Having time on my hands as a NHS patient, reading everyday the emails and tweets it’s got me thinking. in fact its got me on my podium. (had to use a self image otherwise I could get sued for copyright).
I get it.. I really do that the NHS has to save money. We have to free up A&E for ‘real’
Accidents & Emergencies not.... ‘I’ve had a sore throat for 2 days and
could not get an appointment at my Doctors’.
Come on take some responsibility for yourself. This is what is part of
the problem. People think they are
taking responsibility for their own health, but they are not! There, I’ve said it. Many wont just in case it upsets
someone. Yes you have a sore throat… buy some lozenges and if its get no
better see the GP not visit A&E. Antibiotics
are not always the answer, the quick fix.
Being in the trade (pardon the pun) I am very aware of what
is going on in our back yard. The media
tells us patients groups are up there making decisions being consulted but I
wonder. Do our patients really know what
the future could look like? Would our
patients really kick up a fuss now before the future is here if the future of
GP Practice was none existent and you had to pay to see someone when you were ill? This bank holiday, weekend whilst sofa bound
it got me thinking. Would I be happy
knowing that if I needed a GP (not just at the weekend/out of hours) but at
anytime that I would have to contact a call centre and be given an appointment
to attend to see ‘someone, somewhere’. I reckon
this is the future. Shoot me down if I’m
wrong but I seriously believe this is what the politicians want. When would
this be from? I’m not sure. Why?
Just read daily what’s in the papers and on twitter.. The government’s
vision. Shared budgets!!! Shared care !!! joined up services. It’s like it’s a new invention working
together. I remember when we tried the
seamless service and where are we now?
Oh yes working on better care funds !!!
Look beyond the words on the paper I say. What happens when it gets too big, when no-one
knows what’s happening anymore and it’s no longer contained? Oh yes lets not
forget we have to pay for it as well.
You decide, my opinion is dilute it to a point and we will have lost it
all, our NHS, the one which has fixed me free of charge on many occasions.
My real concern is patients hear the banter but don’t think their voice will matter therefore do and say nothing.. Believe me it matters. Don't leave it until its too late. I keep telling you what is happening in GP land . Why is it that patients don't get involved.? I think it’s because patients think its not going to
affect them. Those in the know will. Keep the NHS as the NHS, free at the point
of contact. I hope that following the
Channel 5 programme ‘GP behind closed doors’ (excellent programme which I must
say has caused a stir amongst managers in GP land as we can all relate to this)
do a follow up on what the future will look like. Now that would be a
challenge.
How do we get ALL patients to help, get involved? I don’t
think that will happen. Yes the active
groups will have a voice but it will take more than our patients’ voice to make
much of a change.
Will be interesting to hear the parties’ views on this
coming up to an election! Believe me I
have written to some including the Shadow Secretary of State for Health and
asked for them to come and give a talk locally on the vision of the future. Must say Sunderland
must not be that appealing as given a full year of dates no-one wanted/could
come! The message to me is we must not be worthy!
Those who know me will tell you I’m not one for being sucked
in or following the crowd. I will speak
out if it’s not right for me as a patient. Whets the ‘thought for today’ Oh
yes. Let’s charge patients to see a GP.
The start of the slippery slope..
the worlds gone mad and in a climate where many are on or below the
breadline. What next.. free 5 minutes at
the food banks. Let’s keep the NHS free
at the point of contact and deter patients from failing to attend an
appointment. If a charge needs to be levied then charge those who fail to
attend appointment (unless of course patient admitted to hospital). We do ourselves have
a few patients who failed to attend on a regular basis and even though you
speak to them it makes no difference and to be honest I don’t think some of
them care.
GP practices are starved of income and have been for a
number of years. No money for premises
improvements, making targets harder to hit and if you listen to the government
they tell you they are throwing money at us. For goodness sake admit the truth,
you took money away from us and we have to work bleeding hard to get some of it
back. Admit the reason why it’s
happening.. ‘the future’.
Did that line ‘charging patients’ make you stop and think or
did you read it and think it’s not going to happen. I really hope they don’t charge us for seeing
a GP. Being honest I don’t have a
problem with charging when you attend minor injuries or walk in centres. (the
cost to the practice budget is £68 when you attend, so would you pay that much
from your own pocket or would you stop and think maybe I could help
myself). We have to pay if we go to a dentist;
hence I dare bet people only go when they have to. If you’ve read my previous blogs you will
know why. I’m a great believer in the more you give the more people want hence
24/7 GP hours. GP’s have a home and need
to see their families as much as anyone else.
Our staff have homes and families.
With a little more compassion for each other, with a little more self
care we could be on the right road. My
goodness what did we do years ago when it was because you had to see the Doctor
you did. And that’s when one of the
three bottles on the shelf would make you better. My grandparents lived to a good age, with a
large family being the one who made sure we all were fit and well. Sore throats
in them days you still had to go to work (down the pit) the magic cure was
goose fat clagged onto your neck. It worked!
I’m all for innovation, looking to the future and embracing
it, but only when it feels right for me as a patient. All I know am I want to keep seeing MY
GP and I want the government to properly invest in General Practice.
Let wait and see what the vote is on charging patients, in
the meantime let me know your thoughts.
Gloria (from her sofa)
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