The “Answers”

Before I get to the “answers” I have received from the Health Minister Deputy Ann Pryke, I will briefly point out the “possible” power of Blogsites and the “possible” unfortunate need for them.

I e-mailed Deputy Pryke on Tuesday the 2nd of February 2010 asking,three questions. Although she sent me a “read receipt” she never replied. I e-mailed her again four days later, once more attempting to get answers to my questions, again I got a “read receipt” but no reply. I e-mailed her for a third time on the 17th of February at 17.26pm some 15 days after the first e-mail.

After leaving it approximately twenty four hours without receiving a read receipt I published the e-mails on this Blog, and do you know what? The very next day I received a reply! It could very well be that this is a coincidence, but I fear not. I believe some, or most, of our elected “representatives” need to be “pressured” into corresponding with their electorate.

I know Blogsites have got their “haters” to those people I would say they are - unfortunately - a necessary evil.

So back to the e-mail(s)

From the very start I was seeking answers to three questions. They were (still are)

1. Are the hospital management team the Verita Report was so critical of still in place?

2. Will she (the Health Minister) be seeking to initiate a criminal investigation into acts or omissions by anybody involved in the tragic avoidable death of a patient?

3. Will she be initiating any type of her own disciplinary enquiry, holding any Civil Servant(s) to account?

Three simple, very pertinent, questions one would believe deserve an immediate response and indeed “ANSWERING”.

Unless I am missing something, after fifteen days, a Blog entry and three e-mails, I can’t see that I’ve got the three “answers” to my three questions!

Perhaps it is the case that I have got the answers but just can’t see it/them. Re-produced below is my original e-mail to the Deputy and her long awaited reply.

Original e-mail.

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.


The Deputy’s reply/”answers”?

Dear Mr. ********
Thank you for your emails and apologize for not replying before, as I am hope you will appreciate life has been very busy.
The purpose of the Verita report was to examine the organizational systems and processes in place at the time of the tragic accident. The Verita investigation had no disciplinary remit, the details of the report are being carefully considered, and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the position of individual employees. I am not aware of any current criminal investigations
There are 29 recommendations, all of which will be looked at, and will need to be actioned.It is my aim to improve the systems and procedures in place at the Hospital in light of this report. I have asked Verita to return in 6 months time to formally report on progress in implementing the recommendations.
Regards,
Anne Pryke