Re: Yahoo Today - "Diabetes: 24,000 Deaths A Year Blamed ON
The National Audit Office is a VERY useful organisation. No doub his is why it is being abolished. We all have a great deal to thank them for although most of us are probably unaware of it.
I suppose its existence is a great handicap to politicians of any ilk . It has an uncomfortable habit of presenting them with the true outcome of their policies - and usually while they are still around to answer for them. Their information is gleaned from from extremely thorough inspections at grass roots level. I speak feelingly and wih experience as one of my previous manifestations was as a civil servant in an office subject to periodic inspections by the NAO. I had a lot of responsibility for the financial side of things
and a lot of involvement with the audits. They were by no means "box tickers" but obviously checked compliance and any appparent deviation was thoroughly investigated . Never havingever been one to toet he party line I was sometimes subjected to high pressure "grillings" but fair enough. Public money. I came to respect these people very much - different people each ime and I can remeber how proud I felt when I managed to impress them and some of my innovations were adopted as national policy.
What is going to replace them? Some years later I worked for a naional utility in the throes of privatisaion. A large , internaionally known company of accountants had been called in to compile the final account and annual report of the utility. I was astounded at the casual ,uncoordinated approach of these people but not at all surprised when they failed to produce he final report. At what cost to the nation.? I totally understand that the National Audit office and the accountants were not doing exactly the same thing but thie International accountants could have learnt much from the National Auditors.
I aalso see that DUK have been very quick to jump on the Bandwagon and claim this report as their own ,almost. They are part of the problem not the solution! They desperately need some challenge to their posiion as the VOICE of DIABETES . They might then start actually listening to ,and representing , diabetics. They are no different to any other large charity in that they do a great deal of good in some ways and feel that this justifies compromise in others. This is a very difficult call with potentially far reaching consequences and sometimes they get it wrong. As I keep saying - I didn't vote for DUK .