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UK
Asian Voice - Saturday 2nd October 2010
Kapil’s
“Our London”
KHICHADI
CIIr Navin Shah AM London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow
A big blow to the National Health Service The coalition government’s white paper ‘Equity and excellence Liberating the NHS’ published in July on alleged ‘health reform’ proposes the biggest shake up of the NHS London with its proposal to abolish the strategic health authority and London’s 32 primary care trusts. Like many of the coalition government proposals this is yet another half baked initiative. The radical shake up was not in the Tory manifesto and the flagship concept of GP Consortia replacing PCT is a crude attempt to privatise NHS through the backdoor. At a recent consultation meeting in Brent one of the panel members suggested that eventually GP consortia may look like PCT in years to come! How true. Surely the proposals are about replacing public quangos (PCT) by privatised quangos (GP consortia). If I had to choose between the two I’d opt for PCTs with a good level of accountability than the privatised commercial GP Consortia, controlling public funds worth billions, driven by commercial interests rather than patient care and accountability. The Financial Times commenting on the proposal said ‘The HHS faces its most radical shift of power and accountability and the largest structural upheaval in its 60 year history.’ Health and Public Services Committee of the London Assembly conducted a discussion with Ruth Carnell Chief Exec NHS London on
the white paper with a focus on its impact on London. Key aims of the meeting were how NHS London will be affected by changes - with a particular attention on Reconfiguration of community and acute services Changes to commissioning and management structures (GP Consorita) Achieving efficiency savings Londonwide working and potential role of the GLA / Mayor. In summary the discussion highlighted The changes would affect every part of the system. Given the changes how do we hang on to a significant level of improvements / achievements made in London when 54% reduction in management cost is sought through financial controls. Is this practically possible without affecting patient care? With the abolition of NHS London where will the current functions go? Ms Carnell expressed strong views about impact / issues related to London. The strategic importance of London, the leadership it provides and significant role London plays that needs protection. Research and development including training. Wide range of special services and expertise London provides which require protecting. Unique diversity related health issues in London. Mayor’s Role: Extended scrutiny role. Issues related to pub-
lic health and Councils responsibilities. How will this fit in with Mayor’s strategic role. How will local Councils work with GP Consortia? Should the current status of London Ambulance Service remain unaltered? GP Consortia: Current PCTs to provide active support. Accountability: Proposals for National Commissioning Board but no mention of regional monitoring regime. What are the risks and how big Consortia should be? If small: they’ll require support services from elsewhere. If big inherent problems of bureaucracy. How the transition will from PCT to GP commissioning will work and how much will it cost to implement the change. NHS Finances: - Concerns expressed by London Assembly Members as to how PCTs and NHS would produce major management cost savings and at the same time oversee the structural changes proposed in the white paper. I remain wholly unconvinced about the white paper proposals and I support the legal action by Unison against the Secretary of State for Health, challenging his refusal to consult the public on proposals in his White Paper. The union has argued that no steps should be taken to implement the changes in any way, until the public have had the opportunity to consider and comment on them.
Global Punjabi Society UK Chapter Launched India’s High Commissioner to UK H E Nalin Suri launched the UK Chapter of Global Punjabi Society (GPS) on 27 September at the House of Lords, UK. The guests of honour were Rt. Hon. Baroness (Dr.) Sandip
Verma, Shailesh Vara MP and Priti Patel MP. The event was attended by more than 150 People of Indian Origin living in India and abroad. Ashok Verma was unanimously declared the President of GPS UK
Chapter, Ms Harminder Chahal is the Treasurer and Pradeep Ghatok the Secretary. A select group of Indian achievers were honoured on the occasion by H E Nalin Suri. The awardees were Baroness Prasher- Member of the House of Lords, Basant Bansal – Chairman and Managing Director of M3M India, Manu Garg – Director Land Craft Developers, Samarjit Singh – Chairman and Managing Director, Agni Property Group, Sundeep Bhutoria – Secretary, Indian Federation of
by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com CWG – A Farce The last week or so has allowed everyone to have a go at India in its preparation for the Common Wealth Games. My only observation would be, do not confuse the politically motivated organising committee and its failures with that of India at large. Anyone who knows India will also know that large scale projects and developments continue unhindered and delivered to the highest standard. Of course these generally tend to be controlled by the private sector where delivery and keeping to a budget determines if you get your next contract or not. The failure ultimately is that of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He took his eye off the ball not just on the odd occasion, but over several years. So enough said about that; the real question in my view is, ‘Should India remain part of the Common Wealth?’ The slave remains a slave, in its mentality, in its psyche, in its attitude, in its awe of the ‘white’ imperial masters, and in the inferiority bred from hundreds of years of subjugation. With all the awesome power of its people, its cultural heritage, and its natural resources – India and Indians still need time to escape from its past. I just hope that it happens in the near future.
