In opposition, Labour promised a new era of openness and accountability in the NHS in place of the 'culture of fear' and politicisation, which it claimed had undermined the service under the Conservative government.
However, two articles in this week's BMJ by freelance journalist Judy Jones show that attempts to suppress or massage information about health care remain much in evidence, despite the change of Government three years ago.
In the first article, the author cites numerous examples of news management, political bias and intolerance of informed criticism of the Government's policies on the NHS; and of Labour's lack of enthusiasm for lifting the secrecy surrounding the safety and quality of licensed drugs.
In the second article, the author investigates the Department of Health's long delay in responding to a series of BMJ papers criticising the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). After the first paper was published last July, Colin Reeves, the NHS finance director, promised a written response that would address the issues raised. Ten months on, and after rumours of insufficient evidence to rebut the critics, the BMJ finally received the article on 12 May. It is currently being considered for publication. The health department denies that it had problems defending the PFI, and attributes the delay to its decision to await the dissemination of new guidelines on the initiative in February.
The private finance initiative: spinning out the defence
Contact:
Judy Jones, freelance journalist for BMJ
Email: judyjones@serneus.fsnet.co.uk