Health trust oblivious to economic realities

Published: 3 June, 2010

• WHILE the new government wrestles with savage cuts to the public sector, it’s comforting to know that executives at the Camden & Islington Mental Health Trust are completely oblivious to the economic reality facing the NHS.

I would like to thank them for spending £35,000 of my taxes on a nifty new logo.  Seeing chief executive Wendy Wallace say it was cheap at the price, while pictured next to a flying kite, was worth every penny.  

It cured my depression.

The timing was also spot on given that the government wants all trusts to consider merging with each other to save money. 

That means we will probably have to pay for another logo within months. 

Just add another kite, I suppose.

With a guaranteed income from the primary care trusts and a guaranteed number of patients, the trust can barely balance the books as evidenced by the sacking of key staff over Easter. But they found £35,000 for a logo.

Let’s face it, these executives are not going to be head-hunted to run Marks & Spencer or GlaxoSmithKline are they?  

Many of them have been there for 10 or 20 years and would not know how to do anything else. They’re as institutionalised as the patients whom they detain a few yards from their office at St Pancras Hospital.  Yet they awarded themselves a pay rise in April while all the nurses and doctors they employ have their pay frozen. That shows they’re not completely crazy.

My idea for a new logo would be Wendy Wallace’s smiling face.  It will draw in patients and new business alike. To create that smile, we’ve had to spend a mere £130,000 on her salary.  

Can you print her picture again to brighten my day?

TERRY CONNOLLY
Bartholomew Road, NW5