Power to People – For those I serve who do not get to speak #qldpol #smoqld #keepourdoctors
G’day all
I have been quiet in this forum because until I could be certain that I would stand by a decision to join the mass resignation strategy I did not want my uncertainty to dampen the resolve of others. I have over time become convinced that the only hope we have of effecting any meaningful change in the present climate is at the risk of mass resignation.
I have been inspired by the passion, dedication and selflessness I have seen in you, my colleagues. I am honoured to stand with you at a time like this and relish the prospect of facing down the opponents of public health care, humanity and fairness.
I had thought that my fighting days were over after leaving South Africa but clearly they are not. Passion, commitment, humanity and a desire for integrity are not dead despite the assertions of those who utilize political instruments to undermine, divide and malign us. We cannot go quietly, we must not go meekly. The public whose health care needs we represent are too important, too significant and too vulnerable to be abandoned now.
Each of us needs to make an individual decision in this process. My opinion is that mass resignation is now the only viable option to effect change. To my mind the government has made it clear they have no intention of returning to the table beyond what has already been presented. I believe that unless their intention can be shifted we may as well accept the contracts and get on with attempting to deliver health care under the provisions of the new profit-driven, autocratic health service where clinical decision-making is directed by those who do not have clinical outcomes as their first priority. I do not believe we can accept the new dispensation as best for the people of. Queensland.
Mine is only one opinion and mass resignation is a risk for us. The proposed changes, however are a risk to all of Queensland. I can only decide what I do and only you can decide what you do.
For what it’s worth. I have submitted my resignation letter to the union to hold as part of the mass resignation strategy. I think the strategy needs to go ahead and I think it needs to go ahead on Monday, 31/3/2014 provided we have reached critical mass. A delay is likely to disadvantage us and those in power know that by dragging this out our resolve will weaken, our passion will fade and we can then be beaten. Let us not permit them to wear us down. We are on the brink and now must make a decision about the future for our families, our careers, our profession – but most of all for the people we undertook to serve by entering our noble profession.
In the struggle against apartheid in South Africa we had a rallying cry which I have found returning to my lips in the past week. The South Africans in our number will recognise this.
“Amandla! Awethu!”
A Zulu and Xhosa expression which translates to: Power to the people!
For those I serve who do not get to speak
Source: Facebook