Firestormm
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Yep. I'd go along with that
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Dr Clare Gerada is the Chair of the Council of the Royal College General Practitioners http://www.rcgp.org.uk/about-us/governance-and-constitution/leadership-team.aspx amongst the Chair's other roles http://www.rcgp.org.uk/about-us/governance-and-constitution/council.aspx they are charged with representing the RCGP publicly.
Most medical Charities would welcome the presence of the RCGP Chair at their conferences as a means of establishing/maintaining dialogue with the RCGP - irrespective of the particular interests of the individual who holds the post, or of who they just happend to be married to.
(not addressing you Justy but the issue has come up before )- I find it a bit creepy that in 2013, that a woman who holds a position of of prominence entirely on her own merit, should be identified in her fulfilment of the position, on the basis of who her (male) domestic partner is. The important thing for IiME is to establish a working relationship with the RCGP that lasts far beyond the incumbancy of any of the current RCGP officers - being snide about a current officer whoever they are married to, is hardly likely to endear the RCGP to a patient group that is associated with the snideness.
I'd hope that Gerada would speak about how primary care services can better support M.E/CFS patients, about how the RCGP can improve the situation and, that she would listen to comment and criticisms about the inadeqacies of primary care for M.E/CFS patients in the UK. Asking her to be responsible for psychiatric modalities is to miss the significance of her presence at the IiME conference.
IVI
From an M.E/CFs perspective that may - or may not be true (devil you know and all that). Gerada is serving a three year term, and can (I believe) seek re-election. It is generally a bad idea for advocacy groups to be seen being overly concerned with the internal democracy of an organisation to which those same advocacy groups have interest in extending influence. The voting members of the organisation are very likely to exercise support contrary the expressed interest of the advocacy groups - merely as a demonstration of independence. For now Dr Gerada represents the RCGP and M.E/CFs advocacy has to take that on the chin and deal with it in ways that extend influence where that is possible. The alternative is not advocacy, but bunker philosophy.The sooner she loses the chair of the RCGP the better.
From an M.E/CFs perspective that may - or may not be true (devil you know and all that). Gerada is serving a three year term, and can (I believe) seek re-election. It is generally a bad idea for advocacy groups to be seen being overly concerned with the internal democracy of an organisation to which those same advocacy groups have interest in extending influence. The voting members of the organisation are very likely to exercise support contrary the expressed interest of the advocacy groups - merely as a demonstration of independence. For now Dr Gerada represents the RCGP and M.E/CFs advocacy has to take that on the chin and deal with it in ways that extend influence where that is possible. The alternative is not advocacy, but bunker philosophy.
IVI
As far a snide goes - that's quite witty. But where does that leave any potential relationship between M.E/CFS advocacy and the RCGP ? It's all very well for those outside the UK to urge a conflictual realtionship - you are insulated from the long term effects of a negative relationship. The RCGP is the foremost representative of General Practitioner professional standing in the UK. Identifying a patient group with insults against an elected member of the RCGP's leadership team doesn't have a mere academic effect, it has the potential for real world impacts upon how GPs view patients who fit into that group.I think the label "Mrs Simon Wessely" fits quite well, based on her own statements and attempts to influence government policy regarding CFS, as they are virtually a mirror image of his own.
And these are indeed issues that can be reasonably challenged -but insult and deprication isn't necessary, indeed the whole appeal to ad hominem fallacy can be easily avoided because these are organisational issues, directly linked to the RCGP. One can argue purely from the perspective of the relationship between patient and GP, and the desirable role of the RCGP in being cognisant of patient views of psychiatric models of the illness. This actually an area whre patients (at least in England) currently have additional purchase because the new commissioning rules envisage reference to patient demand.She's supported Wessely's psychological CFS work quite a bit. She stars in an unforgettable series of videos regarding how to "treat" CFS patients, which is rather disturbing once the hilarity wears off. She also wrote a letter essentially opposing the Scots using the CCC
No I hadn't understood that was what you meant. Interestingly what you present as criticism would I'm sure establish common cause with some M.E/CFS perspecitves on the NHS reforms. In any case I would have thought that aspect of Gerada's exercise of her role would actually have won her additional support amongst the RCGP membership, and (if she wanted it and is allowed to stand again) would likely secure her a second term.I believe that you misunderstood the reason for my sentiment. B**gger all to do with advocacy or ME/CFS (directly) and more to do with the fact that every time I've seen her interviewed on the current NHS reforms she has been overly negative and obstructive to the point that she was eventually excluded from talks.
In fact, rather in the same fashion that you yourself have suggested that some linked with ME/CFS advocacy have effectively excluded themselves from meaningful engagement with those in a position of influence.
The multiple and confusing roles of all the individual Royal Colleges (of medicine) is a difficulty - in the case of GP's not just a Trade Union, but, because GPs are in private practice, it's also a Trade Assocition, as well as having the professional development role. As for Gerada's position I would imagine 'beating the drum' goes with the territory - it does mean though there's an expectation of sympathy for the 'rhythm' and a possible opportunity for quid pro quo concessions and exchanges of 'furs for muskets'.I do hope her input to discussions at the conference is relevant and constructive and not used as a platform to 'beat the drum' on behalf of her glorified trade union.
it does mean though there's an expectation of sympathy for the 'rhythm' and a possible opportunity for quid pro quo concessions and exchanges of 'furs for muskets'.
IVI
It's a question of whether one believes that the 'opportunity for greater flexibility', actually exists and whether patients have any power to have actual influence over the what is provided under the NHS in England. From my reading of what is going on, there are four areas which raise major scepticism.How depressing! I would have expected most ME/CFS patients to have welcomed the opportunity for greater flexibility from their GP practice rather than the continuation of the current cookie cutter approach by central diktat?
Personally I can't see that ever happening. It may signal a shift in views, but i still worry that it might be a mistake.Maybe she'll say sorry?
That's a good question peggy-sue and I'd like the answer to it as well - the truthful answer.Does anybody know if Gerada was on the MRC committee, at any time, and was she involved in ensuring the Wessely school got funding at the expense of biomedical research?
After all, it was in the remitt of the MRC to award all research funding. I have certainly been under the impression that she was involved in this.. (I may be wrong. I would like to know, though.)