• Contact
  • About
  • Authors
DONATE
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
  • Login
Central Bylines
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Brexit
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Transport
    • World
    Air pollution

    Deadline extended for Government’s air pollution consultation

    Drunk Man

    Has the WHO allowed the drinks industry to water down its alcohol plan?

    The new Education White Paper - is it really ‘Opportunity for All’?

    The new Education White Paper – is it really ‘Opportunity for All’?

    Photo by Nik Shuliahin 💛💙 on Unsplash

    Mental Health Awareness Week: 9th-15th May

    London, England, UK - October 9, 2021: Protesters marched from Trafalgar Square to UK Parliament protesting the Northern Ireland Protocol demanding its cancellation.

    The NI Protocol and the Brexit ultras

    Adobe Stock licensed image by hanohiki

    Bad news for Newark: 110 jobs lost as town’s top employer withdraws to the EU 

    Photo by RODRIGO GONZALEZ on Unsplash

    The challenges faced by long covid sufferers as we “learn to live” with covid

    Benefits on the horizon?

    Brexit benefits: a reply to David Frost

    Photo Courtesy: U.S. Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program.

    Living on an island: the chequered history of offshore ‘people-management’

    Trending Tags

    • Johnson
    • Ukraine Conflict
    • Brexit
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Transport
    • World
  • Politics
    Johnson

    Johnson’s Rwanda asylum scheme draws praise from fascists

    Statue of margeret Thatcher, Grantham

    Egg on their faces: Thatcher’s Grantham is a reminder of the division she helped create

    Image by Central Bylines Team

    The speed freak, law-breaking crime commissioner

    Image by Central Bylines Team

    Labour GAIN Allens Cross

    Photo by Roger Chapman on Unsplash

    Progressive gains resulting no overall control in Worcester

    London, England, UK - October 9, 2021: Protesters marched from Trafalgar Square to UK Parliament protesting the Northern Ireland Protocol demanding its cancellation.

    The NI Protocol and the Brexit ultras

    Official_portrait_of_Angela_Rayner_MP

    Angela Rayner has class, her attackers have none

    Despair

    Conservative council merger collapses over “irreconcilable differences”

    Author Mounsay

    Closing days of the local elections: what are the candidates saying in Allens Cross?

    Trending Tags

    • Levelling up
  • Opinion
    Adobe stock licensed image by Jorm S

    Freedom and conservatism

    This work is from the National Child Labor Committee collection at the Library of Congress. According to the library, there are no known copyright restrictions on the use of this work.

    Reflections on Boris Johnson’s ‘high skill, high wage future’ speech. Fashion – Fix up, look smart! 

    Adobe Stock licensed image by motortion

    Reflections on Boris Johnson’s ‘high skill, high wage future’ speech: the invisible half of the population

    Official United Kingdom Parliamentary photographs 2020 Tom Randall (politician) - CC-BY-3.0

    Why do people become MPs?

    Image by Central Bylines Team - derived from eligible Creative Commons sources

    Gaslighting an electorate – the moral bankruptcy of Edward Leigh 

    Adobe Stock licensed: Gibberish
by egokhan

    Lucy Allan talks gibberish

    Image by Number 10 for flickr licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

    Red wall voters to Johnson: in the name of God, go!

    Say no to the elections bill

    Say no to the Elections Bill

    Trending Tags

    • Lifestyle
      • All
      • Art
      • Books
      • Dance
      • Festivals
      • Fun & Games
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Poetry
      • Sport
      • Theatre
      • TV
      Euroscent

      Smells wonderful

      Britsh F1 Grand Prix 2021

      A winning formula? Why F2 champions may struggle to break into F1

      The Tooth Fairy

      Images by Dave Deans for Swan Theatre Company

      A good Egg: a preview of the play A Day in the Death of Joe Egg

      Author's own illustration

      The terrible fate of Charlie Bone

      Sam_Ryder

      A Spaceman went travelling

      Europe Day Poster

      Celebrating Europe day – concerts and rallies

      Shutterstock image (2137163653) by Serhii Mykhalchuk used under license

      What remains?

