Consider the following introduction from a BBC report of hospital infestations:
“The cleanliness of most NHS hospitals in England is threatened by frequent invasions of rats, fleas, bedbugs, flies and cockroaches, a report claims.”
Yeah right- bugs first, dirt afterwards.
Consider also the way the information is presented as “by the Conservatives ” when it is said later in the article that the figures were obtained “under the Freedom of Information Act”- and thus by inference we can say are official figures; but only by inference.
You certainly need to check under the carpets when the BBC are tidying the newsroom.
Actually on Toady it was as bad as they could possibly make it – nasty Tories trying to cause grief to our wonderful nhs – no mention of facts like the nhs being responsible for more deaths each year from C Dif etc, than died on 9/11. No mention of some of the nhs top ‘target specialists’, running hospitals with the highest death rates !
As the socialists have been exposed as incompetent, evil people, who will stoop to any means to remain in power, their fellow travelers at the bbc have taken the decision to try to defend them by any means, no matter how dishonest. Therefore the case for retaining the bbc as anything other than a maker of period costume dramas, is now impossible to make.
Pollard on The BBC and Cricket
http://www.spectator.co.uk/stephenpollard/878491/the-bbc-and-cricket-we-dont-want-it.thtml
Interesting use of language here:
“The cleanliness of most NHS hospitals in England is threatened by frequent invasions of rats, fleas, bedbugs, flies and cockroaches…”
A bit like saying my supreme athletic ability is threatened by my frequent intake of pies, peanuts and beer.
Chuffer,
Just about every page on the BBC site contains sentences and paragraphs that are mangled up like this one.
Don’t forget that this is not a school newsletter or a parish magazine. Writing this stuff is someone’s job.
.
“The cleanliness of most NHS hospitals in England is threatened by frequent invasions of rats, fleas, bedbugs, flies and cockroaches, a report claims.”
Funny because…
The fairness of most BBC broadcasts is threatened by frequent invasions of leftist rats like Ken Livingrat, leftists fleas like Polly Toynflea, leftist bedbugs like Kirsty Warkbug, leftist flies like Jeremy Paxfly, and leftist cockroaches like Dr. Whocock.
Don’t worry about filthy hospitals:
Maggots could help in MRSA battle
Scientists hope maggots can help produce an antibiotic that can tackle strains of the MRSA superbug.
The maggots are not going to help anybody – that suggests agency. This opening sentence really could have said:
“Scientists are investigating secretions from maggots to produce new antibiotics.”
Jack, that would imply an understanding of science. Not only is there no one at the BBC with any form of scientific education, but they are totally entrenched in their views; Arts = civilisation = good/ science = trade = pollution and progress (which we fear) = nasty people experimenting on cute animals = EVIL.
That is why Humphries and Naughty proudly boast that they hadn’t understood a word every time they interview someone from a scientific background or cover a science based news item. It is also (probably) why they are willing to blindly follow Gore; like them, he has no understanding of science.
I must check when I edit a comment to make sure it still makes sense!
science = trade = progress (which we fear) = pollution and nasty people experimenting on cute animals = EVIL.
Sorry – I’ll go to the back of the class.
Judging from the many dreary, cliched doctor/nurse style dramas the BBC manufactures for the lower end of the market they haven’t got much of an idea of what goes on in the NHS.
I’m struggling to understand this one. Perhaps someone can enlighten me?
The report says ‘Figures released by the Conservatives..’
A couple of sentences later it says ‘The figures were obtained by the Conservatives under the Freedom of Information Act’
Now, that is simply true and no doubt you would complain if it didn’t mention that or ‘give credit’ to them?
I don’t see your point, or how this is bias?
I’d like to see if private hospitals have the same level of infestation.
The coverage of this issue on VD’s 5Live programme this morning was a joke. VD’s favorite caller was the woman who claimed that the hospital she worked in under the Tories was much dirtier than the nice new clean one she worked in now and that the Tories say a lot but can you believe them. It is incredible how powerful the Tories were, in the left’s mindset the Tories are still responsible for anything that has gone wrong and anything that will go wrong. Is there a time when this will not be the case or if the Labour party was in power for 100 years would Labour Ministers and voters still blame any problems on the 1980s and 1990s evil Tory government?
