Je Regrette

Today, I attended the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Faculty of Public Health. This was, indeed, an ‘extraordinary’ event. We Public Health folks tend to be passionate about public health, but well used to negotiating and trying to persuade, rather than outright opposition and major fights. We know that we do not have much power, but we encourage, cajole, influence, present the evidence and, often, finally win through. We are passionate about our populations, about what they need and what should be provided for them. We try to put them first.

We also, in the main, support our Faculty. We know that they do a good job under difficult circumstances. They are not paid. They do it on top of the day job, or after they retire. They are honourable, caring and, in these difficult times, they are doing the best they can.

Yet today, for the first time in 30 years, we had an EGM. Today, the rank and file of the Faculty called upon the Board to take a different stance. Today, we demanded that the Board changed its policy of attempting to influence amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill, and come out in outright opposition to it.

About 6% of the 3500 Faculty members travelled to Birmingham to take part in the debate. This sounds tiny. It is not. It is huge. Remember, the Faculty has large numbers of overseas members, members from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who are less immediately affected, retired members, sick members, old members. This was a working day – many were unable to get the time off because of pre-existing commitments they thought too important to abandon. There were others who watched the live stream but were unable to vote. This was a large turnout of concerned people. There were past Presidents, distinguished academics, registrars just starting out in careers in public health, and those, like me, who are just jobbing public health professionals. We had all made our way to Birmingham because we thought this too important to miss; because we care deeply and wanted to make our voices heard.

The debate was robust but professional, as it should be in such a company. The President distinguished herself with her calm bearing and non-partisan chairing. She faced all challenges with a remarkable calm and made a series of correct decisions. There were some outstanding presentations, and others that left a lot to be desired, but on the whole it was an edifying spectacle of a group of people facing up to one of the most difficult dilemmas that they are ever likely to confront. Everybody knew that there was no cut and dried ‘right answer’. This was a judgment call, and we had to make it. Although the vote is not binding on the Faculty Board, a clear message would be bound to carry weight.

In the end, the vote to move to outright opposition to the Bill was overwhelming. There could be no doubt that the mood of those in the room was to oppose the Bill as a danger to the health of the people of this country and a move to privatise and destroy the NHS. I was pleased and relieved that the vote was so clear. Nobody could claim that the room was split.

So what is there to regret? I regret that it came to this – that we could not have achieved this result by consensus. I regret that it has caused divisions in the public health family and, for some, left a feeling of anger. I regret that, because of the poorly worded motion in support of the Faculty, I did not feel able to support it. I regret that we have been placed in this position by an intransigent Secretary of State who does not know the meaning of the verb ‘to listen’ and who insists on riding rough shod over all the voices, medical, nursing and others, telling him that this will not work.

But, I do NOT regret going to Birmingham. I do NOT regret speaking out, even if that puts me in bad odour with some people. I do NOT regret the company I found myself in, particularly those with far more to lose than I. Most of all, I do NOT regret that I have struck a blow, no matter how small, for the NHS and the health of the people of this country. I do not believe that this will be a day I shall regret on my deathbed.