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New Ways of Working: fences and cuckoos

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

David Jolley*
Affiliation:
Personal Social Services Research Unit, Manchester University, Dover Street, Manchester M13 9PL, email: David.Jolley@manchester.ac.uk
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Abstract

Type
The columns
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2008

There is a clue in the capital letters: New=old, Ways=one way, Working=work avoidance. It is Newspeak.

It did not occur to me when responding to the histrionic outpourings of oppressed general psychiatrists (Reference JolleyJolley, 2002) that their despair would spawn a quasi-religious management sect. I drew attention to practices within other specialties which maintained morale and positive service profiles and suggested that a more equable spread of manpower would reduce the difficulties.

In semi-retirement I have experience of general and old age psychiatry reconfigured to the model commended by Vize et al and Kennedy, and questioned by Lelliott (Reference Vize, Humphries and BrandlingVize et al, 2008; Reference KennedyKennedy, 2008; Reference LelliottLelliott, 2008). Every device is deployed to separate patients and families from consultants: to fragment patterns of care and to divert (‘signpost’) expectations and responsibilities elsewhere.

This is not the work of thoughtful, caring, clinical innovation which sparked and sustained my enthusiasm, confirming that we are available, with knowledge, skills and wisdom for people wherever they are in need (Reference JolleyJolley, 1976). Community psychiatry, including old age psychiatry, demonstrated professional humanity and superbly efficient use of resources. Let us return to the lessons of the recent past and set aside these ugly new clothes. Those who have been led astray are not to be blamed, but understood and thanked for the challenge they have given us. There is always something to be learned: we can do better. Taking down fences rather than sitting on them or jumping from them might be a good idea.

References

Jolley, D. (1976) Psychiatrist into Psychogeriatrician. British Journal of Psychiatry, News and Notes, 1112.Google Scholar
Jolley, D. (2002) General psychiatry: cuckoo. Psychiatric Bulletin, 26, 197.Google Scholar
Kennedy, P. (2008) We need to monitor implementation. Commentary on … New Ways of Working. Psychiatric Bulletin, 32, 46.Google Scholar
Lelliott, P. (2008) Time for honest debate and critical friends. Commentary on … New Ways of Working. Psychiatric Bulletin, 32, 4748.Google Scholar
Vize, C., Humphries, S., Brandling, J., et al (2008) New Ways of Working: time to get off the fence. Psychiatric Bulletin, 32, 4445.Google Scholar
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