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GPs Warn Of NHS 'Peril' If Reform Bid Fails In Letter To Telegraph

Nhs Reforms

Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 28/01/2012 17:00 Updated: 28/01/2012 17:19

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A group of GPs have warned the NHS may be "in peril" if proposed government reforms do not go through.

In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, the heads of more than 50 doctors' groups hit out at the British Medical Association (BMA) for its "blanket opposition" which, they said, did not adequately represent the majority of GPs' views.

Signed by 56 GPs, who are helping to establish clinical commissioning groups which will be replacing the current primary care trusts (PCTs), the letter says previous reforms have not gone far enough and have failed to modernise the NHS.

"We cannot allow that to happen this time," it continues.

"Without strong clinical leadership and the co-ordinated efforts of local clinicians the NHS itself may be in peril: local services can only be improved if we all pull together."

Healthy Secretary Andrew Lansley has touted the Health and Social Care bill as a necessary improvement to the public body. The bill would give GPs more say in how services are run.

But the BMA strongly opposes the proposed legislation, which is currently on its passage through parliament.

"Unanswered questions remain in many crucial areas such as practical implementation and how individual components within the reforms will work together," the BMA says.

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A group of GPs have warned the NHS may be "in peril" if proposed government reforms do not go through. In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, the heads of more than 50 doctors' groups hit out at the B...
A group of GPs have warned the NHS may be "in peril" if proposed government reforms do not go through. In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, the heads of more than 50 doctors' groups hit out at the B...
 
 
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Lawyer13
retired Lawyer, General and Psychiatric Nurse, wit
8280 Fans
 
12:24 PM on 01/29/2012
Seems to me that this doctor needs to reform her injection technique
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Manda Ford
48 Fans
02:21 AM on 01/29/2012
Whatever you do, England, so NOT privatize your health care system!
I have lived in England and in America. I can tell you from experience, while the NHS has its fair share of problems, the American health care "system" is SO much worse!
Keep the NHS no matter what.
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Catriona
Wha daur meddle wi me?
992 Fans
02:34 AM on 01/29/2012
As a former American, now British, I STRONGLY agree.
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Lawyer13
retired Lawyer, General and Psychiatric Nurse, wit
8280 Fans
 
12:29 PM on 01/29/2012
You must spread the word to ALL your former American friends who seem to be so opposed to "socialised" medicine from total lack of understanding that they may have to pay more tax but would save on Medical Insurance and NO EXCLUSIONS either. F & F and I am English but have visited America very often and know which system of health care I want.
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Allyb999
50 Fans
11:41 PM on 01/28/2012
So the 56 GP's who are actually involved in the NHS reform actually think its a good idea. Well no surprise there, since they have an evident self interest in the reforms.
I have asked this question before and still awaiting an adequqte reply. Why train GP's for 7 years and then turn them into managers, why are they not doing the job they actually trained for. What actual training to GP's have to actually run a business?

Far too many within the NHS think this reform is very bad and will only make the NHS worse.
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Ian Henderson
1 Fans
12:32 AM on 01/29/2012
Excuse me, but what actual training do managers have to make decisions which directly affect clinical care? The reforms promised to streamline care and rip out all these jobsworth managers and that's what it should do. GPs run the 'business' because they are the business; they are the ones who serve their communities and understand care provision. The latest revisions of the bill talks about involving a whole range of clinicians, clinicians who know how to spend their own budget. In the long run it will save a LOT of money.
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Allyb999
50 Fans
12:52 AM on 01/29/2012
No it won't, it a back door to privatisation of the NHS. Managers make decisions based on budget constraints, which GP's will have to do too if they let the reforms happen. What happens if a GP has run out of cash half way through the year because he was a brilliant GP but a rubbish manager.
The latest revision of the bill finally realises they have to involve a whole range of clinicians, only due to pressure by the said range of clinicians.
Save money? Has any reform of the NHS saved money?
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Prof Pravda
41 Fans
10:07 PM on 01/28/2012
The untouchables, above the law - GPs.
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Prof Pravda
41 Fans
10:06 PM on 01/28/2012
Most GPs are not NHS staff. They are independent contractors to the NHS and provide their own premises and employ their own staff.

We can see where all this is going! As usual getting the best of both worlds!!!
GREEDY SODS GETTING EVEN MORE MONEY THAN THEY DESERVE!
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Prof Pravda
41 Fans
09:56 PM on 01/28/2012
Only a PM who's a dork would put GPs in charge of a budget - Jack of all trades master of none!
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Prof Pravda
41 Fans
09:54 PM on 01/28/2012
GPs are just bunch of scaremongering ar*eholes! Who are on the make!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mokgee
Sabu.Satsang, Samsara, Solitude...
128 Fans
07:41 PM on 01/28/2012
The GPs omitted to mention, that their exaggerated pay has nothing to do with the deterioration of the NHS. No out of hours like the old days, no weekends or Bank holiday call outs. look closer to home you people of great concern and ask yourselves, are you really worthy of those astronomical salaries. Notice I never mentiond wages, it has gone beyond that. Yes your jobs are worthwhile. Yes you have great responsibilites, so too has everyone else who deal with humanity. you people are no exception or special cases......
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pudsy
2 Fans
06:52 PM on 01/28/2012
Win win for the Tories then.......reform works, get all the glory........reform fails, get private healthcare buddies millions of pounds and a big thankyou from Thatcher
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Everymonde
171 Fans
06:06 PM on 01/28/2012
It has been difficult to get an idea of what these changes mean because nobody has been able to articulate the consequences and what these changes actually mean.

The statement above, in and of itself, should be a wake up call.
Another factor in this is that some GP's are going to become hugely richer with these changes - as they will be able to decide on where to direct the money - this is just about the only benefit I have seen so far, GP's having the money...

Now I may be skilled in IT but that does not mean that I know how to market my software.
The same principles apply with the proposed changes - GPs are trained clinicians, they are not businessmen or trained negotiators which is what is needed when vast sums of money, that actually belong to others, come your way.

With the breaking up of PCTs and SHAs the relationships that exist between the NHS and providers is being torn apart and is going to have to be rebuilt - now that is going to be very expensive for the NHS or should I say for us the taxpayer...
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Ian Henderson
1 Fans
12:37 AM on 01/29/2012
It depends whether you want people who understand the resources to be in charge of distributing the resources or suits telling the people who understand the resources to be in charge of distributing the resources. Oh yes, and it's a hell of a lot cheaper when you get rid of the suits... that's cash that can go on... oh I don't know... healthcare or something old-fashioned like that.
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davidword
davidword
40 Fans
 
05:19 AM on 01/29/2012
Or for raising GPs to the status of feudal lords or something old-fashioned like that.
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Colin Lawson
1 Fans
05:49 PM on 01/28/2012
The Royal College of GPs surveyed its members. 90% against #NHSreforms. Why don't you mention that? www.reasonandreality.org/?p=535
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Allyb999
50 Fans
11:43 PM on 01/28/2012
Now Colin you did not expect to get a unbiased report did you?
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WaveRhydr
DIEBOLD-WE VOTE SO YOU DONT HAVE TO
3173 Fans
05:45 PM on 01/28/2012
Read The Shock Doctrine, by Naomi Klein to understand what is happening to your country.
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