Doubting Thomas’s There are those from the west who have jumped on this CWG bandwagon to show that India is not a super power or a player of any global significance. It’s the opportunity they have been waiting for to bring India down a peg or two since witnessing its rise was just too much for those with inbred prejudices.
United Nations Youth Association and Managing Director of Ess Bee Consultants Ltd, Bharat Sharma Managing Director of G. B. Properties and Earth Movers, Surinder MongiaManaging Director of Strongfield Technologies Ltd., Surjit Singh PnaiserFounder of ‘Junction 2 Interiors Ltd’- Anuj J Chande- Partner and Head of South Asia Group, H.E. A. Kundasamy- High Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius, H.E. A. Kundasamy- High
I would of course point out that there is a real difference between the way in which a corrupt CWG organising committee does its work; and that which is executed to international standards by the private sector in India. Those who fail to discern the difference between these two elements, do so at their peril. The growth as exhibited by the GDP figures of some 8.5% shows that the Indian economy is booming and that engine will continue to drive developments in the country. I agree that there are issues with India. It is frustrating at times to see Indian politicians shoot their foot off with regularity akin to the metronomic tick-tock of Big Ben. However, does this mean it is doomed to failure? This is where I differ from western pundits who find it hard to accept that increasingly they have to bow to the whims of a nation which they have held in contempt since its Independence. India must rise to the challenges and as previously stated in KK, it is time for the mass marketeers of public opinion in India to make such shoddy attitudes a remnant of history and unfit for the India of tomorrow. Remember even the doubting Thomas eventually had to yield.
agreed by the party and therefore totally legitimate. People in the media and even some politicians it seems have already written him off as a wimp. I have to say, I am not sure their assessment is right. Ed (I assume I can call him that) grew up under the shadow of his elder brother David who has led on most things to date. Given this history it takes a strong individual willing to step up to the mark and pick up the gauntlet. So we must give credit where credit is due. Ed’s task is challenging, but it is an important one to ensure we have good politics and governance in Britain. It is also incumbent on him to lead his Party to capture the middle ground again, and whilst doing so, not forgetting the history that made Labour what it is. Like the original Mr Ed, Ed Miliband will have to show that even in his youth the seed of wisdom exists. That humour coupled with hard headed serious politics is the balance that will better resonate with the British public. And a tinge of mischief might actually be a powerful tool which if utilised correctly can often catch his opponents off guard. One piece of advice to the new leader, please don’t do a David when it comes to India.
Mr Ed
Kili 2011
For those who grew up in the 60’s might remember a TV programme called Mr Ed. Great show (at least it seemed like it when I was 8 years old!) about a talking horse with wisdom, humour and that tinge of mischief. So what do we have in store from Mr Ed of the 21st Century? Labour elected their new leader with a very narrow margin, but elected he was on the rules
Readers will know that I was destined to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for a charity this October. Unfortunately I have sustained a minor injury to my leg which has meant that I have had to postpone my climb now to August of next year. So, more time to raise more money and to get mind, body and spirit in tune and ready for the challenge. Thank you for your continued support.
Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius, Jagdish Chander Director India Tourism UK, K.L.Ganju - Honorary Consul General of the Union of the Comoros, Lalu Samuel - Managing Director and CEO of Clipsal Middle East, Mohammad Sabih Bukhari – Group General Manager Satco International Trading and Contracting, H. E Nimisha J Madhvani Uganda’s High Commissioner to India, Pankaj Shah- CEO and Chairman of Earthstone
Group and Dr Sudhir Ruparelia Chairman Goldstar Insurance Co. Ltd. Global Punjabi Society Newsletter was also released on the occasion by the High Commissioner. The call for charity got an overwhelming response from the guests. A sum of Rs 10 lakhs was contributed by Bharat Sharma from India, Surjit Singh Pnaiser from Birmingham UK donated a sum of 6000 and Lalu Samuel from Dubai donated a sum of Rs 2, 50,000.