Gill Hitchcock
@gillhitchcock.bsky.social
Posting about politics, public services and saving the NHS.
Retired journalist.
The Guardian archive
www.theguardian.com/profile/gillhitchcock
Retired journalist.
The Guardian archive
www.theguardian.com/profile/gillhitchcock
Thanks @orielcolwyn.bsky.social for a great day 1 of the North Eye photography festival.
Including an inspirational talk by the great Martin Parr.
To paraphrase Parr: the beauty of photograph is that you never know what you are going to get.
Here is young Parr with his dad.
bit.ly/4o4h7PJ
Including an inspirational talk by the great Martin Parr.
To paraphrase Parr: the beauty of photograph is that you never know what you are going to get.
Here is young Parr with his dad.
bit.ly/4o4h7PJ
October 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Thanks @orielcolwyn.bsky.social for a great day 1 of the North Eye photography festival.
Including an inspirational talk by the great Martin Parr.
To paraphrase Parr: the beauty of photograph is that you never know what you are going to get.
Here is young Parr with his dad.
bit.ly/4o4h7PJ
Including an inspirational talk by the great Martin Parr.
To paraphrase Parr: the beauty of photograph is that you never know what you are going to get.
Here is young Parr with his dad.
bit.ly/4o4h7PJ
It's National Black Dog Day 2025, dedicated to celebrating them and encouraging people to adopt them from shelters.
So here's beautiful Whizz, adopted from @dogstrust.bsky.social
in 2021. She's a joy.
So here's beautiful Whizz, adopted from @dogstrust.bsky.social
in 2021. She's a joy.
October 1, 2025 at 8:40 AM
It's National Black Dog Day 2025, dedicated to celebrating them and encouraging people to adopt them from shelters.
So here's beautiful Whizz, adopted from @dogstrust.bsky.social
in 2021. She's a joy.
So here's beautiful Whizz, adopted from @dogstrust.bsky.social
in 2021. She's a joy.
Private Eye hits the nail on the head.
But it isn't responsible for the possibility of us being deemed a nation of losers and getting hammered by a massive tariff.
@privateeyenews.bsky.social
But it isn't responsible for the possibility of us being deemed a nation of losers and getting hammered by a massive tariff.
@privateeyenews.bsky.social
September 18, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Private Eye hits the nail on the head.
But it isn't responsible for the possibility of us being deemed a nation of losers and getting hammered by a massive tariff.
@privateeyenews.bsky.social
But it isn't responsible for the possibility of us being deemed a nation of losers and getting hammered by a massive tariff.
@privateeyenews.bsky.social
NHS GPs provide a wonderful service.
But the BMJ finds that one in three GPs in England don't work in the NHS, while it costs taxpayers £430,540 for each GP to qualify.
Wes Streeting should start improving retention by addressing burnout.
@bma.org.uk @patients-association.org.uk
bit.ly/4nc2ee9
But the BMJ finds that one in three GPs in England don't work in the NHS, while it costs taxpayers £430,540 for each GP to qualify.
Wes Streeting should start improving retention by addressing burnout.
@bma.org.uk @patients-association.org.uk
bit.ly/4nc2ee9
September 18, 2025 at 12:56 PM
NHS GPs provide a wonderful service.
But the BMJ finds that one in three GPs in England don't work in the NHS, while it costs taxpayers £430,540 for each GP to qualify.
Wes Streeting should start improving retention by addressing burnout.
@bma.org.uk @patients-association.org.uk
bit.ly/4nc2ee9
But the BMJ finds that one in three GPs in England don't work in the NHS, while it costs taxpayers £430,540 for each GP to qualify.
Wes Streeting should start improving retention by addressing burnout.
@bma.org.uk @patients-association.org.uk
bit.ly/4nc2ee9
Almost 1m 16–24 year-olds are not in education, employment and training, up from 800,000 in 2019.
One key reason, the TUC reports, is that the Apprenticeship Levy, intended to boost numbers, has fallen short.
The outcome has been a decline in apprenticeship starts and achievements.
One key reason, the TUC reports, is that the Apprenticeship Levy, intended to boost numbers, has fallen short.
The outcome has been a decline in apprenticeship starts and achievements.
September 10, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Almost 1m 16–24 year-olds are not in education, employment and training, up from 800,000 in 2019.
One key reason, the TUC reports, is that the Apprenticeship Levy, intended to boost numbers, has fallen short.
The outcome has been a decline in apprenticeship starts and achievements.
One key reason, the TUC reports, is that the Apprenticeship Levy, intended to boost numbers, has fallen short.
The outcome has been a decline in apprenticeship starts and achievements.
