I am not a gambling man, but I do know that to execute a successful bluff, you have to be convincing. Your opponent has to believe that you have a strong hand.
In it’s latest statements on the NHS reforms the BMA seem not to understand this simple fact. Their entire approach indicates some sort of delusion in which they have authority and standing, and where people give a shit what they think.
To start with they have “set out a series of demands (my italics) to ministers they say must be met.” Ooooooh get them. I expect Cameron & Lansley are quaking in their boots having been presented with the BMA’s demands.
Now I am as dubious as any about the NHS reforms, but this sort of empty posturing by the BMA is, I think, unlikely to generate anything in government but raucous amusement.
As for the threat of strike action by the BMA, this is the most transparent bluff. The medical profession will not strike on this issue and the government knows it. Raising this as a threat just makes the BMA look foolish and I imagine disinclines the government to involve them at all. They know full well, as do we all, that the BMA could not organise a poke in a brothel with a fist full of cash.
If they want to be taken seriously perhaps they should stop threatening to scream and scream and scream until they’re sick.
What they'd be better doing is organising some marches through London, student style. The media are more likely to cover it this time as it's a Conservative government in power and it would bring it to public attention, although I think people are beginning to realise that something is going on.
ReplyDeleteYou're right that they can't strike; there's no conceivable way of doing that in the health service. It's about the only profession that can't, apart from maybe firefighters. They shouldn't make empty threats; it does make them look daft.