The Local Government Association (LGA) has published a list of 200 “jargon” words and their ‘plain English’ equivalents. But is this really jargon-busting, or patronising dumbing-down? Continue reading “Jargon-busting or dumbing down?”
Month: March 2009
Damned Targets?
“On Tuesday, the Healthcare Commission report revealed that between 2005 and 2008 there were 400 excess deaths at [Stafford] hospital – although it was impossible to say whether these had all been caused by bad care. The report said there were deficiencies at “virtually every stage” of emergency care and managers pursued targets to the detriment of patient care.” Report on BBC website (emphasis added).
The story of undoubted and appalling failure at an English hospital is being widely blamed in the media, by opposition politicians, doctors leaders and some academics, on the so-called ‘target culture’ in public services. But the truth is rather more complicated and harder to explain. Continue reading “Damned Targets?”
New EU concept paper on Public Service Reform
A very useful new ‘concept paper‘ has just been published by the European Commission, authored mainly by UK professor Norman Flynn. Aimed at the development community, it will nevertheless be of interest to all scholars and practitioners of public management.
Whitehall inefficiency a thing of the past?
After the government allegedly exceeded its own target to save £21.5bn from its last efficiency drive – the ‘Gershon’ programme 2004-7 – and actually save £26bn, you would think there is little left for the National Audit Office to do. Just issue the odd report saying how well Whitehall is doing and then nip out for some golf. Continue reading “Whitehall inefficiency a thing of the past?”
Recent articles in ‘Public Servant’
Here are a few of the articles I have published in ‘Public Servant’ monthly magazine over the past couple of years. More can be found on their website by searching. Continue reading “Recent articles in ‘Public Servant’”
Recent articles in ‘Public Finance’
Here are links to a few of the articles I have published in ‘Public Finance’ weekly magazine over the past year or so. Continue reading “Recent articles in ‘Public Finance’”
Efficiency savings urged to ease pain of cuts
from the FT – By Nicholas Timmins
Published: March 10 2009 00:39 | Last updated: March 10 2009 00:39 Continue reading “Efficiency savings urged to ease pain of cuts”
Rate your doctor on-line? – another Whitehall-centric initiative
Even when the Government claims to be ’empowering patients’ it manages to do it in a Whitehall-centric way. Continue reading “Rate your doctor on-line? – another Whitehall-centric initiative”
Modernising Government Mk II: ‘Working Together’
Back in 1999 ‘Modernising Government’ was finally published. After nearly two years gestation the general verdict was that it was indeed an elephant – huge, sprawling and ungainly. Everything including the kitchen-sink had been thrown into the lengthy, turgid and mind-numbingly boring document. Well, now we have Modernising Government II – or ‘Working Together: Public Services on Your Side’ (published on Tuesday 10 March 2009). Continue reading “Modernising Government Mk II: ‘Working Together’”
Gizza Job? Jobcentres Plus stitched up by Minister.
“Gizza job”, those with long-enough memories will recall, was the catch phrase of the central character- Yosser Hughes – in Alan Bleasedale’s very dark BBC TV comedy ‘The Boys from the Blackstuff’ which aired in the middle of another big recession (1982). Continue reading “Gizza Job? Jobcentres Plus stitched up by Minister.”
Colin Talbot - my blog 