Be careful what you wish for..

Only 5 percent of DNA is used to make protein, which is the core function.  The rest is in support of that function.  The ‘sharp end’ of most organisms, or indeed organisations has a large ‘back end’ of support.  So often, we see reports in the newspaper of how the public service is overly heavy with support staff, at the expense of the front line staff.  As a public servant now, I’m in a good position to consider that claim in context.   This is usually one of those populous statements, but with some truth to it.  However, there are some details that are left out, which can be misleading.

For example, within a Health Department, statistics will usually refer to clinicians (ie, nurses, doctors, allied health professionals), and then anyone else falls under the banner of ‘bureaucrats’.  Bureaucrats, a loaded term if ever there was one, are painted as the ‘fat’ of the department, somehow wasting tax payers money with their existence, and offering no benefit to the patients.  But who is in this bureaucrat category?

Cleaners ensure not only general cleanliness but infection control is maintained.  Food Service staff feed the army of bed ridden patients.  Medical Orderlies transport patients, turn them so they don’t get bed sores, and perform a million other tasks that would otherwise be left to clinicians.  Someone has to pay staff, recruit new staff, ensure training and accreditation is up to speed.  A patient’s life can depend on how quickly a Doctor can determine a patient’s history – so medical records staff is critical.  Policy wonks, or those that look at strategies ensure resources are applied where they are best needed, and typically form the links between disparate parts of the Department.

My point is, there are areas that are not efficient, or could do with some trimming in every organisation – but to suggest that any of the ‘bureaucrat’ groups could be removed without having a critical effect on patient care is ignorant.  A Hospital with only doctors and nurses would not function.  It’s as logical as Qantas only having aircrew.  Question the validity of the claims made in these reports, or better yet, go visit a hospital and see the important job done by these so called bureaucrats.