Hospitals ‘infested with vermin’
I can’t help thinking that the BBC knows quite a bit about an organisation being infested with vermin.
Ed,
Thanks for bringing this one up. I listened to Mr Humphrys interview Andrew Lansley and the odious Health Minister Ivan Lewis. Check out the difference between how both were treated. Lewis just avoided the issue and talked over Lansley. Humphrys was forced to ask them not to talk over each other but the talking over was all in in direction. Lewis got away with blue murder, a bit like our filthy NHS – the envy of the world (Pluto)
Regarding private hospitals. At least with MRSA, they don’t have the same problems.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2004/07/25/do2502.xml
A dirty hospital has nothing to do with money. It has to do with shite management.
“The cleanliness of most NHS hospitals in England is threatened by frequent invasions of rats, fleas, bedbugs, flies and cockroaches, a report claims.”
When was this not the case?
The point is; it should not be happening in the year 2008. It should not be happening after a record amount of spending on the NHS. It should not be happening if the people that work for the NHS, who’s job it is to make sure it does not happen, took full legal responsibility, as a condition of employment.
In China incompetence on this murderous scale usually results in a public death sentence. Here it results in promotion or early retirement on full pay or full pension.
Even the Guardian gets it better than the BBC:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/aug/06/nhs.health1
“Frequent infestations of rats, mice, fleas, bedbugs, ants and cockroaches plague most NHS hospitals in England, figures released today show. More than two-thirds (70%) of NHS trusts brought in pest controllers at least 50 times over the past two years to combat outbreaks of vermin in wards, clinics and even operating theatres, according to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act…..obtained by the Conservatives..”
The report on vermin infestation in the NHS death factories(hospitals) contained a guest saying that “there is absolutely no proof that insect infestation causes disease in patients” and there was no come back on that little gem whatsoever! I think what the lying dishonest scumbag was really saying was ‘we havent done any research or investigations into our filthy hospitals because that would uncover evidence linking the thousands of people who die of infections each year and our stinking filthy vermin ridden hospitals and we dont want to open that can of worms, so we dont know or even give a shit who dies in our care and you cant prove nuthin mate’.
Did I translate his waffle correctly?
Still I suppose we can be glad that there are thousands of highly paid nonjob gravytrain riding parasites employed by the NHS who know nothing about health care and couldnt care less because they all have BUPA cover courtesy of the taxslave!
http://www.labour.org.uk/darzi_review
Part of key to unlocking the mystery as to why the government just cannot deal with these kind of issues is perhaps well encapsulated in the Lord Ara Darzi report. This is the kind of poppycock that Labour pay their servants to churn out. If these types of reviews into every sinew of NHS life miss (by misfortune or design) the most basic requirements, in this case not having rats, what hope is there?
More on the odious Health Minister Ivan Lewis from Guido:
http://www.order-order.com/2008/08/just-like-thick-of-it.html
‘Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust, one of the trusts which brought in pest controllers more than 50 times, accused the Conservatives of producing a misleading report.’
MORE THAN 50 TIMES! Did anyone question how good these pest controllers were? Is anyone (Bromley Hospital NHS Trust) taking responsibility for continuing to employ bad pest controllers? Perhaps “the Conservatives” should look into how the Bromley Hospital NHS Trust runs itself – the BBC won’t.
anton | 06.08.08 – 2:08 pm |
At least Lewis was right.
And if lack of clarity is what you seek, look no further than here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7544754.stm
with the headline: “Hilton spoof hits back at McCain.”
You what? How can a spoof hit back? Do they mean that Hilton hit back, or that Hilton did a spoof? It’s nonsense.
with the headline: “Hilton spoof hits back at McCain.”
No it doesn’t. It’s a spoof on BOTH candidates.
And a McCain spokesbod Tucker Bounds emails:
“It sounds like Paris Hilton supports John McCain’s ‘all of the above’ approach to America’s energy crisis – including both alternatives and drilling. Paris Hilton might not be as big a celebrity as Barack Obama, but she obviously has a better energy plan.”