Less than 40% of councils’ spend goes on services such as street cleaning, waste collection and leisure centres, finds @local.gov.uk.
60% goes on social care, with private equity reaping huge profits by providing these services.
The answer? Bring social care back into public ownership.
60% goes on social care, with private equity reaping huge profits by providing these services.
The answer? Bring social care back into public ownership.
August 29, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Less than 40% of councils’ spend goes on services such as street cleaning, waste collection and leisure centres, finds @local.gov.uk.
60% goes on social care, with private equity reaping huge profits by providing these services.
The answer? Bring social care back into public ownership.
60% goes on social care, with private equity reaping huge profits by providing these services.
The answer? Bring social care back into public ownership.
New NHS figures show the total waiting list for consultant-led hospital treatment in England rose by almost 10,000 between May and June.
What we need from the government is further investment to expand NHS capacity.
What we need from the government is further investment to expand NHS capacity.
August 14, 2025 at 11:43 AM
New NHS figures show the total waiting list for consultant-led hospital treatment in England rose by almost 10,000 between May and June.
What we need from the government is further investment to expand NHS capacity.
What we need from the government is further investment to expand NHS capacity.
Another unmissable exhibition at Wales' groundbreaking and best photography gallery.
A must for anyone interested in outstanding photographs, New York - or both! @orielcolwyn.bsky.social
A must for anyone interested in outstanding photographs, New York - or both! @orielcolwyn.bsky.social
July 7, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Another unmissable exhibition at Wales' groundbreaking and best photography gallery.
A must for anyone interested in outstanding photographs, New York - or both! @orielcolwyn.bsky.social
A must for anyone interested in outstanding photographs, New York - or both! @orielcolwyn.bsky.social
Poor service across public and private sectors costs UK organisations £7.3bn every month, spent on fixing problems and handling complaints.
Improvement mean listening to service users and enabling anyone within an organisation to contribute.
More from @nao.org.uk tinyurl.com/yubukm9h
Improvement mean listening to service users and enabling anyone within an organisation to contribute.
More from @nao.org.uk tinyurl.com/yubukm9h
June 18, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Poor service across public and private sectors costs UK organisations £7.3bn every month, spent on fixing problems and handling complaints.
Improvement mean listening to service users and enabling anyone within an organisation to contribute.
More from @nao.org.uk tinyurl.com/yubukm9h
Improvement mean listening to service users and enabling anyone within an organisation to contribute.
More from @nao.org.uk tinyurl.com/yubukm9h
Snowdonia on a perfect day for walking.
June 17, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Snowdonia on a perfect day for walking.
Hospital of the future?
This model proposes that hospital should no longer be considered a building but a service. Patients should receive specialist clinical care in a general practice, be hospital inpatients in the comfort of their own home.
Perhaps.
tinyurl.com/bdesu7yb
This model proposes that hospital should no longer be considered a building but a service. Patients should receive specialist clinical care in a general practice, be hospital inpatients in the comfort of their own home.
Perhaps.
tinyurl.com/bdesu7yb
June 6, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Hospital of the future?
This model proposes that hospital should no longer be considered a building but a service. Patients should receive specialist clinical care in a general practice, be hospital inpatients in the comfort of their own home.
Perhaps.
tinyurl.com/bdesu7yb
This model proposes that hospital should no longer be considered a building but a service. Patients should receive specialist clinical care in a general practice, be hospital inpatients in the comfort of their own home.
Perhaps.
tinyurl.com/bdesu7yb
Bold colours - yellows, reds and purples - make Edvard Munch's portraits joyous.
Lovely to be in London and visiting The National Portrait Gallery again.
Lovely to be in London and visiting The National Portrait Gallery again.
May 20, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Bold colours - yellows, reds and purples - make Edvard Munch's portraits joyous.
Lovely to be in London and visiting The National Portrait Gallery again.
Lovely to be in London and visiting The National Portrait Gallery again.
Highly recommend the rare opportunity to see Tirzah Garwood's oil paintings, wood engravings, sketches, experimental marbled papers and collaged constructions. All at the wonderful @dulwichgallery.bsky.social
shorturl.at/s52Zl
shorturl.at/s52Zl
May 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Highly recommend the rare opportunity to see Tirzah Garwood's oil paintings, wood engravings, sketches, experimental marbled papers and collaged constructions. All at the wonderful @dulwichgallery.bsky.social
shorturl.at/s52Zl
shorturl.at/s52Zl
Donald should be incarcerated, not least in the interests of world peace.
But a New York judge gave him an unconditional discharge for 34 felony counts, so he got off Scott-free.
