The scandal of Mid-Staffordshire Hospital still receives immense media coverage. At present it is difficult to know how many lives may have been lost. Of course, nowhere in the NHS sites will any evidence of the matter be found. All is apparently well in Mid-Staffordshire according to these unfailingly upbeat sites.

What is interesting and also a matter for concern remains the consistent ignoring of patient complaints and staff whistleblowers by both the NHS management and the GMC. The latter, which polices doctors, has never to my knowledge responded when its own profession comes under attack. Although its own charter puts patient safety first, it usually has to be prodded and pushed into doing so. While it is happy to denounce physician's inappropriate lust, it ignores medical incompetence.

Many metropolitan police during the 1970s, especially the plain clothes branches, were later found to be corrupt. The police usually police themselves. Warnings about what was going on, bribe taking and vigilante behaviour, was exposed by elements of the media. In this country, the medical profession is an autonomous organisation that similarly polices itself.