Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but if you read the full article by the surgical professor ( not the Daily Mail’s interpretation ), nowhere does he call the NHS " a shambles ". His opinions concern the English NHS and Health Secretary. Also, as a surgeon he WOULD say what he does – I worked with surgeons for 35 years. Furthermore, as an academic he wouldn’t be expected to understand the vital role of general practice, any more than a GP would understand major surgery.



He claims that GPs are " professionally isolated " and " deskilled " . He failed to mention that ALL the UK’s 235,000 licensed doctors are now legally required to show the GMC that they are competent and fit to practise. The system ( introduced in the past year ) is based on annual appraisal to which doctors must bring information about their practice, including complaints - and compliments - from patients, as well as evidence they are keeping up to date ( attending approved courses as well as reading ). No system – neither the NHS, nor the GMC who independently regulates doctors, medical schools and postgraduate education / training – is perfect.


It’s true that only around 2/3 of doctors gained their primary medical qualification in the UK. Of the rest, 1/10 are from India, followed by Pakistan and South Africa. It’s also true that cost is a factor in the numbers of medical students accepted in the 33 UK medical schools - around £ 250,000 of taxpayers’ money for each student trained to become a doctor. Most ( but not all ) UK residents may prefer a health service run by doctors trained in the UK. A significant number might prefer a doctor from similar ethnic background to themselves.


However, it’s not a simple matter of training them ALL here, as there’s no guarantee they would stay in the UK. There’s even less likelihood that they would be happy to become " hybrid GP / A&E " doctors ( one of the surgeon’s suggested remedies ), or take up various other unpopular – but essential – specialties.


Not only is the GMC to have new powers for checking communication skills of EU doctors ( as it already can for non-EU doctors ), but employers are already entitled to check English / communication skills appropriate for the specialty ( and ethnic mix of the patients ).


As for doctors’ " notorious handwriting ", that’s a myth which, even if it were true, is less relevant now that prescriptions, referral and discharge letters are not handwritten !


Of course the UK NHS has room for improvement ! It has also to respond to challenges such as the ageing population; and ever increasing costs of treatments which could not have been imagined a few years ago. It’s vital to stay POSITIVE – there are improvements in every aspect of healthcare, from cancer, strokes and heart attacks to medicinal drugs, vaccinations and transplants.


I don’t judge lifestyle choices, but the true shambles is not, in my opinion, the health service. It’s largely the consequences of inactivity, obesity, alcohol excess and continued smoking. A healthier lifestyle and less litigation / criticism of doctors, nurses, and other health care workers would cut costs more than any of the good surgeon’s proposals.


Finally, as always, this is a FILIPINO-UK Forum . Spare a thought for our friends and loved ones in the Philippines. The entire health service there may not " suck " ( as one member recently suggested ) but sadly it doesn’t match up to ours.