MI5 gets the message on Scientific Advice... 40 years too late

I read today, with complete incredulity... that the British security service MI5 is recruiting a chief scientific adviser to ‘lead and co-ordinate’ its scientific work.

WHAT?? Does this mean that the British security services... in 2009... in the 21st century... hasn't had a 'chief scientific adviser'... for years already?? Unbelievable!!

But... there you have it... according to the Beeb's Science and Environment website... that's how things are with our spy catchers.

Despite being shown the way long ago by the likes of James Bond and 'Q' for over 40 years, (Q first appeared in 1962 in Dr No) our frontline defences on security have not had someone scientifically advising our spies... during all this time. Amazing!!

Ah well... better late than never I suppose one would say with typical British phlegm. I wonder what the cousins make of this??

Anyhow... apparently, the the job is being advertised on the MI5 website, with the successful applicant expected to use their expertise to thwart terror operations around the world! (You don't say!)

Candidates for the ‘unique and challenging’ role need to have ‘world-class scientific expertise and credibility’, ‘excellent strategic skills’, ‘outstanding influencing and communication skills’ as well as a successful track record of ‘managing critical projects and processes in a complex environment’.

The post will take up two or three days a week, the advert says. Hmmm... so only part time too! It gets better!

According to the Government's chief scientific adviser, Professor John Beddington, the new recruit will have to keep up with the latest scientific developments to ensure British intelligence stays one step ahead of the country's enemies.

If all this wasn't so serious... it would be laughable... well it IS laughable but... I'm still amazed... stunned!!

Here's something I strongly recommended to applicants... James Bond 007: Q Manual... and I would add to whoever is selected... the best of British luck to you mate... you're going to need it!!

Oh... I just had a brilliant thought! I do recall a very suitable candidate may have recently become available on the job market. I am led to believe this chap is apparently very good with poison (hmmm.. but not so good with computer literacy)! Perhaps our man at Westminster... the esteemed Guido Fawkes might like to offer a good letter of reference??

Read more on 'Q' and James Bond on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Search for more on 'Q' and James Bond at Amazon.co.uk

Susan Boyle... already the peoples' winner

Susan Boyle has become an overnight success on the internet!

With over a staggering 8 million views now on her YouTube videos, she's already the people's winner!

Clearly... she's also a winner with Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, as you can see from this video!

Can't wait for this week's show... Britain's Got Talent!

Nursing and Midwifery Council insist on their crass decision on Haywood

Following my post last night about the 'striking off' of whistleblowing nurse Margaret Haywood, I see today the Nursing and Midwifery Council have had to put out a statement explaining their decision!

In a statement published on their website this morning, the NMC note 'significant media interest' concerning their decision, by an independent panel of the Nursing & Midwifery Council’s Conduct and Competence Committee to strike off Margaret Haywood from the register.

The NMC say "the view of the independent panel was that Margaret Haywood’s actions in breaching patient confidentiality represented a major breach of ‘The Code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives’ by which all nurses and midwives must abide".

"Based upon the evidence it heard, the independent Panel decided that Margaret Haywood’s fitness to practise was impaired by reason of misconduct.

A patient should be able to trust a nurse with his/her physical condition and psychological wellbeing without that confidential information being disclosed to others. Only in the most exceptional circumstances should the cardinal principle of patient confidentiality be breached. Based upon the evidence it heard, the panel did not believe that this was the case and although the conditions on the ward were serious, it was not necessary to breach confidentiality to seek to improve them by the method chosen. The panel believed that the method was unlikely to benefit the patients that were on the ward at the time of filming and under Margaret Haywood’s care."

What a load of tripe!

At the NMC hearing, Elizabeth Bloor, the producer of BBC's Panorama programme that blew the whistle on the Royal Sussex Hospital's lack of care of the elderly, gave evidence and told the hearing consent had been obtained from all the families of patients involved in the filming!

The BBC producer added that there had been "an over-arching public interest" to produce the Undercover Nurse documentary because Panorama had received up to 5,000 complaints about conditions.

In November the panel found no evidence that Ms Haywood broke the NHS Trust's policy on whistle-blowing by raising concerns about patient care in the documentary, or that she failed to assist colleagues when a patient was having a seizure.

