On being snubbed by the HPC, and the creative responses to it

One of the really unpleasant things about HPC-ification is the insult that is implied in the DNA of the organisation (witness those amazing adverts that implied that health professionals were liars cheats and idiots - written about here in November 2008).

However, this institutional problem can be masqued somewhat by the ordinary common decency of the various charming people connected to it. However, I have to say that the tension is always very close to the surface, and it doesn't take much to break it. When decency does suddenly give way to personal prejudice (as it can do in any organisational setting), the institutional prejudice that provides the backdrop combines with the personal rubbish and is very unpleasant indeed.

I have included reference to some of this here during the course of my observations. For example, the women from IPN who went to visit the CEO in January 2009, were so disturbed by what they experienced that they wrote him a letter, which they kindly agreed to let me publish here on 10 Feb 2009. Also, the delegation from the College of Psychoanalysts UK (Andrew Hodgkiss and Darian Leader) reported their dismay after meeting with HPC (27th Feb 2009) where Mr Seale (CEO) boasted that his advertising budget was bigger than theirs and could blast any opposition out of the water. A report of the meeting can be found on their website by clicking here.

Knowing all this (and I too have had my share of unpleasant encounters at the HPC, and I'm only a visiting member of the public) I was still shocked to see this little video. Nonetheless, having watched it a few times and spoken about it to people who are totally unconnected to the topic, I find that I am deeply impressed. To speak openly about the insult is shocking and feels subversive - after all this is an institution backed by the British constitution, it is at the heart of our society, and has been entrusted with legal powers emanating from parliament. But because it is shocking it is absolutely essential to speak, sing, act, create art, about it. I don't know who made the video, but I'm very glad they did. You can watch it by following this link.