OPEN LETTER TO DR. NYE ( Clinical Champion, Liverpool ME/CFS Clinical Network Co-ordinating Centre), c. 2007

[Andy]

Came across this on Facebook and thought it was worth highlighting, not least for the attitudes it exposes towards ME patients within the NHS.

Dear Dr. Nye,

I have read with interest your recent apology concerning the job description for trainee therapists in Liverpool which has, as you put it, "caused distress and offence to patients".

This is one M.E. sufferer who is unable to accept your apology.

Firstly, although at first glance you appear to have expressed regret for this particular job description, all you have actually apologised for is one aspect:

"information stating that therapists might be exposed to verbal aggression from 'some clients with CFS'".

You say, "As the Clinical Lead ultimately responsible for the job description I apologise unreservedly for this statement (though I was not aware of the wording until after the document had been released)."

I put it to you that, as the person "ultimately responsible" for this job description, it is quite incredible that you were not aware of its wording, which would have had to be sanctioned, if not literally dictated, by you. I'm afraid that the implication that this document was composed by some anonymous clerical worker is simply not acceptable to anyone with a modicum of intelligence.

If, indeed, it is the case that this job description was written without your knowledge, then alarm bells should be ringing at the apparent chaotic and irresponsible state of affairs at the heart of the system of which you are a part.

I would like to take this opportunity to detail for you exactly what it is that any reasonable person, let alone a sufferer of M.E., finds unacceptable about the job description you refer to, as well as that issued by the Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust:

http://www.sayer.abel.co.uk/MES-Nnye.html

 

[Trish]

Wow, that job description is truly disgusting. I'm shocked.
Well done to the writer of the letter.

 

[chrisb]

The reply appears to be a joke in poor taste by picking on one of the least important aspects of the complaint, the "verbal aggression", which Nye is clearly indicating that the complainant is believed to be displaying.


DIT Believe me, when it comes to jokes in poor taste, I know what I am talking about.

 

[Invisible Woman]

Sad to say I am neither shocked nor surprised.

This is exactly what a great many of them really do think, in my experience and opinion.

 

[Dolphin]

Note that this is from around a decade ago.

 

[Invisible Woman]

Note that this is from around a decade ago.

True, but I think attitudes like this that go unchallenged become entrenched. I doubt they've changed much at all.

Of course, patients aren't qualified to challenge it and the ones that do are just demonstrating that they are the most in need of thought & behaviour modification.

 

[Andy]

Note that this is from around a decade ago.

Have added the first capture date from the Wayback Machine to the title. I've tried Googling and been unable to find anything else on this.

 

[Luther Blissett]

This quote

clients are frequently seen on a one to one basis without other staff immediately nearby

doesn't match the NHS safety training I received, and that was just for general patients, not even with patients who had the potential to be dangerous.

If it was true, I wonder what the unions thought of it? Why would the service expose staff to that risk if it was real?

 

[Valentijn]

This quote doesn't match the NHS safety training I received, and that was just for general patients, not even with patients who had the potential to be dangerous.

If it was true, I wonder what the unions thought of it? Why would the service expose staff to that risk if it was real?

I suspect the actual purpose of that "job description" was to prime any applicants to approach their future patients with fear, contempt, and distrust.

 

[chrisb]

I suspect the actual purpose of that "job description" was to prime any applicants to approach their future patients with fear, contempt, and distrust.

.....and with the "apology" to share a little laugh as the patients are probably too stupid to understand.

 

[Luther Blissett]

I suspect the actual purpose of that "job description" was to prime any applicants to approach their future patients with fear, contempt, and distrust.

Oh why so cynical Valentijn?

For people who don't know, part of the safety training in the NHS involved classes in self defence, physical techniques, videos like 'how leaving you scissors/pen/anything in a breast pocket can lead to you being stabbed in the eye' etc.

The idea that an organisation that sent me on a full day course for 'how to lift things' would also let the situation in the job description happen seems a little stretched.

 

[chrisb]

Now we know to leave all the heavy lifting to Luther

 

[Luther Blissett]

I walked right into that one didn't I?

One of those days were you're stuck in a warm room with no functioning windows, smuggling Opal Fruits to fellow attendees like a schoolkid, the impressive wooden model with plastic spine casting a long shadow on the wall, ah, nostalgia...