I watched some of the debate on the The Health and Social Care Bill in parliament last evebing.
I was shocked (yes, honestly - I mean shocked) by the Conservative's lies.
The Health Minister for example claimed quality was the basis for competition on the basis of the NHS price tariff - he did so twice - and ignored the fact that he's abolishing the tariff that ensures this is the case.
But more interesting is news I heard yesterday that quite a number of GP practices are simply refusing to engage with the issue of setting up GP consortia for commissioning.
They say there is no law yet.
They say they have not been consulted.
They say they do not have the skills.
They say this will prejudice patient care.
They say they cannot fulfil the obligation to provide GP services and do this.
They say they will be in breach of contract if they don't supply those services.
And as a result they're just saying no.
It will only take GPs to do this for the whole system to fall over.
I hope enough have the courage to do so.
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@Richard
Much was made of our status as the ‘sick man of Europe’ in the PR offensive leading up to the Bill. Of course I was shocked (NOT) to discover this morning that the data has been distorted. See here:
http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d566.full
“I was shocked (yes, honestly – I mean shocked) by the Conservative’s lies.”
So am I! It is my impression that blatant misrepresentation has become much more the norm than it was… is it that they can rely on the media not to contradict, or that the electorate/parliament are impotent, or do they think us more stupid than before… or is it all three?
All power to the rebelling GPs.
I’m afraid I voted for these fools, but in my defense the stuff they have done since gaining power bears no relation to their manifesto.
I can swallow some of the pain on the basis that increased VAT and reduced benefits etc can (one day) be modified.
The NHS (and Free Schools) are NOT in this category and if they screw them up it will be another “bail out” like the banks, because we can’t allow our health or education systems to fail
England is not going to be a good place to be for the next few years!