How many times have you heard “your politicians are easily accessible, they are on the end of a phone, or you can e-mail them”? In theory this is correct, but in practise it’s not always the case.
A little over two weeks ago I e-mailed the Health Minister Deputy Ann Pryke, and twice since, and have had nothing more than a read receipt in way of a reply.
Below are the e-mails I have sent to the Deputy, and for reasons only known to herself (or her Civil Servants) she (or they) do not appear to be in any kind of a hurry to re-assure the public that she is going to turn this failing health service around, and hold those to account for the failings outlined by the “damming” Verita Report.
If/when I get a reply, I shall publish it.
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 6:32 PM
Subject: Vote of no confidence.
Deputy Pryke.
Could you please confirm for me, as I could be mistaken, but am I correct in believing, that the management team, who were in place at the time of the avoidable tragic death of Mrs. Rourke, the very same people who were responsible for WRONGLY suspending Dr. Day, the very same people who were strongly criticised by the Verita Report, for poor management skills, were responsible for a culture of fear should an employee attempt to flag up managerial failures or bad practice and many, many more criticisms are still employed at the hospital?
Would you also be so kind as to confirm to me that you have no intentions of either seeking to have a criminal investigation in respect of this mamagement team, or indeed any kind of a disciplinary enquiry put in place?
Kind Regards.
Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 8:58 PM
Subject: Fw: Vote of no confidence.
Deputy Pryke.
It has now been four days since you read my e-mail below. Would you please be so kind as to answer the questions in it for me?
Kind Regards.
Sent Wednesday 17/02/10
Deputy Pryke.
It has now been over two weeks since my original e-mail to you and this is the third time I have tried to get some kind of a response.
I really must urge you to reply to my original e-mail by answering the questions in it. Your refusal to do so is not doing anything for my, or others confidence in either yourself as the Health Minister, nor our Hospital management.
Please stop ignoring my e-mails and give myself and the public the answers we deserve.
Kind Regards.