Accrington Web - View Single Post - NHS Reforms

lettie · 13-07-2010, 15:58

This is a seriously dodgy idea. The problem is that Doctors are Doctors, not accountants. It is difficult enough to get an appointment with your GP as it is. Believe it or not, it is actually a lot easier in this area of the country to see your GP than it is elsewhere, but most people do have to wait a day or 2. GPs cannot provide 24 hour cover in a lot of areas without using locums, many of whom have an inferior command of the English language. Mistakes get made or people get fobbed off and end up coming to A&E because the GP has done nothing about their condition. Passing the purse strings to GPs, on top of everything else, could seriously undermine patient care. I don't think that it can possibly improve patient choice and I also think that it will be a costly overhaul of services, yet again.

If the ConDems were serious about saving money in the NHS there are several avenues open to them without massive changes. here are my suggestions

1) Get rid of the non-jobs..... That's right, every trust has a manager for Equality and Diversity, WTF is that all about. Nurses and Doctors are trained to deal with people of different faiths, sexes, ages, abilities and orientations as a normal part of their training. We don't need extra training. Get rid of the non-jobs and get some more nurses, doctors and cleaners on those wards.

2) Get rid of the endless streams of paperwork that accompany the useless targets that get set for us. Yes, the NHS has to show that it is worth the investment, but taking up medical and nursing time filling in forms, cooking the books and fudging the figures is not conducive to providing good patient care. Get rid of spurious paperwork and allow medical staff to do the jobs they are paid for.

3) Every hospital has a reception..... Every patient should clerk in at the reception and prove, prior to seeing a doctor or nurse, that they are entitled to free NHS care. Any who are not, must produce a health insurance policy number or a valid credit card so that they can pay for their care. If the government were serious about tackling health tourism, they would have done this years ago. All of our citizens who are entitled to free care have an NHS card with their number on it. I still have mine, it is issued with your birth certificate. People who are not entitled, do not have a number or card.

Those are just some of my money saving ideas..... What are yours???

13-07-2010, 15:58	#17
lettie Filthy / Gorgeous Bejeweled Blitz Champion! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Xanadu Posts: 4,005 Blog Entries: 337 Liked: 67 times Rep Power: 88670	Re: NHS Reforms - GP's get the purse This is a seriously dodgy idea. The problem is that Doctors are Doctors, not accountants. It is difficult enough to get an appointment with your GP as it is. Believe it or not, it is actually a lot easier in this area of the country to see your GP than it is elsewhere, but most people do have to wait a day or 2. GPs cannot provide 24 hour cover in a lot of areas without using locums, many of whom have an inferior command of the English language. Mistakes get made or people get fobbed off and end up coming to A&E because the GP has done nothing about their condition. Passing the purse strings to GPs, on top of everything else, could seriously undermine patient care. I don't think that it can possibly improve patient choice and I also think that it will be a costly overhaul of services, yet again. If the ConDems were serious about saving money in the NHS there are several avenues open to them without massive changes. here are my suggestions 1) Get rid of the non-jobs..... That's right, every trust has a manager for Equality and Diversity, WTF is that all about. Nurses and Doctors are trained to deal with people of different faiths, sexes, ages, abilities and orientations as a normal part of their training. We don't need extra training. Get rid of the non-jobs and get some more nurses, doctors and cleaners on those wards. 2) Get rid of the endless streams of paperwork that accompany the useless targets that get set for us. Yes, the NHS has to show that it is worth the investment, but taking up medical and nursing time filling in forms, cooking the books and fudging the figures is not conducive to providing good patient care. Get rid of spurious paperwork and allow medical staff to do the jobs they are paid for. 3) Every hospital has a reception..... Every patient should clerk in at the reception and prove, prior to seeing a doctor or nurse, that they are entitled to free NHS care. Any who are not, must produce a health insurance policy number or a valid credit card so that they can pay for their care. If the government were serious about tackling health tourism, they would have done this years ago. All of our citizens who are entitled to free care have an NHS card with their number on it. I still have mine, it is issued with your birth certificate. People who are not entitled, do not have a number or card. Those are just some of my money saving ideas..... What are yours??? __________________ Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid altogether. The views expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of my family, friends, employer, this site, my neighbours, hairdresser, dentist, GP, next door's dog or anyone else who knows me..