GrumbleSmiles

In recent weeks lots of stories have been appearing in the press and on TV about the pressures put on the NHS, particularly by the increasing numbers and increasingly frail elderly population.  This of course has nothing to do with the upcoming general election in a years’ time.  The Government has wrapped itself in a NHS flag for the whole of this parliament and “protected” the NHS from the austerity cuts.  Though cost of living increases in NHS budgets do not compensate for the growth in the elderly population.

So with a new election looming, toes are being put in the water to see what the general public will stand in terms of some degree of charges.  The first toe is the idea of a £10 charge for GP visits – an American style answer.

• It is a daft idea because £10 is not nearly enough to cover the cost of a visit – a drop-in visit to a GP medical centre in America this year cost $80 (£50) as you walk in through the door;
• It is a daft idea because at £10 it would probably be readily accepted, even by the poorest patient. Currently they spend more than £10 in phone bills trying to get an appointment, and if they do succeed in getting through, they may still have to wait several days to see the doctor;
• It is a daft idea because it would probably be so successful that for £10 the GP services would be overwhelmed with demanding patients who as “paying customers” would want value for money or a refund if they came away with no medication;
• It is a daft idea because it would cost most of the £10 in administration costs to collect it;
• It is a daft idea because unless you extend the charge to hospital visits as well, many people would go to A & E to save the £10. Then hospitals would be even more snarled up with older people than they are already.

Still, you can learn something from this first toe in the water – the Government is thinking of introducing charges into the NHS after the next election but they won’t admit it before then.

The Chair of the British Medical Association GP Committee recently gave a warning that the family doctor system is “imploding” under the weight of more patients who are increasingly frail.  Dr Nagpaul claimed they were doing 40 million more appointments than five years ago, and that they were forced into providing conveyor belt care 60 times a day.  He added that surgeries are being forced to close because of funding changes, which could leave thousands of patients without a family doctor.

The problem is they are unlikely to get much sympathy from many patients who have long since lost their family doctor.

The old fashioned GP knew you well and looked after you and your family for years.  Would come to your house if necessary at any time of the day or night.  Always over-ran surgery times because consultations took as long as they needed to.  In return they were universally respected as a pillar of the community for their vocational commitment to their profession and their patients.

This is not a nostalgic look back through rose tinted glasses.  It was the reality of a trusted service over many years for the majority of people in this country.

Then all that began to disappear (see “Disappearing GP.s” by clicking on “GP’S” in the TAG CLOUD).

• Group practices broke the family connection – any doctor can see you now;
• Over protective receptionists and 10 minute, one issue consultations broke the family friendly service;
• Deputising services ended night time calls from someone you knew;
• NHS Direct became a way of by-passing GP’s altogether;
• Pills were substituted for compassion;
• £100,000 a year salaries destroyed the idea of vocation.

Now we have a fractured service that both GP’s and patients are unhappy with.