NHS leadership: has the world lost a little decency and honour?

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In April 1982 Lord Carrington, along with the rest of his foreign office team, resigned from government. Not because they had done anything wrong but because something very wrong - the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands - had taken place while they headed the Foreign Office.

Here's what Lord Carrington wrote:

The Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands has led to strong criticism in Parliament and in the press of the Government's policy. In my view, much of the criticism is unfounded. But I have been responsible for the conduct of that policy and I think it right that I should resign.

When I listen, as I did yesterday, to the Chief Executive of an NHS hospital refusing even to consider resigning, I am reminded of Peter Carrington's response to failure on his watch.  Here's what the modern response reads like:

Asked by BBC Essex if he would resign, the hospital's chief executive Dr Gordon Coutts said: "My job is to keep improving this hospital, and I intend to continue to do so."

Am I alone in thinking the world has lost a little decency and honour?

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Do we think we'll get away with it?

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There's been a deal of mournful, celebratory and serious reporting on the resignation of Chris Huhne following him being charged with perverting the course of justice.

Chris Huhne has quit as energy secretary after learning he will be charged with perverting the course of justice over a 2003 speeding case. His ex-wife Vicky Pryce will face the same charge in relation to claims she accepted his penalty points.

The question I have in all this is; "why?" Why did Mr Huhne - a clever and successful man - allegedly decide that it made any sense at all to ask his wife to take the rap for some penalty points on a driving licence. And for that matter, why did Vicky Pryce, his wife - another clever and successful person - think that this was anything like a good idea?

It may of course turn out that nothing of the sort took place, it is all a confusion or a misunderstanding. But nevertheless I really would like to know what is so massively important about not having a driving ban for a few months compared to the possibility of a career-ending prison sentence for perverting the course of justice?

I can understand when a spur of the moment action gets someone into trouble. But the actions of Mr Huhne - if true - were considered not impulsive. It seems to me utterly barking mad to run this risk when nobody is going to get too hot under the collar over a driving ban for accumulated speeding points. In some circles it might even get some street cred.

It has to be that too many people - especially in positions of power - think they'll get away with it.

Crazy!

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