Editorial
Mitford can be a model
Even with slim resources, public service is attainable
We were heartened to read the news item earlier this week about the massive improvement in the services offered by Mitford Hospital, the oldest public hospital in the country. The Mitford example shows us how, even with scarce human and financial resources, it is possible for public institutions to do much better than they are, and to deliver good service to the public.
What the improvement in Mitford demonstrates to us is the kind of accomplishment that is possible with dedicated and committed leadership. The right kind of leadership can not only chart out a course of progress for any public institution that is both workable and far-reaching in its ambition, but can also provide the inspiration and motivation to its staff members so that an environment of service and excellence can be created and maintained.
It is this attitude that we need to inculcate in our public institutions. The example of Mitford tells us that however dismal the environment might appear on the surface, there is always scope for dramatic improvement if leaders with vision and commitment are empowered to bring reform.
The moral of the Mitford story is that if Mitford can do it, then so should other public institutions be able to, as well. There can no longer be any excuse for under-performing. Mitford's performance, with slim resources and support, puts the record of many other more august public institutions to shame.
The lesson to be learned, therefore, is two-fold. The first is that with commitment and leadership that we can pull our public institutions out of the doldrums and provide the level of service that the public deserves and should be able to expect.
The second lesson is that we now have concrete evidence of the difference good leadership can make. Thus, under-performing public institutions, especially public hospitals are something that it is incumbent on the government to fix.
We would like to see wholesale reform and improvement in our public health institutions. Mitford points the way forward and the public has a legitimate expectation that there will be many more such success stories in the future.
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