The NHS is wounded by internal market and inspection culture | Letters

Here is an alternative our chronic impasse over the NHS (Report, 17 February): abolish the internal market, together with its draconian micromanagement and inspection culture. These are flawed and failed ideologies. In attempting to replace vocational motivation with commercial incentives we have all but destroyed the best of healthcare’s professional art, heart, spirit and intellect. Our profession’s impoverishment of morale is widespread and increasingly hazardous. The internal market is inviably complex and divisive. It has undone collegial trust and therapeutic networking, and has replaced these with dense, rigid institutional procedures and documents that are often known to be senseless, often corrupting. Increasingly I have witnessed just-legal feints and “creative accountancy” to deceive yet formally comply: redesignations to double-count, cherry-picking referrals for financial or statistical advantage, for example.

Our earlier, pre-marketised system worked much better. Older practitioners know this well; many patients sense it, often without fuller understanding. The government’s position is nervously defensive; the opposition is now too disarrayed to marshal the formidable counterculture to rid ourselves of this tumourous burden. The longer we leave it, the worse it will get.
Dr David Zigmond (GP)
London

• It is unfortunate that you didn’t reference the important role that health visitors play and how they are currently being cut in many areas across England (Report, 15 February). The coalition government correctly addressed the need to increase health visitor numbers in 2011, but since 2015 NHS statistics show their number is decreasing, caused by the scandalous cuts to public health budgets which are totally counterproductive to both improving the nation’s health and the cost-effectiveness of services. The government, and the prime minister herself, talks about the key importance of early support but the reality of their policies totally undermines this rhetoric.
David Munday (health visitor)
Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

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The NHS is wounded by internal market and inspection culture | Letters

Six things you need to know about mold inspection

Mold is a fungus that thrives in favorable conditions like moist areas and areas free from direct sunlight. Mold also sometimes acts as a parasite, growing on cellulose. Therefore, checking a house or property for mold infestation is important. Generally, it is advisable to schedule mold inspection annually. This is particularly recommended for areas prone to flooding and constant leaks and homes with a basement. Older homes are also very predisposed to mold growth.

Although mold might degrade wood, fabric or other house building materials, most molds are basically harmless to people. However, there is a particular type of mold that affects humans negatively, it is called the black mold. It is one of the reasons why mold testing is necessary because this type of mold produces toxins. These toxins could be released in the air and cause allergies when inhaled. A mold inspection protects the health and wellbeing of people living in the property. Beside black mold’s influence on health, it affects the integrity of its host (medium of growth). In this article, we have identified 6 things that are important to note about mold inspection.

1. 
   

   Only Qualified Experts Should Do Mold Inspection

   
   

There are people specifically trained to search for signs of molds. Such experts are skilled at locating possible colonized areas and areas in the house that could increase the risk of mold growth. After inspection, only qualified experts are able to send useful samples to the lab for analysis. Irrespective of the conditions of your home, it is advisable to employ only the services of trained and qualified mold expert.

2. 
   

   Both Past and present Mold Growth should be Tested

   
   

Mold inspection should not target the visible growth only. This is why the service of an expert is vital. A qualified mold inspector should be able to search for the previous infestation. Although the priority is live mold, signs of previous colonies should also be checked. This is because the death of the colony might be a camouflage. Mold has the capacity to resurrect from their left remnant in fabric or woods. This calls for proper disposition of materials previously infested with mold.

3. 
   

   A Thorough Search is Necessary

   
   

Generally, molds prefer a dark and moist area, and areas not readily accessible to light or dry breeze. Thus, mold inspector should search inside walls, between walls, inaccessible pipe leaks, under floor boards and other places favorable to mold growth. Some mold types might be visible to light provided there is moisture. Mold testing via a trusted facility should be able to determine the type of mold present.

4. 
   

   Some Mold Growth Are Normal

   
   

Lumber yard mold (Ceratosystis and Ophiostoma) are perfectly normal molds that grow frequently on structural framings in the building. Just like ant other types of mold, they require moisture to thrive, thus could seize to exist once the wood is dried. Although it could decolorize the wood, it does not affect the structural integrity. A mold inspector could send any black stain on wood to the lab to determine if it’s one of this type.  Be careful of a mold inspector that ignores any type of mold. He/she should be meticulous enough to send the sample for testing.

5. 
   

   Sources of Moisture and Humility

   
   

Having it in mind that mold thrives with moisture, inspectors should try and locate possible sources of moisture. Without a source of water, the possibility of mold growth is limited. Removing the mold without attending to the source of moisture is a complete waste of effort as re-growth is possible.

6. 
   

   Watch out For Allergies

   
   

Have you started noticing an allergic reaction when you enter a specific room/section of your home, then you want to call for mold inspection ASAP. Allergies could be watery eyes, sneezing etc. These are all symptoms of reactions to mold spores. On noticing this type of reactions, a reliable mold removal agent should be contacted. A chronic respiratory issue could arise from ignoring these allergies.

A careful study of the above will indicate the need for a trained mold removal agent. It is important to be sensitive to reactions in the various rooms of the home. A qualified agent should be able to guide you through all necessary details in getting your home free of mold.

Read more about Mold Testing and Inspection here

Six things you need to know about mold inspection