Duncan Harley

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse a new medical death scandal has emerged to taint the, already backfooted, NHS. How Beveridge must be spinning in his grave. Winter difficulties have given way to historical inadequacies and a Shipman-like investigation looms. I generally love the NHS despite having experienced some ups and downs at it’s clinical hands. A few health issues over the years have raised hackles. And a few health issues over those same years have calmed the hackles down. Kids with broken bones were well dealt with. Pregnancies and childbirth went smoothly. Even the demise of relatives and friends seemed kind and controlled. Then there was an admission or two. For the first time since primary school, when tonsils became an issue, I faced the surgeon’s knife. All eventually became well. I think they administered diamorphine on at least one occasion but that was just for some short-term pain and, despite the induced confusion, I recall quite enjoyin...

Seemingly the march of the robots is upon us. Not only can the digital servants cut the lawn and provide endless fun for the family pet as it – the robot and not the dog – bruises around the living-room sucking up dust, but the NHS is seemingly considering employing artificial intelligence to carry out everyday tasks around the average ward. Called Carebots, the plastic nurses will no doubt race around the wards emptying bedpans and deliverooing pizza’s thus freeing up valuable clinical resources. According to Former health minister Lord Darzi, a leading surgeon, nearly a third of care staff tasks could be handed over to robots in a bid to save £13bn a year. Indeed, the Telegraph goes so far as to suggest that he is calling for ‘Full automation’ of health and social services. All well and good then from the man whom the London Journal of Primary Care says is ‘ a great believer in bottom-up’ . Indeed, one can almost smell the robotic nurse advising the patient in bed four t...