Alan Parrish

Government must allow NHS managers to manage.

All Government institutions, in one way or another, affect our lives and general welfare, but none more so than the NHS. Therefore, the way in which the NHS is controlled and managed is crucial and of utmost importance. At present, it would seem that those who want more central Government control of the NHS are out-manoeuvring those who want the freedom to manage services at a local level.

Tribute to visionary Tariq Hussain

I would like to pay tribute to Tariq Hussain on behalf of learning disability nurses across the UK. Tariq finished his service on July 19 1996 following a long and distinguished career in nursing, and has moved into the Baptist ministry.

Lack of philosophies.

On my visits around the United Kingdom I am somewhat concerned about the lack within the majority of district health authorities of set philosophies of care for mental handicap services. Equally, I am amazed that those services which do have a philosophy have not communicated this down to the shop floor staff.

Decisions, decisions: The move to community care needs an adjustment in management style. Alan Parrish believes this means decision making being pushed down to the lowest possible level

In the present services for people with a mental handicap, moving away from the institutional type of care to a more normal home environment, my concern is the inability of so many managers to adjust to the new style of management that is needed for these services. That calls into question the quality of senior managers.