The NHS in Crisis: 4 Reasons Biscuits Won't Fix It
Dr Nia D Thomas FRSA
On a mission to raise awareness of awareness. Author of The Self-Awareness Superhighway. Director of Thoughts & Ideas, KSKO. Host of The KSKO Podcast. Director, A Better Start Southend. Trustee, Blogger
A LinkedIn post caught my eye. It was extolling the brilliance of an idea implemented by a department within a prestigious UK National Health Service (NHS) organisation.?
The new initiative is designed to welcome new employees and make them feel comfortable and valued in the organisation.? This is really important. ?A strong welcome and good onboarding starts a new employee’s journey with an organisation off on the right foot and shows that they are valued and cared for.
But, the prized element in question?? Was it access to coaching?? Was it a voucher for professional development?? Was it even free yoga classes every Wednesday morning?
No.
It was biscuits.?
Oh yes.?
Biscuits.
No just any old supermarket biscuits though.? Oh no.? These are designer biscuits. One biscuit is adorned with the organisation’s logo and the other with a welcome message, all neatly presented in a little gift box.
Where do I start to share with you my incredulity and rage…..?
1. Cost
The NHS in the UK is financially drained. With increasing energy costs, rocketing food costs, high inflation, Brexit impacting the cost of imported drugs and consumables and salary rises, the NHS is having to spend more money than it receives. The NHS also has far greater clinical ability today than ever before, and doing more stuff means spending more money.?
Organisations are having to make savings across the board, and as with so many employers, the greatest spend is on salaries.? When you’ve trimmed around the edges, you’ve made all the efficiencies you can, your last resort is....
Author & Blogger | I write about living on purpose & peace in today's chaotic world | ??Currently working on Book 2
3 个月I think it's interesting that 'financially drained' means cutting down on staff and the quality of service but not on the salaries of the top tier. We all put up with the small fixes because really we know that there needs to be a much bigger change, and it doesn't start at the bottom!!
Improvement Guru. I help organizations become better & make the world better. Lifelong Learner. Always learning about my expertise, my community, my professional partners, & our world. Let’s make our world better.
3 个月Gimmicks often sell well and always sell better than they work. And to be fair, they are cheaper and easier than improving the actual organization.
LinkedIn Top Voice ? International Speaker Author Consultant on Leadership Culture Diversity and Inclusion ? Founder of Quietly Powerful ? Co-Founder of Leaders Who Listen
3 个月That’s unfortunate Dr Nia D Thomas FRSA. Similar things are happening elsewhere such as yoga/mindfulness classes to address mental health/burnout. Perhaps what is missing is the space for deeper reflection and effort to address the root causes.
On a Health and Well-Being Career Break | Speaker, Trainer, Facilitator, Coach
3 个月Good catch and article Nia. This is why all organisations should have Museum of Failure (an idea I always remember thanks to Tim Harford's book Adapt: Why Success Always Starts with Failure) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/where-to-go-to-buy-failed-products-180967221/
Director/RI of Lighthouse | Director at HSC | Board Trustee | Leadership Trainer | Army Captain | Secure Childrens Home | Project Management | Views own
3 个月Very good read. Dr Nia D Thomas FRSA ??