Ok, thanks Simon that's good advice. However, if you have been following this blog you will have realised that one of the major issues facing us, in England, and only in England, is the future of the NHS. At first glance it may seem to be of little relevance who has control of 80% of the NHS budget: perhaps you may feel that consortia of GPs may be better placed to be responsible for front line services than primary health care trusts.
Do not be misled by false arguments that are being spread by the coalition. Make up your own mind. Local LibDems in Central Devon in a 4 page tabloid called "Focus" are publishing distorted claims about the NHS, and "reasonable" Phil Hutty, LibDem candidate, an experienced Social Worker, who should know better has bought into this campaign.
Ask your doctor what he or she thinks. Nationally only 28% of GPs are for these proposals
Ask your doctor what he or she thinks. Nationally only 28% of GPs are for these proposals
Below is the template for a letter prepared by the NHS Support Federation that you can send to your MP. To find detailed information and news go to
Dear
I am very concerned about the proposals within the NHS White Paper, so I would be grateful if you could help me represent the following views to the Health Secretary.
1. When cuts are being made, why spend more on this new system? Calculations by the Health service Journal suggest the new model could cost £1.2bn more than the current one. York University estimated that admin and management staff costs are already almost 14% of the NHS budget - so that if you add on other transaction costs associated with running an NHS market then these reforms will increase the proportion of money directed away from direct patient care. It has been estimated
that the process of restructuring alone will cost between £2bn-£3bn. So where are the overall savings?
2. A postcode lottery will result. Huge differences in the arrangements for healthcare will emerge between areas - with the formation of up to 500 GP consortia all free to make set their own priorities. Patients could be forced to change their GP or relocate to another area to get the care they need.
3. The financial success of each GP consortia will affect the level of service that their patients receive. It will influence the types of care provided and the number of episodes of care that will be paid for. Some patients needing hospital treatment will inevitably be told by their GP, “Sorry, but you’ll have to wait until the next financial year.”
4. There is a proven threat to the equity, value and quality of care by involving profit-led companies in providing healthcare under NHS contracts. ISTCs cherry-picked the less complex patients. Out-of- hours arrangements have caused suffering and even deaths. The quality of work done in private treatment centres with NHS contracts has been criticised by NHS surgeons.
5. There is a real danger of a two-tier service. Providers will compete for contracts in more affluent areas, leaving poorer communities struggling to sustain a comprehensive range of a healthcare of a comparable standard. The increasing trend to allow personal top-ups to the funding of care will widen the divisions between those who can afford to pay and those who can’t. This will clearly be seen in hospitals where the use of private pay beds will allow patients with less medical need to jump the NHS queue. What is your view? And how do you think we can raise these important issues within Parliament? Would you be willing to sign the national petition against the White Paper organised by the NHS Support Federation? You can do this at www.nhscampaign.org, where you will also find the sources for the statistics
in this letter.
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