Did the BBC mention THAT?
Chuffer said …”How can a spoof hit back? Do they mean that Hilton hit back, or that Hilton did a spoof? It’s nonsense.”
Nonsense only to you. The meaning is perfectly clear to everybody else.
NotaSheep | Homepage | 06.08.08 – 11:51 am |
You’ve got a good point there – did they also ask her what the hospitals were like in 1979?
Lurker in a Burqua | 06.08.08 – 9:34 am |
The BBC lying again.
Pollard makes the devastating point at the end of the article,’We go to prison if we don’t pay for the salaries of these people.’
BBC: Double standards and no credibility whatsoever.
Two points:
The statistics are not Conservative, they are instead from the NHS.
2nd point where is the bias?.
I really cannot see the bias, please feel free to prove the bias in the BBC report, for once I think the BBC have behaved impartially.
If this website was really interested in BBC bias than I suggest that someone covers the BBC World Service coverage.
“I really cannot see the bias, please feel free to prove the bias in the BBC report, for once I think the BBC have behaved impartially.”
Firstly they present the situation as though the bugs were threatening a clean environment. They are not- they are there because of a dirty one produced by the mismanagement and waste of the NHS under Labour. Pointing out that dirty hospitals = pests is the kind of ABC that is silly to omit and flattering to the ugly reality.
Second point- although it is the Conservatives who mined the data, the data is just objective NHS data. Therefore the BBC should have highlighted the appalling reality rather than the party origin of that. Is that possibly clearer for you, or do YOU have some points refuting the clear accusation.
Why wasn’t the BBC getting these NHS vermin figures itself and telling us about them?
That’d be a better use of our money than lame investigations into horse racing betting ‘irregularities’ or bungs to football managers, or most laughably that famous inquiry into Scientology with the nutter BBC reporter who was totally outflanked by his intended prey.
Maybe the BBC should subcontract its investigative journalism to the Tory party. I’m a lot more interested in rats at my local hospital than I am about allegedly dodgy goings on at local racecourse, football ground or Scientology HQ.
“Why wasn’t the BBC getting these NHS vermin figures itself and telling us about them?”
Pete- if the Conservatives were the government, it would be “the BBC have uncovered” etc etc- and the source would be the Labour party, of course.
Ed | 06.08.08 – 8:13 pm |
A few general elections back we had the infamous ‘Jennifer’s ear’ lie.
How the wicked Tories had devastated the NHS and poor little Jennifer, who was hard of hearing had to wait years for the grommet which would improve her hearing.
The BBC ran with story day in and day out, never once bothering to check the real facts.
Even now if you search their web site the BBC cannot bring itself to tell the truth.
Jennifer was the daughter of a labour party activist and the whole thing was stage managed for a party political broadcast.
It was eventually exposed in the press.
The BBC: Double standards and no credibility whatsoever.
“Zebedee:
Chuffer said …”How can a spoof hit back? Do they mean that Hilton hit back, or that Hilton did a spoof? It’s nonsense.”
Nonsense only to you. The meaning is perfectly clear to everybody else.”
I maintain it’s ambiguous and imprecise – not what we pay our squillions for. If I’d been subbing, it would have been ‘Hilton hits back with spoof.’
And more lack of clarity, this time from old Fishhook-Lip himself, signing off his report from the Olympic Venue, at about ten twenty tonight, Wednesday. A new standard in mis-stressing – his emphases are in BOLD:
“I WILL be back a little later on with a PROFILE of the man who has been chosen to CARRY the Union Jack IN that opening ceremony AT the National Stadium tomorrow night.”
BBC – reading aloud: it’s WHAT we can’t DO!
I’m a bit baffled by this story, which is about about a new sexual aid for the ladies. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3395507.stm It starts with a lovely juicy headline: “Orgasms ‘at the touch of a button'” That’s fairly clear, then.
But then, halfway through the piece we get: ‘”The Slightest Touch does not provide an orgasm,” said Cherisse Davidson, the company’s director of customer support.’
