Does the NHS really need the so-called reforms set out by the government in the recent White Paper ?
‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.’ And as far as I can see the NHS ain’t broke. Yes, of course you can make improvements – just as you can to anything else, including the way the government operates. But by and large the NHS seems to me (as a regular customer) to be generally fit for purpose.
That clearly isn’t the government view, however. But the problem is, are the changes down to a genuine desire to improve the Health Service for patients, or to cost-cutting, or worse still – political ideology?
The country is broke, we are told, yet the upheaval is going to cost millions of pounds. (Up to £3bn according to one informed estimate) For what? And who really wants the changes? Doctors? Well, the BMA certainly hasn’t rushed to welcome the so-called ‘reforms’.
Commenting on the launch of the consultation ‘Commissioning for patients’, Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of BMA Council, said: “This document provides more detail about the government’s plans for GP commissioning, but there are still many questions that need answering. The proposals contain both opportunities and threats and we will be actively engaging with the consultation process to explore this in great detail and to ensure our members’ views are taken on board.”
No ringing endorsement there, then.
And what about another informed comment, this time from Malcolm Prowle, Professor of Business Performance at Nottingham Business School?
In his blog he examines the risks of GP commissioning, pointing out that the proposals are not new but have been tried before on a more limited scale. He also raises questions about many aspects of GP commissioning, including making the points that some patient care may not improve at all and that in some circumstances NHS spending could start to spiral out of control.
NHS staff are also rightly worried about what is going on. According to a poll conducted at the NHS Confederation: ‘Nearly a quarter of senior managers from across the NHS are losing sleep over maintaining staff morale, while significant percentages have major concerns over GP commissioning, announcements from Andrew Lansley, the rationisation of management structures and the future of patient and public engagement.’
The poll was conducted by e-consultation and engagement solutions firm INOVEM, social communications consultancy Participate and consultant Brenda Cook.
Of course, it’s not all bad news. After all, two SHA heads – Ian Dalton from the North East and Dame Barbara Hakin from the East Midlands – have been given new jobs in the NHS and will get to keep their hefty salaries. Pity all their staff face an uncertain future.
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