'Listen to GPs' plea to Scotland's Health Minister
Speaking at the annual conference of Local Medical Committees in London, Dr Mary Church, joint chairman of the BMA's Scottish General Practitioners Committee, congratulated Scotland's GPs for the high quality achievement scores recently published by the Scottish Executive. She said:
"Over the past year, doctors have worked hard to implement the new GP contract. We have learned, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that by giving GPs the right tools and resources they are capable of effecting change to the benefit of all, quickly and to the highest standards.
"The Service should not shy away from involving GPs at all levels in planning change. Instead it should embrace their obvious talents, so evident at practice level. No other part of the health service has such intimate contact with the patients than the registered practice and it is this feature which has contributed in no small part to the success of the quality and outcomes framework achievement. This success could never have been achieved by walk-in centres, secondary care or large anonymous super-clinics. The independent contractor model works well and efficiently because practices are free to run the service as they see fit for their own communities."
Speaking about the challenges faced in Scotland in delivering out of hours care, specifically the problems experienced by NHS24, Dr Church added:
"It should have come as no surprise that the cost of out of hours had been subsidised by GPs out of their own pockets and with bucket loads of goodwill. For years, through co-operative working and innovation, GPs had managed to provide efficient care addressing all the difficulties of an increasingly expectant and educated public. NHS24 should have been a flagship call-handling service considering the funding and political support it received. Instead it floundered, choosing to ignore the advice from experienced GPs who had lobbied for keeping local triage and local co-operatives.
"The Scottish Executive did 'hear what we said' but they did not listen.
"One of the most important lessons the Health Minister and his Executive must learn is that GPs know what they are talking about when it comes to dealing with the public. Listen to them; don't just hear them. Recognise GPs can make a little investment go a long way. This has not been the experience with NHS24, run by managers and political will, which swallowed resources for a very poor return for the Scottish public.
"The Minister must acknowledge that investing in GPs will give him and the public a very good return for his money."
A full copy of Dr Church's speech to conference is available from the BMA Scotland Press Office (Tel: 0131 247 3050)
http://www.bma.org.uk
"Asculta-Doctorii de" motiv pentru a Scotland's Health ministru - 'Listen to GPs' plea to Scotland's Health Minister - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate