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Dr John Garner - Could Scotland make polyclinics work better?



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Published Date: 24 June 2008
ENGLISH GPs are revolting. No, not the usual anti-English rhetoric, but a statement of the depths to which general practice has plummeted south of the Border.

This month, British Medical Association representatives delivered a petition of 1.2 million signatures to No 10 Downing Street, demanding that the government support existing GP practices in England and Wales.

Anger among English GPs is high a...



The full article contains 693 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 24/06/2008 07:46:59

There IS Absolutly NO-DOUBT we need "polyclinics" in Scotlad as soon as,

Many years ago you could access GP's services from 8am-8pm even if this was only by phone for advice.

But Alas now you are very lucky indeed if you can even speak to a GP between 9am-5pm.

What good is that,?

For the retiered and unemployed maybe!

As I said many a time, we need change, and the sooner the better!

The next step for GP's is for them only to work, betwwen,..

10am-4pm and so on.
2

Dr JS,

ABERDEEN 24/06/2008 13:55:15
Charles Linskaill

Be very careful what you wish for.
As i have said many times before the current crisis in primary care was deliberately bought about to encourage an inroad to the NHS by private providers (who have been lobbying the government for decades)

Only now are we beginning to see the real agenda unfold and its results.

I read in our rags that Frank Dobson MP has criticised an american private provider for providing "worse care" to patients
(see link http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=35&storycode=4119672&c=2)

and also that Lynn jones (labour MP for selly oak birmingham has stated "that this is just an excuse to bring in the private sector.’)

85 PER CENT OF GENERAL PRACTICE (OF WHICH THERE WERE 300 MILLION CONSULTATIONS LAST YEAR) were geared towards care of the elderly, infirm and very young. These are people who benefit from the continuity of care offered in the traditional GP setting.

I understand that there is an issue with access curently for some groups ( working professionals, the generally healthy etc) but to completely undermine general practice as a result is wrong.









3

Dr JS,

ABERDEEN 24/06/2008 14:04:33
The polyclinic may have its role and this would likely be within inner city, deprived and "under doctored" areas. Here they may indeed work well. However the current proposals go far beyond this. They are tried and untested, and will be extended to all parts of the country, even to areas where they are NOT NEEDED. Why is there a need to open a polyclinic in areas that have several surgeries with OPEN LISTS, if you do NOT INTEND TO DESTROY TRADITIONAL GENERAL PRACTICE??

DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!

Also more worryingly for you the patient, these clinics will be triaged by nurses, and other under qualified trainee doctors under the guise that you will be visiting a GP.

Years ago i vehemently opposed the closing down of community hospitals and here we go again, they are rolling them out under the guise of "polyclinics"

They may indeed suit you sir, but not everyone, and ive been around long enough to know the game being played.

As for a 9-5pm working day, I think you really need to spend a day with me in surgery, and really appreciate what it is we do, and not to repeat sensationalist headlines " Golfcourse lunches..., 250k salaries...etc etc"

its high time this government listened to those professionals who are experts in their chosen specialities instead of alienating the countless, teachers, lawyers, doctors....the list goes on




 

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