While in practice I acted for a group of successful care home operators. At the time and maybe even now, they had staff dedicated to getting customers correctly assessed for state and/or local authority funding. It was a daily topic of conversation and always an uphill struggle. Last weekend, Panorama exposed how the NHS twists and turns to avoid paying where they have a legal obligation to do so. They’re effectively circumventing the Coughlan funding test. It was compelling TV that both shocked and horrified me. I hope I never end up requiring state support. I’d rather check out early.
The programme provided useful information for all you practitioners advising care home operators.
Last night, I watched an equally compelling programme about the infamous Stephen Lawrence murder. For US readers not familiar with the case, Stephen was murdered by a racist gang some 13 years ago. No-one has ever been brought to justice for this most hateful crime despite repeated attempts by the police and Stephen’s family plus a public enquiry. The programme made the shocking revelation that a named police officer corrupted the investigation from the get go thus making it almost impossible for Stephen’s family to receive justice.
I have a multi-racial family so these things are very dear to me. I was outraged. We don’t have the death penalty and I hope we never bring it back but injustice of this kind makes me see red.
But here’s my point. At its very best, traditional investigative journalism serves a noble and higher purpose other than to entertain. Sometimes I think that in our desire to disintermediate mainstream media, we blogerati forget that.
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