Dirty work for the NHS

Published: July 28, 2011

MY local GPs, the Caversham Group Practice, held a public meeting last Thursday in their waiting room and invited residents to hear Labour MP Frank Dobson give an outline of the proposed changes.

GPs also spoke about what the expected changes “on the ground” would actually mean for them and their patients.

The implications were ominous in the extreme: in future your GP will have to answer to a consortium, a management committee (now being set up) with market-driven directives and USA private health care influences. 

This will put restrictions on GPs’ professional prowess and powers of discretion. Patient referral for further treatment may depend on and affect the financial capabilities of each hospital.

The NHS will be left doing the dirty work, such as A&E and intensive care, while the private sector will cream off the simpler, less expensive, operations so putting further strain on the NHS.

The NHS was created as a service, which needs to pool all its resources for everyone.
I urge other practices to follow the lead of the Caversham Group to inform their patients of the intended changes.

In this way we can support and inspire each other to fight for the humanitarian criteria which lie at the heart of our present NHS.
JEHANE MARKHAM
Lady Somerset Road, NW5