£111bn spent on the NHS in a single year and for this we get filthy hospitals and kidney cancer patients being denied drugs that would keep them alive longer. And our NHS is the envy of the world? What a sad, pathetic joke!
Second point- although it is the Conservatives who mined the data, the data is just objective NHS data. Therefore the BBC should have highlighted the appalling reality rather than the party origin of that. Is that possibly clearer for you, or do YOU have some points refuting the clear accusation.
Ed | 06.08.08 – 7:50 pm | #
—————————————
Thanks for the response Ed, you will note in my comment that “I really cannot see the bias, please feel free to prove the bias in the BBC report, for once I think the BBC have behaved impartially”.
This means that I was asking for an explanation of the bias that you alleged in your article, I am no lover of the BBC, I was just asking for further clarity.
On your bike- and I gave some reasons and am none the wiser at your scepticism. You seem to hold a default position that the BBC is fair until proven otherwise- which is unwise concerning any media. I have seen too much evidence to afford them that courtesy- they don’t know anything except how to abuse that credit given them by the public.
I welcome detailed points- sometimes they are very valuable. What I am a little impatient over is the “duh” comment offered by odd-monikered jokers who affect sympathy but show none. No apology required at all (should you feel any to be)- you’re perfectly entitled to say what you feel, but I was brought up with the saying “ask a silly question, get a silly answer”. You asked a silly question (since i’d already obviously intended some meaning to my post and I assume a minimum comprehension), and I gave at least a civil answer. Asking for an explanation to an explanation (however terse it was) is just a bit self-evidently obtuse.
Anway, the brief summary to the above is: if you don’t want to be treated like a troll, don’t act like one.
What is the Palace of Westminster’s track record on vermin infestation? (Guess it depends if you count just those with four legs or those vermin with two). All buildings have issues from time to time. I had a wasp nest formed in my loft last year – I called in an expert to sort it. Who do demand is sacked?
Bromley Hospitals has 500 odd beds across 25 wards, on four sites. There are food products everywhere – due to all its patients eating. From time to time, the natural world comes in for a bite. Pidgeons. Wasps. Vermin. They bring in pest control, like I did with my wasp nest.So what?
There is a dark nameless beastie in peoples heads. Filth, vermin, the darkness. And politics.
NHS is like anywhere else. It deals with it, as needs.
AndrewSouthLondon,
The NHS has the highest OAP death rate by hospital aquired infection in the world! If you are old and sick and enter an NHS hospital chances are that you aint coming out alive! What was it NuLabour said in 97? ’24hrs to save the NHS’. All those billions of pounds of ‘investment’ pissed away on a gigantic nonjob gravytrain for friends of NuLabour(how many wards have been cleaned by a highly paid diversity/equality inspector/exuecutive)!
The fish rots from the head down Andrew, there are many dedicated healthcare workers(badly paid) trying their best in a corrupt and inneficient enviroment that cares more for political targets and ‘equality’ than providing a clean hospital! There are thousands of people who die each year of avoidable infections(yes avoidable) while a whole class of political parasite bleeds the NHS white. The scandal of the NHS will not be helped by silence and sweeping it under the carpet, it will only makes things worse! One day it could be your old gran that goes into hospital on her feet and comes out in a box, what will you say then?
Possibly Cassandra. I know we are one of the only countries that try to record “hospital aquired infection” properly. I can assure you most countries dont even try, so I wouldnt take any relative infection rate as even half true. Since the gestation period for example of C Difficile is around 72 hours until its identifiable, you would need to record the date and time of diagnosis relative to admission to know whether the patient’s condition was hospital-aquired or admitted already colonised.That “huge waste of money” NHS computer system will do that. Politics again. The NHS central record is exactly the way to go.
Patients come into hospital from their nursing home beds already infected. A proportion of NHS staff are lazy and can’t be bothered to wash hands between touching patients. This is not about bureaucrats and targets. I know more about this than most, sadly.
Somewhere beyond politics and arrogant medical professionals is a real quality of health care where patients make a proper contributon, and staff get a decent salary.What we get now is a load of freeloading third world parasites and useless but cheap medical labour. All funded by a lying goverment.