      This writer's life

      This Writer’s Life: a diary

      Trending Tags

        • Dance
        • Food
        • Music
        • Poetry
        • Recipes
        • Sport
      • Business
        • All
        • Economy
        • Technology
        • Trade
        Adobe Stock licensed image by hanohiki

        Bad news for Newark: 110 jobs lost as town’s top employer withdraws to the EU 

        Promotion image from Colleague Box website

        Pandemic start-up success story hampered by Brexit barriers

        Image licensed by Pixabay

        Information is power: its loss can be devastating

        Photo by Matt Bango on StockSnap

        Hassle in High Peak: Robert Largan’s solar farm shenanigans

        Adobe Stock licensed - image by blackday

        British Gas-lighting a nation: how energy companies are exploiting their customers with increased prices

        circular economy

        Reflections on Boris Johnson’s ‘high skill, high wage future’ speech

        Dog wrapped in a blanket, luckily he does not have to pay the bill.

        Fuel bills and service blunders as energy prices start to bite

        Picture of Darts board

        Reflections on Boris Johnson’s ‘high skill, high wage future’ speech

        Photo Bryan Manley-Green

        Exactly what does “Next” mean for E.on?

        Trending Tags

        • Levelling up
        • Economy
        • Technology
      • Region
        • All
        • East Midlands
        • West Midlands
        Vera Brittain plaque

        Midlands blue plaques part 1: Vera Brittain in Buxton

        Image by Central Bylines Team

        The speed freak, law-breaking crime commissioner

        Image by Central Bylines Team

        Labour GAIN Allens Cross

        Photo by Roger Chapman on Unsplash

        Progressive gains resulting no overall control in Worcester

        Valerii Semenov

        Chernobyl 27 April 2022

        Allens Cross Community Centre

        Allens Cross Community Association

        Despair

        Conservative council merger collapses over “irreconcilable differences”

        Author Mounsay

        Closing days of the local elections: what are the candidates saying in Allens Cross?

        What has my council done for me? Pt. 4: Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour

        What has my council done for me? Pt. 4: Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour

        Trending Tags

          • East Midlands
          • West Midlands
        • Events
        No Result
        View All Result
        • Home
        • News
          • All
          • Brexit
          • Education
          • Environment
          • Health
          • Transport
          • World
          Air pollution

          Deadline extended for Government’s air pollution consultation

          Drunk Man

          Has the WHO allowed the drinks industry to water down its alcohol plan?

          The new Education White Paper - is it really ‘Opportunity for All’?

          The new Education White Paper – is it really ‘Opportunity for All’?

          Photo by Nik Shuliahin 💛💙 on Unsplash

          Mental Health Awareness Week: 9th-15th May

          London, England, UK - October 9, 2021: Protesters marched from Trafalgar Square to UK Parliament protesting the Northern Ireland Protocol demanding its cancellation.

          The NI Protocol and the Brexit ultras

          Adobe Stock licensed image by hanohiki

          Bad news for Newark: 110 jobs lost as town’s top employer withdraws to the EU 

          Photo by RODRIGO GONZALEZ on Unsplash

          The challenges faced by long covid sufferers as we “learn to live” with covid

          Benefits on the horizon?

          Brexit benefits: a reply to David Frost

          Photo Courtesy: U.S. Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program.

          Living on an island: the chequered history of offshore ‘people-management’

          Trending Tags

          • Johnson
          • Ukraine Conflict
          • Brexit
          • Education
          • Environment
          • Health
          • Transport
          • World
        • Politics
          Johnson

          Johnson’s Rwanda asylum scheme draws praise from fascists

          Statue of margeret Thatcher, Grantham

          Egg on their faces: Thatcher’s Grantham is a reminder of the division she helped create

          Image by Central Bylines Team

          The speed freak, law-breaking crime commissioner

          Image by Central Bylines Team

          Labour GAIN Allens Cross

          Photo by Roger Chapman on Unsplash

          Progressive gains resulting no overall control in Worcester

          London, England, UK - October 9, 2021: Protesters marched from Trafalgar Square to UK Parliament protesting the Northern Ireland Protocol demanding its cancellation.

          The NI Protocol and the Brexit ultras

          Official_portrait_of_Angela_Rayner_MP

          Angela Rayner has class, her attackers have none

          Despair

          Conservative council merger collapses over “irreconcilable differences”

          Author Mounsay

          Closing days of the local elections: what are the candidates saying in Allens Cross?

          Trending Tags

          • Levelling up
        • Opinion
          Adobe stock licensed image by Jorm S

          Freedom and conservatism

          This work is from the National Child Labor Committee collection at the Library of Congress. According to the library, there are no known copyright restrictions on the use of this work.

          Reflections on Boris Johnson’s ‘high skill, high wage future’ speech. Fashion – Fix up, look smart! 

