Labour is very much tapping into the public’s greatest fears about NHS reforms with its claim that the Health Bill will allow GPs greater opportunities to decide which services are free.
Indeed the Conservatives’ replied that the Health Bill alone does not allow this. They add that any charges must be introduced by primary legislation. They explain that the clause referred to by Labour simply transfers to GP consortia the same powers conferred on PCTs and GPs cannot use it to charge patients.
Another day, another ill-informed public comment from the Confederation of British Industry bashing general practice.
I know that
business is important but it’s the overwhelming self-importance that really rankles, especially when they seem to have no
idea what they are talking about on primary care services.
When I was a student, we used to joke that if you took six people down to the union, you could probably win a motion to change the university’s name. The level of disinterest in student politics meant that you could pretty much get anything through if you decided to take your mates along, instantly tripling the number of voters in attendance.
So another private provider pulls out of running a surgery – where is their commitment to patients and the good old NHS?
Just seven months in to the contract and Atos Origin have given up and will be leaving at the end of the year. Until then, they will be operating reduced hours. Fantastic.
GPs in England who are waiting fearfully to find out if the new polyclinic up the road will decimate their patient list may be thinking how different their practices’ prospects would be if instead ‘I’d decided to practise in Scotland.’ For the Scottish Government is taking steps to prevent commercial companies from running GP surgeries, although not even one Scottish practice is currently run by a private provider.
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