A BBC spokesman said "there was clearly a strong public interest in revealing that some elderly people were not receiving the level of care we expect from our national health service".

"Panorama believes that Margaret Haywood has done the elderly population of this country a great service."

Today, listening to a BBC Radio 5 Live phone-in, it was clear that a very significant number of people across the country agree that Ms Haywood's actions have improved care for the elderly... and not just in Sussex. They also believe the NMC have got it wrong!

People are grateful for the courage and enterprise Ms Haywood showed... in standing up and fighting for these elderly patients... and blowing the whistle on the Royal Sussex Hospital.

The consequences Ms Haywood now faces... in being unemployed and disbarred from being able to continue employment as a nurse is shameful. This woman should be being congratulated for what she did!

If you would like to support Margaret Haywood, there is a Facebook Group whose aim is to Reinstate Margaret Haywood.

Update - Petitions set up

There are now a number of Petitions set up in support of Margaret Haywood and I have listed those I have chosen to support here: Petitions set up in support of Margaret Haywood

If you want to let the NMC know how you feel you can do so by emailing this article to them - Just click on the 'SHARE' button below to email them - Copy these email addresses as they are (including the comma) and paste it into the email address window of the 'SHARE' email: fitness.to.practise@nmc-uk.org, communications@nmc-uk.org - You might like to add, as I did, that you think their decision is "appalling and shameful"!

NHS 'whistleblowing' nurse shamefully struck off by NMC

Margaret Haywood, a whistleblowing nurse who secretly filmed for the BBC to reveal the neglect of elderly patients at a hospital has been struck off for misconduct.

Ms Haywood who is 58, secretly filmed elderly patients at the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton for a BBC Panorama programme in July 2005.

Today... in an unbelievably crass act she was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council who said she failed to "follow her obligations as a nurse". In other words... the Nursing and Midwifery Council believe that rules... are more important and come before the care of patients! Unbelievable!!

Ms Haywood, who is originally from Liverpool and has been a nurse for over 20 years, said she thought she had been treated harshly and insisted she had put patients first.

"I am absolutely devastated and upset by it all. I think I have been treated very harshly."

I think most people would agree Margaret!!

Ms Haywood is now calling for a whistle-blower review and I'm glad she is as this is really very unjust. Her intentions were clearly to help these patients. If the Nursing and Midwifery Council felt that strongly that Ms Haywood had indeed failed in her nursing duties, then in the circumstances, I would have thought some sort of reprimand would have been more appropriate.

A spokesman for the Royal College of Nursing said parts of the NHS did not have "systems or working environments" in place that encouraged staff to speak out. He added:

"This can put staff in an extremely difficult position and when staff concerns are discouraged or ignored, it can often lead to poor patient care getting worse.

It is absolutely vital that healthcare staff at all levels feel they can raise concerns about poor patient care with their managers."

But a Department of Health spokesperson said:

"Whistle-blowers already have full protection under the Public Interest Disclosure Act passed by this Government.

We expect that any member of staff who reports concerns about the safety or quality of care to be listened to by their managers and action taken to address their concerns."

Well... the Public Interest Disclosure Act doesn't seem to have helped Ms Haywood very much so far... despite the fact that she did her best to report her concerns to her managers, as she confirms:

"I did voice my concerns through my immediate line manager and I also went to my ward manager but nothing was really taken on board.

Nurses are afraid to speak out about what is happening and the whole process needs to be reviewed so nurses can make it easier to voice their concerns."

Quite! They should also not be struck off for 'whistleblowing' clear examples of appalling treatment of the elderly!

I very much hope the BBC are supporting Ms Haywood's case... and not letting her hang out to dry!

If you would like to support Margaret Haywood, there is a Facebook Group whose aim is to Reinstate Margaret Haywood.

Update - Petitions set up

There are now a number of Petitions set up in support of Margaret Haywood and I have listed those I have chosen to support here: Petitions set up in support of Margaret Haywood

If you want to let the NMC know how you feel you can do so by emailing this article to them - Just click on the 'SHARE' button below to email them - Copy these email addresses as they are (including the comma) and paste it into the email address window of the 'SHARE' email: fitness.to.practise@nmc-uk.org, communications@nmc-uk.org - You might like to add, as I did, that you think their decision is "appalling and shameful"!