Response to 'Don't be taken in by GPs scare stories' by Caroline Flint MP
I READ the article by Caroline Flint with interest and there are a number of points I would like to comment on. The first point I would like to make is with regards to supersurgeries.
These will be staffed by doctors who will have no idea of a patient's previous medical history or family history or current treatment when they attend with their ailments. The way these surgeries will be staffed will be on a shift rota, so patients will find it difficult to see the same GP each time, just like it can be difficult in large GP practices. There will be no continuity of care therefore with this approach, plus if a patient is being treated from two different sources at the same time, ie from the supersurgery and there own GP, then there may be a conflict with treatments which may be detrimental to the patient.
Caroline Flint states that from her own survey of residents that 47 per cent of patients would like extended hours. She doesn't comment on the number of residents questioned and whether this survey of hers has any statistical significance, but even with her survey, it still shows that the majority of residents do not feel they need extended hours. Also the large national patient questionnaire on this subject revealed that the vast majority of patients are happy with the hours provided by their primary care GPs-she failed to mention that.
I would also like to comment on the point that she raises about the Mexborough Dental access Centre being very popular. Well it is only popular because no patients can find an NHS dentist anywhere !!
You just need to look at the shambolic NHS dental service as it is now to see the way this government is going to direct general practice. The current NHS dental service is very poor, and I have had so many more patients attending our practice with dental abscesses as they cannot get into see a local NHS dentist. A number of months ago one of the health ministers publically announced that if a patient couldn't get in to see a dentist then they should go and see their own GP instead. Unbelievable. Doctors have no formal training with dentistry so we are not the people to see regarding dental treatments. Plus if there was a subsequent problem with a GP treating a dental problem and he ended up in court to explain his actions, then he would find it difficult medicolegally to defend himself treating conditions he has never received training for.
You just need to see the current state of the NHS dental service to see the way general practice will be heading.
I would love to meet Caroline Flint, MP, in 10 years time and be able to ask her ' so general practice is still free at the point of access?'
Patients should be afraid of what their NHS general practice service is going to be like over the next 5 to 10 years. It is not going to be all rosy like the MPs would like you to believe, and may well not remain free.
Dr Jason Grimwood GP
The Nelson Practice
Amersall Road
Scawthorpe
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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