          Adobe Stock licensed image by motortion

          Reflections on Boris Johnson’s ‘high skill, high wage future’ speech: the invisible half of the population

          Official United Kingdom Parliamentary photographs 2020 Tom Randall (politician) - CC-BY-3.0

          Why do people become MPs?

          Image by Central Bylines Team - derived from eligible Creative Commons sources

          Gaslighting an electorate – the moral bankruptcy of Edward Leigh 

          Adobe Stock licensed: Gibberish
by egokhan

          Lucy Allan talks gibberish

          Image by Number 10 for flickr licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

          Red wall voters to Johnson: in the name of God, go!

          Say no to the elections bill

          Say no to the Elections Bill

          Trending Tags

          • Lifestyle
            • All
            • Art
            • Books
            • Dance
            • Festivals
            • Fun & Games
            • Movies
            • Music
            • Poetry
            • Sport
            • Theatre
            • TV
            Euroscent

            Smells wonderful

            Britsh F1 Grand Prix 2021

            A winning formula? Why F2 champions may struggle to break into F1

            The Tooth Fairy

            Images by Dave Deans for Swan Theatre Company

            A good Egg: a preview of the play A Day in the Death of Joe Egg

            Author's own illustration

            The terrible fate of Charlie Bone

            Sam_Ryder

            A Spaceman went travelling

            Europe Day Poster

            Celebrating Europe day – concerts and rallies

            Shutterstock image (2137163653) by Serhii Mykhalchuk used under license

            What remains?

            This writer's life

            This Writer’s Life: a diary

            Trending Tags

              • Dance
              • Food
              • Music
              • Poetry
              • Recipes
              • Sport
            • Business
              • All
              • Economy
              • Technology
              • Trade
              Adobe Stock licensed image by hanohiki

              Bad news for Newark: 110 jobs lost as town’s top employer withdraws to the EU 

              Promotion image from Colleague Box website

              Pandemic start-up success story hampered by Brexit barriers

              Image licensed by Pixabay

              Information is power: its loss can be devastating

              Photo by Matt Bango on StockSnap

              Hassle in High Peak: Robert Largan’s solar farm shenanigans

              Adobe Stock licensed - image by blackday

              British Gas-lighting a nation: how energy companies are exploiting their customers with increased prices

              circular economy

              Reflections on Boris Johnson’s ‘high skill, high wage future’ speech

              Dog wrapped in a blanket, luckily he does not have to pay the bill.

              Fuel bills and service blunders as energy prices start to bite

              Picture of Darts board

              Reflections on Boris Johnson’s ‘high skill, high wage future’ speech

              Photo Bryan Manley-Green

              Exactly what does “Next” mean for E.on?

              Trending Tags

              • Levelling up
              • Economy
              • Technology
            • Region
              • All
              • East Midlands
              • West Midlands
              Vera Brittain plaque

              Midlands blue plaques part 1: Vera Brittain in Buxton

              Image by Central Bylines Team

              The speed freak, law-breaking crime commissioner

              Image by Central Bylines Team

              Labour GAIN Allens Cross

              Photo by Roger Chapman on Unsplash

              Progressive gains resulting no overall control in Worcester

              Valerii Semenov

              Chernobyl 27 April 2022

              Allens Cross Community Centre

              Allens Cross Community Association

              Despair

              Conservative council merger collapses over “irreconcilable differences”

              Author Mounsay

              Closing days of the local elections: what are the candidates saying in Allens Cross?

              What has my council done for me? Pt. 4: Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour

              What has my council done for me? Pt. 4: Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour

              Trending Tags

                • East Midlands
                • West Midlands
              • Events
              No Result
              View All Result
              Central Bylines
              No Result
              View All Result
              Home Politics

              Crossing the red line: when government abuses the goodwill of professionals and volunteers

              When we look at the history of war, we see that there are many complexities of human life reflected in these ultimate situations

              Dave Hufton by Dave Hufton
              12-03-2021 12:31
              in Politics, UK
              Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

              Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

              Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
              ADVERTISEMENT

              “War! Huh! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!”

              Many of us will relate to this sentiment, but when we look at the history of war, we see that there are many complexities of human life reflected in these ultimate situations. And when we look closely it gets ever harder to say what’s absolutely right and wrong. 

              Does this apply to ‘volunteering’ too? The first response might well be, ‘Oh, yes, that’s a good thing!’ And generally speaking, it is for a whole range of reasons. But sometimes when you look a little closer and think about the history of ‘unintended consequences’ which litter, exalt and mar human lives, is there room to just pause and reflect for a moment before diving in? 

