Swept Under the Carpet

Over the years, I have observed many behaviour patterns exhibited by the establishment. One of the most important notes to make here is the establishment's art of ensuring that no one is held accountable for misdemeanors or harm caused to individuals. One of the General Medical Council's favourite way is to say " That was in the past, we have improved and we are now in the present". By doing this, the GMC circumvents all the problems of the past. They do not examine the problems nor do they address how matters could improve. This specific pattern can be observed with establishment trade unions like the British Medical Association. The British Medical Association have historically failed legions of doctors. They only reason they are left standing is because no one can be bothered to sue them. Unknown to most people, before Irwin Mitchell took over their legal work, their internal solicitors were found guilty by the then Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The BMA's failures are legendary. Nevertheless, the BMA and its numerous Chairmen over the years have insisted that that was then and this is now. 

Promises are repeatedly made in many meetings or inquiries. These promises are never kept. The Bristol Inquiry was one such place where numerous promises were made to whistleblower kind. Sadly, none of these promises were ever kept.

It has taken me numerous years to prove that I was right. Days and nights of working hard on FOIA and DPA requests, extracting data, making complaints with a view to extracting data etc. When the evidence is finally there, the above establishments will say - ah well, that was in the past. Indeed, this was the response from Public Concern at Work. The problem was, no one looked back and said " what can we learn from this"? If they had done, Mid Staffordshire fiasco would never have happened. This is one of the problems with the United Kingdom. The authorities have a strange idea of accountability. Perhaps historically, that was the British way of doing this - hide the disasters under the carpet and move on thereby pretending it never ever happened.

When we all look at the British system, it is fragmented, shattered and filled with incompetent bureaucrats who cannot address basic issues. Their incompetence is subsequently reflected on the whistleblower - a bit like transference - they cannot blame themselves so they blame and discredit the messenger. Of course, I would never wish anyone to down the road, I have been down. It is not for the fainthearted or those who are afraid of fear itself. One of the main problems with whistleblowers is that they have this idealistic vision of doing something for the "public good" and few understand or even bother to read about the repercussions.  Having thrown themselves in the pit with all the vipers, most then expect the world to save them. Of course, there aren't any superheroes in the world, as a whistleblower - you only have your own wits to rely upon. For some situations, that isn't enough.

Dishpot Richard Marks told me today that the authorities discredit whistleblowers by saying they are mad and the system can drive them mad. Perhaps that is so. Perhaps whistleblowers really do suffer from fragmented personality. Stress does interesting things to many people's mental state. For me, I suppose, the impact was "not to take no for a answer" and to be even more determined to continue forward. I am perhaps a little rattier than I would normally have been. Overall though I have learned to enjoy living and life a little more.

I have no doubts that the system may well drive whistleblowers to the end of the cliff. The trick is not to allow the system to drive you there. I am not perfect by any means but one part of winning against the system is to keep going no matter what. This is really a mindset. The power of the mind is an amazing thing. Just because the system is dysfunctional and inadequate does not mean whistleblowers should pay a high price. That is the way I look at the system around me anyway.