Well argued, Richard! Trouble is, though, that in the “real world NHS” there would seem to be a lack of resources (in man-power, especially), so, somehow, the manager has to juggle these two elements all the time (ie, risk and resources).
Also, I wonder how many places actually do their PM’s by the book, as it were? Recently I came across (and, as we used to say “no names – no pack-drill”) a volumetric IV pump of well-known, popular brand, that, according to the records, hadn’t been looked at in five years. Needless to say it wasn’t in the best of condition, but it had apparently carried on delivering the goods until giving up when the battery was finally driven into the ground. Following a couple of hours of TLC by yours truly, it was sent back to bravely suffer further abuse. Now, I would have thought that there was a bit of kit that should have been seen at least every six-months. A risk had been taken there (by somebody, although probably not consciously).
So how does the manager scare senior management into providing more resources (read,
funding), if the kit carries on working regardless? That is, as John has mentioned a few times before, and I myself must now grudgingly admit – kit is becoming more and more reliable (due, I dare say, to modern technology and thoughtful design – for the most part, anyway).
Of course, this topic ties in nicely with the similar ideas espoused at
https://www.ebme.co.uk/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/9/197.html Just playing the Devil’s Advocate (as usual).