              Jenny Kartupelis in Central Bylines, 26 February 2021 paints a heart-warming picture of volunteering that speaks to the best in people. An appropriate and welcome chance to serve one’s community and participate. But what are the boundaries of volunteering? Is there anything that becomes inappropriate in the context of the misuse of people’s time and goodwill? Are there gaps that should not be filled by volunteers, simply because to do so would not be right? Because these are skilled, professional jobs we should be paying for, or because they replace jobs lost because of persistent underfunding of services.

              In asking this, let’s be clear that volunteers are blameless decent people offering to help and give of themselves with nothing but a big heart and time to share with others. For such people, nothing seems to be too much to be asked.

              Here we ask if it is right for a government (one that claims the NHS is ‘safe in their hands’ yet has more than once been found to lie or mislead) that has systematically, intentionally run down the NHS, in a way that they promised never to do, to seek volunteer support that aims to cover the ‘disaster’ being experienced in several hospital Critical Care Units (CCUs)? It is one thing to ask volunteers to help in a crisis, but the adverts for volunteers paint a different picture. A disaster relief charity is asking volunteers, via NHS England, to staff intensive care; to monitor critical care medical information equipment; turn comatose patients to prevent bed sores; empty catheter bags and lay out those who succumb to Covid-19 in preparation for their last trip from critical care to the mortuary.

              Of course, volunteers will do this work, even in full PPE, masked for full shifts working alongside medical professionals. They will work hard at physically exhausting, emotionally demanding work for nothing but altruistic service to others. In most cases they will do it brilliantly, exceptionally. But should they be asked to? When is the engagement of volunteers so cynically an exploitation of willing labour that it amounts to abuse?

              These are not hypothetical questions. At least one organisation (for retired police officers, NARPO) recently circulated advertisements by RE:ACT Disaster Response, asking for volunteers to respond to the roles we have outlined. RE:ACT are a properly constituted and responsible international humanitarian aid organisation. We understand they have been called in by NHS England to assist. They list the roles soberly and carefully, stressing the difficulties and the need for volunteers to be totally aware of what is required. This commentary is about the use and abuse of volunteers by politicians and government, reach and over-reach. It is not about the voluntary organisations, the NHS or volunteers themselves.

              Politicians have clapped for nurses. Called them heroes. Said they are owed a huge debt of gratitude but failed to acknowledge their mortal sacrifices and openly abused them through systematic failures of a duty to protect. Nurses have been insulted with a 1 per cent pay rise. Nurse pay has declined in real terms under this Tory government (since 2010) by very significant amounts. The trauma they have been exposed to is beyond fiscal calculation, but that does not mean that it’s ok to bring volunteers into CCUs to show ‘support’, when what NHS staff need are proper, professional, medically trained workers who are properly, professionally rewarded for their physical and emotional labour.

              But perhaps the government does not care? Does not care for the feelings of the hundreds of thousands of bereaved family members who know that the last days on earth for their relatives has been the sterile, inhuman, electronic CCU, staffed by dedicated, vastly over-worked and exhausted, desperate nurses and doctors. Perhaps they think that the public meekly accepts that their loved ones will be intimately treated by volunteers?

              However, it is more likely that the public expect CCUs to be staffed with well-meaning and compassionate professionals. There are many places on the Green (Covid-safe) side of hospital work to engage with volunteers, but not the Red (Covid-active) side.

              CCU staff are also likely to be shocked to find themselves assigned a couple of volunteers, no doubt amazing individuals, but volunteers. People that they need to train and watch and worry about for 12 hours on top of a maximised patient-load. This is surely going to add to their sense of feeling devalued, undermined and justifiably resentful that their training, dedication and professionalism is worth no more than a resentful 1% pay rise. It seems the Government was expecting gratitude, not understanding that asking volunteers to do their most gruelling work with nothing but a short induction and a few quick checks, was more akin to an insult.


              More from Central Bylines

              • Listening and taking action
              • Two tiers in a reformed EU
              • Why the Electoral Reform Movement Needs Nigel Farage

              It’s hard to see that insult as unintended. Despite countless protestations to the contrary, the government is selling off as much of the NHS to private providers as it can. It is part of an emerging picture. Stories abound across the media and petitions are raised in many, many places.

