THE government is considering a new scheme to improve the National Health Service: encouraging doctors and nurses to smile at patients, writes David Cracknell.

The proposal was presented at Thursday’s cabinet meeting as the culmination of six months’ work by the brightest minds in Downing Street. A cabinet source said: “One of the things that came out of the focus group discussions was that they didn’t feel nurses and so on gave the impression that they cared enough. They felt, for example, that they should smile more.”

Ministers were told that an Ipsos Mori survey had shown people remained dissatisfied with public services despite the billions of pounds Labour has spent on them. Ben Page, chairman of Ipsos Mori Social Research Institute, told ministers the public wanted to see nurses smile more and to “give the impression of caring”. Exactly what sort of smile they need is not clear.

Yesterday, health professionals were not amused. Alison Kitson, spokesman for the Royal College of Nursing, said: “I actually find this quite offensive. I’m sure every nurse in the NHS would find it offensive. It just shows that Whitehall is completely detached from the harsh reality of healthcare.” The Ipsos survey also showed the public wanted “flexible, responsive, customer-centred” services, with strong support (82%) for GP surgeries and council offices opening in the evening.

The presentation is likely to influence government policy, though it is unclear whether Tony Blair will have time to implement any new legislation as prime minister before he hands over power in the summer.

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