radiofree.asia

Rupert Lowe pulled up for alternative NHS ‘facts’ (or lies, if you prefer)

On 15 November, Rupert Lowe posted the following to his Twitter account:

You may have missed this because the guy tweets a lot (how he does any actual work we don’t know). A doctor did spot it, however, and she’s pulled him up for his supposed ‘facts’.

“Populist hatemonger” Rupert Lowe

Rachel Clarke is a doctor and NHS supporter. In response to Rupert Lowe, she stated:

NHS doctor here, Rupert. If you’d checked your facts before this racist dogwhistle, you’d know that every NHS doctor can speak English – as proven by their IELTS proficiency (look it up… or are you just a populist hatemonger for whom facts don’t matter?). Kindness may not solve everything, but my God the hate you spew… builds nothing, improves nothing, and only stokes division.

Wow, who would have thought that all UK doctors could speak English?

Besides anyone who’s seen a UK doctor?

It’s almost as if Lowe just talks drivel.

Others responded to him too:

Lowe responded to people calling him out as follows:

The reaction from NHS staff to me raising concerns about the language skills/competence of foreign nationals working in hospitals has been astounding.

This is a national scandal, hidden because people are scared of being called racist.

I don’t care about that – let’s have it out.

I am going to do everything in my power to push for change, with ministers and civil servants. But actually, the most important step for now is to openly highlight it.

We’ve accepted countless workers who are not up to the job – from Nigeria, the Philippines and many other countries. Particularly in regard to a complete inability to communicate in the English language.

Not racist. Fact.

I have deep concerns about the qualifications some of these individuals are claiming to have, and have seen concerning evidence about the lack of proper checks on supposed experience/ability.

I want to thank all of those NHS staff who have reached out. It is appreciated.

I am taking your concerns to Parliament and am dragging them into the light.

We’ll be honest, Rupert, we don’t think you’re the best person to accuse others of “not being up to the job”.

Rupert Lowe also said:


Would you believe the NHS already has a whistleblower policy?

You know, as is required by law?

And look here, one of the categories is you can blow the whistle if another worker is:

Endangering health and safety

A worker who couldn’t speak English would clearly “endanger health and safety”, so yet again, this gone-off sandwich of a man is talking out of his arse.

Londonphobia

Rupert Lowe is one of those hysterical right-wing men who break out in cold sweats at the mention of the word ‘L-L-London’:

Yet again, however, Lowe has confused his Twitter timeline with reality:

At the same time, there’s a reason why it’s easy for Lowe to pedal this nonsense. While crime is notably lower than previous decades, the UK is declining as a nation, with public services closing down and potholes multiplying like rabbits. When people see things getting worse, it’s that much easier to convince them London is 28 Days Later now.

The solution, however, is not to deport doctors; it’s to reverse growing inequality. For the past half a century, the rich have got richer while everything else has gone to shit. People can quibble over how we reverse that trend, but the fact is it needs reversing, and fast.

If we don’t, then sooner or later we’re going to end up with an absolute goon like Rupert Lowe in charge of the country.

Featured image via Diliff (Wikimedia) / Parliament

By Willem Moore

This post was originally published on Canary.