              Given that the latest estimates following the budget proposals show the NHS as having an operational shortfall of £30 billion, it is hard to see the use of volunteers as anything but a niche-but-useful narrative to undermine the value and professionalism of NHS workers. Although volunteers are by definition exceptional people, they are technically ‘free’ and this also seems to be how this Government likes the work of public servants to be viewed; optional, low-value, replaceable. Are NHS workers just supposed to be grateful for a role to play? The evidence is mounting that they are not.

              To return to the theme of the use and abuse of volunteers, the issue of NHS professional staff and volunteers arises under the Kings Fund report of 2018 under the ‘substitution or complementarity’ question on page twelve. Note that, “there was a potential for tension where staff perceived that volunteers were taking the place of paid staff.” A key finding concludes that, “Volunteers provide vital practical support that enables frontline staff to prioritise clinical care. Frontline staff clearly appreciate that volunteers can bring additional human kindness into busy hospital life – often by carrying out the smaller, non-clinical actions…” (page 39). Here, what we are asking is ‘where we draw the line.’

              ADVERTISEMENT
              Previous Post

              Why the Electoral Reform Movement Needs Nigel Farage

              Next Post

              Vauxhall Motors

              Dave Hufton

              Dave Hufton

              Related Posts

              Johnson
              Johnson

              Johnson’s Rwanda asylum scheme draws praise from fascists

              by Mike Stafford
              21 May 2022
              Statue of margeret Thatcher, Grantham
              Politics

              Egg on their faces: Thatcher’s Grantham is a reminder of the division she helped create

              by Richard Hall
              19 May 2022
              Image by Central Bylines Team
              East Midlands

              The speed freak, law-breaking crime commissioner

              by Matt Turpin
              12 May 2022
              Image by Central Bylines Team
              Politics

              Labour GAIN Allens Cross

              by Alex Toal
              11 May 2022
              Photo by Roger Chapman on Unsplash
              Politics

              Progressive gains resulting no overall control in Worcester

              by Lena Swedlow and Neal Lawson
              9 May 2022
              Next Post
              Imagine 12000 car workers

              Vauxhall Motors

              Want to support us?

              Can you help Central Bylines to grow and become more sustainable with a regular donation, no matter how small?  

              DONATE

              Sign up to our newsletter

              If you would like to receive the Central Bylines regular newsletter, straight talking direct to your inbox, click the button below.

              NEWSLETTER

              LATEST

              Johnson

              Johnson’s Rwanda asylum scheme draws praise from fascists

              21 May 2022
              Air pollution

              Deadline extended for Government’s air pollution consultation

              20 May 2022
              Drunk Man

              Has the WHO allowed the drinks industry to water down its alcohol plan?

              20 May 2022
              Statue of margeret Thatcher, Grantham

              Egg on their faces: Thatcher’s Grantham is a reminder of the division she helped create

              19 May 2022

              MOST READ

              Statue of margeret Thatcher, Grantham

              Egg on their faces: Thatcher’s Grantham is a reminder of the division she helped create

              19 May 2022
              Johnson

              Johnson’s Rwanda asylum scheme draws praise from fascists

              21 May 2022
              Air pollution

              Deadline extended for Government’s air pollution consultation

              20 May 2022
              Image by Central Bylines Team

              The speed freak, law-breaking crime commissioner

              12 May 2022

              BROWSE BY TAGS

              Blue Plaques Climate change Community Covid Energy Farming Johnson Latest Levelling up My Little Town Rwanda Ukraine Conflict Voting
              Central Bylines

              Central Bylines is a regional online newspaper that supports citizen journalism. Our aim is to publish well-written, fact-based articles and opinion pieces on subjects that are of interest to people in Central England and beyond.



              Learn more about us

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Contact
              • About
              • Donate
              • Privacy policy
              • Bylines network
              • Back Editions
              • Shop

              © 2022 Central Bylines. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Home
              • News
                • Brexit
                • Education
                • Environment
                • Health
                • Transport
                • World
              • Politics
              • Back in the news
              • Opinion
              • Lifestyle
                • Dance
                • Food
                • Music
                • Poetry
                • Recipes
                • Sport
              • Business
                • Economy
                • Technology
                • Trade
              • Regional Events
              • Donate
              • Newsletter sign up
              • A Cotswold Diary
              • Authors
              • BYLINES NETWORK
              • Contact

              © 2022 Central Bylines. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              Welcome Back!

              Login to your account below

              Forgotten Password?

              Retrieve your password

              Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

              Log In
              X