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‘Patient churn’ and the future of the NHS
• BEHIND all the seemingly deliberate confusion caused by the way NHS Camden (PCT) is introducing the privatisation of primary care services by stealth, in my opinion there is some mighty dishonesty by omission.
First there must be some very heavy directives coming down from central government pressurising them to continue the inexorable introduction of competitive market forces into public services, as agreed by our government in 1995 (when they signed the WTO General Agreement on Trades).
Secondly I now understand that earlier this year all PCTs were circulated a briefing document authored by management consultants Ernst & Young which argues that quality can be ensured by using “market management levers” to increase “competitive tension”.
But wait for it… This all depends on creating a high level of (in their words) “patient churn”.
Now we have it. Under the camouflage of raising the health status of us residents in Camden and reducing health inequalities across the borough, NHS Camden is actually treating us all as gullible “consumers” who need to be encouraged to change our GP as readily we might change our broadband supplier, gas or electricity supplier depending on the latest financial offer.
Instead of circulating highly questionable “consultations” it is high time our NHS managers become more honest and open about who or what is driving them and their policies. Then we can have an open debate about how we see the future of the NHS.
ROBERT MACGIBBON FRCGP
Leighton Grove, NW5
Coded
• JO Shaw is quite right about sham consultation (Letters July 23).
I attended an area forum meeting this evening where the usual trio from Camden NHS were laying out the case for new polyclinics with the air of “it’s a done deal” on the Hampstead Road “hub and spoke” polyclinic.
No one would argue against improved health services and facilities, especially in the more deprived areas like Regents Park estate, but for consultation read dictation and the dangers of creeping privatisation. When a question was asked from the floor it was interrupted by the PCT speaker in a belligerent manner. One member of the audience asked why there had not been a proper GP surgery set up for 18 months in his estate. Why don’t the PCT invest there?
Government has decreed that health is out for private tender and insidiously lets the private sector in. My GP told me she doesn’t have time to look after patients and devise a business plan for commercial tender. Run everything down and use the old mantra “privatise to solve the problem”. Didn’t work for the banks and British Rail though, did it?
The three GPs surgeries taken over by UnitedHealth have not proved much of a success and indeed my own GP practice now has one of the doctors who moved away from the Brunswick Health Centre.
These managerial executive types as in the PCT never lay it on the line. They used coded speech and speak patronisingly as though they know better.
If you want to save your NHS and there is genuine consultation then say no to the Camden NHS moves on polyclinics.
CLEM ALFORD
Tavistock Place, WC1
Cuts threat
• NOW that the Camden and Islington Mental Health Trust has gone electronic for mental patient records, I and many other core staff will no longer be offered bank [temporary] work on the wards as I and other temporary staff do not use computers.
After working 30 years in the NHS, I believe this is a case of gross discrimination towards the eight million people in Britain who do not use computers.
With the swine flu crisis in London on the up, and many NHS hospitals full, I believe the NHS must keep all nursing and care staff electronic or hand-written note workers.
With huge cut planned for the NHS from 2011, the new government will have to close down the £12billion electronic records plan or face a NHS closedown.
JOHN STURMAN
Southfield Road, Enfield
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