But a New York judge gave him an unconditional discharge for 34 felony counts, so he got off Scott-free.
April 2, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Donald should be incarcerated, not least in the interests of world peace.
But a New York judge gave him an unconditional discharge for 34 felony counts, so he got off Scott-free.
But a New York judge gave him an unconditional discharge for 34 felony counts, so he got off Scott-free.
Gotcha Day for Whizz.
Four years today since she arrived from The Dogs Trust Merseyside.
Can't imagine life without her. Thank you @dogstrust.bsky.social
Four years today since she arrived from The Dogs Trust Merseyside.
Can't imagine life without her. Thank you @dogstrust.bsky.social
March 27, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Gotcha Day for Whizz.
Four years today since she arrived from The Dogs Trust Merseyside.
Can't imagine life without her. Thank you @dogstrust.bsky.social
Four years today since she arrived from The Dogs Trust Merseyside.
Can't imagine life without her. Thank you @dogstrust.bsky.social
Splendid news that @welshgovernment.bsky.social is to ban greyhound racing in Wales.
What say you Whizz? "Bendigedig," she replies. "Diolch yn fawr."
@rspcaoffficial.bsky.social @nomyhound.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What say you Whizz? "Bendigedig," she replies. "Diolch yn fawr."
@rspcaoffficial.bsky.social @nomyhound.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
February 19, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Splendid news that @welshgovernment.bsky.social is to ban greyhound racing in Wales.
What say you Whizz? "Bendigedig," she replies. "Diolch yn fawr."
@rspcaoffficial.bsky.social @nomyhound.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What say you Whizz? "Bendigedig," she replies. "Diolch yn fawr."
@rspcaoffficial.bsky.social @nomyhound.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Late 2024 saw a deluge of Right to Buy applications.
Brent council, for example, is struggling with a 7000% rise in RTB applicatons.
Some people will be quids in - albeit with taxpayers' money.
But for others, it will end any possibility of a secure and stable home.
tinyurl.com/5n89cn4p
Brent council, for example, is struggling with a 7000% rise in RTB applicatons.
Some people will be quids in - albeit with taxpayers' money.
But for others, it will end any possibility of a secure and stable home.
tinyurl.com/5n89cn4p
February 13, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Late 2024 saw a deluge of Right to Buy applications.
Brent council, for example, is struggling with a 7000% rise in RTB applicatons.
Some people will be quids in - albeit with taxpayers' money.
But for others, it will end any possibility of a secure and stable home.
tinyurl.com/5n89cn4p
Brent council, for example, is struggling with a 7000% rise in RTB applicatons.
Some people will be quids in - albeit with taxpayers' money.
But for others, it will end any possibility of a secure and stable home.
tinyurl.com/5n89cn4p
The esteemed organ, Private Eye, reporting the reality behind the latest news:
- Benefit fraud cost £7.4bn last year.
- Tax fraud, including "failure to take reasonable care", amounted to £23.2bn.
No prize for guessing which one the gov is clamping down on.
@privateeyenews.bsky.social
- Benefit fraud cost £7.4bn last year.
- Tax fraud, including "failure to take reasonable care", amounted to £23.2bn.
No prize for guessing which one the gov is clamping down on.
@privateeyenews.bsky.social
February 10, 2025 at 10:15 AM
The esteemed organ, Private Eye, reporting the reality behind the latest news:
- Benefit fraud cost £7.4bn last year.
- Tax fraud, including "failure to take reasonable care", amounted to £23.2bn.
No prize for guessing which one the gov is clamping down on.
@privateeyenews.bsky.social
- Benefit fraud cost £7.4bn last year.
- Tax fraud, including "failure to take reasonable care", amounted to £23.2bn.
No prize for guessing which one the gov is clamping down on.
@privateeyenews.bsky.social
If only John McDonnell were chancellor.
He's on @bbcradio4 talking about not making cuts because they will bring about recession.
McDonnell wants redistribution of weath.
This would be justice in a country with growing poverty and 165 billionaires.
He's on @bbcradio4 talking about not making cuts because they will bring about recession.
McDonnell wants redistribution of weath.
This would be justice in a country with growing poverty and 165 billionaires.
January 14, 2025 at 8:36 AM
If only John McDonnell were chancellor.
He's on @bbcradio4 talking about not making cuts because they will bring about recession.
McDonnell wants redistribution of weath.
This would be justice in a country with growing poverty and 165 billionaires.
He's on @bbcradio4 talking about not making cuts because they will bring about recession.
McDonnell wants redistribution of weath.
This would be justice in a country with growing poverty and 165 billionaires.