And the good news is …
The HSE can’t cope; they are in deep doo-doo and they know it.
They wanted a new pharmacy contract, so we said “sure, let’s negotiate.” They said “oh no way, we’re not negotiating with you.”
They wanted to make savings so we said “sure, let’s talk about how we do it” and they said “oh no, we’re not talking to you.”
Instead, good old T0$$* and Come All*, ever the geniuses, decided to PRETEND medicine prices had come down and then pay us the new imaginary lower prices.
“Oh no,” we said, “we’re not putting up with that, it’s a breach of our contract and we can’t dispense at a loss.”
“But you will,” they retorted, “and even if you don’t, we don’t need you anyway. We’re Geniuses, you see.”
Slowly, realisation dawned on them. They told the minister and the papers only 2 pharmacists had pulled out. Oops, turns out they’re not such geniuses. They miscounted. Its actually nearer 750. “Jesus lads,” they thought “we can’t cope. Injunct them, all of them!”
And all we ever wanted to do was talk …
We are nearly there – May 1st is getting closer and if you think you’re feeling the pressure just think how hard it must be getting for the geniuses who have to pretend that medicine prices have come down when they haven’t, that pharmacies are not suspending their HSE contracts when hundreds and hundreds have written to say they are and that it doesn’t matter anyway because they have a contingency plan when they dont (or maybe they do, but it’s obviously a secret – even the HSE helpline and the regional staff know nothing about it).
Now they might still think that everything can be solved with a bit more bullying and some extra intimidation from their legal lapdog along with lots of sweet pillow-talk from their new best friends in $h0€$* but we know different and they’re close to working it out too.
Something tells me they will soon realise it’s good to talk. The pressure is on now.
I am up to it. Are they?
* names have been changed to protect the innocent guilty and thick.