Two questions for the Shelford Group

Lots of us have issues with elitist groupings.  There have lots of issues going against them - primary among these is the fact that they are elitist.

For example, take the G-14 grouping of the top European football clubs such as Paris St Germain, and Bayern Munich (this grouping existed between 2000 and 2008).  They used to boast things like that they had won the Champions League 41 out of 51 times; 2004 was the first year that a G-14 member was not in the final; between them they had won the league title 250 times . . .

Lots of us have lots of issues with these sort of things.  First, not many of us are surprised that if you form a grouping of the most successful teams, then those successful teams are by definition going to have won a lot.  It is not rocket science.  Secondly, not many of us appreciate smug people who revel in their self-importance, and do not look closely at the what caused their important.

Now, let us look at the Shelford Group - the group of 10 self-aggrandising NHS Trusts  - all with academic links, all with tertiary services, all with self-importance.  This is what they say about themselves on their website: "The Shelford Group comprises ten leading NHS multi-specialty academic healthcare organisations. We are dedicated to excellence in clinical research, education and patient care. We aspire to demonstrate system-wide leadership for the benefit of patients and the prosperity of our country."

My response is "Yes" in the literal sense.  And "So What" in the emotional sense.  Yes, you may think that - but who does not.  Which Trust is not dedicated to clinical research or education or (surprise here) patient care? Who does not aspire to that gibberish.  The very fact that a PR person could write that down without getting you to challenge your own beliefs and strategies shows how vacuous it is.  Which then results in "So What?"

Given the Shelford Group does not mean anything; can I come down to the 2 most important questions I have for them:

1.  What are you going to call the grouping now? Now that Gareth Goodier has moved from Shelford (where he used to live) to Melbourne (allegedly Ringwood), the reason for calling it the Shelford Group is no more.  I am happy to take suggestions in the comments section.

2.  Do the chief executives within the group without a knighthood/ damehood get looked down up? Tim Smart, Bill Shields, Mike Deegan and Keith McNeill may be able to tell us.  Again - Tim, Bill, Mike and Keith - via the comments section, please.

Now, for let me rearrange the monthly performance reports or perform some other equally pointless task.

Stop press: King's announces halt to navel gazing; announces review of navel gazing

I wrote in November 2011 about how Academic Health Science Centres are there to create jobs and then announce strategic reviews of themselves.

It appears that King's AHSC has come to a dramatic conclusion: to review (as part of the previously discussed - and now 18 month strategic review) whether nothing should change.

Keep refreshing this page (for c. 24 months - continuously) to find more breaking news.  Ladbroke's have apparently stopped taking bets that they will announce another period of navel gazing soon.