentsage.org/wp-content/u...
What is the significance of “cultural problems” ?
It’s not a wee bit of icing on the cake that would be nice for a Board tasked with taking care of the health of a third of the country
It’s fundamental, foundational, crucial, for patient safety in every single domain of practice and to avoid harm
The cultural issues have been known about since the Vale of Leven Inquiry
Last openly admitted and efforts made to change by Jeanne Freeman
Subsequent health ministers stood publicly on their confidence in the health board since 2021
That’s 5 more years of unfettered bad culture damage
Enough.
From my experience the INWO experiment for external whistleblowing for the Scottish NHS is not fit for purpose. It was very well intentioned by Jeanne Freeman. Unfortunately they report to the board CEO and cannot insist on actions = chocolate teapot - non transparent lacking stringent oversight
This is WHY whistleblowing matters. Who you choose to listen to can make the difference between life and death, harm and healing, truth and lies, timely action and disastrous delay www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politic...
@johnswinney.bsky.social
It’s really not enough to claim “new team” optimism @johnswinney.bsky.social
Who in the top team has had nothing to do with the clear and embedded positioning of NHS GGC prior to last week’s Scottish Hospitals Inquiry hearing? Regarding both facts re building and whistleblowers.
It doesn’t matter if it’s ventilation, cleaning, surgical practice, maternity care, Emergency care conditions, the one uniting safety feature is a healthy culture.
The NHS fails too often because of its culture and not because of resource or competence.
The needle must be moved for all our sakes.
Very kind of you! Doing the MDT environmental course with you over the years to share learning has kept me going! Thanks for all your scientific work in the area of IPC and the built environment.
1852 and a lot of interest in air quality.
Pity scientific interest in clean air waned over last 100 years @kprather.bsky.social
Sunset over sea and beach
It’s good to take a breather before a tough week. Deep breaths of fresh air in Bonny Ayrshire
