NHS Doctors in Nottingham quit rather than work for a private firm

[Abigail]

A Doctor friend of mine posted this on facebook and I just thought it would be interesting to get Doc's opinion on it? Of course if you don't mind me asking Doc.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...m-9931763.html

[Doc Alan]

This sums up private health care : " While Circle’s outpatient treatment centre will remain open, any patients with severe conditions will no longer be seen by a specialist at the hospital and may have to be referred elsewhere " .


• A quarter of the population see their GPs each year for skin conditions, mostly not serious, but around 4,000 deaths occur from skin disease, especially cancer such as melanoma. Sick patients have to be transferred to the NHS from the private sector when they’re too ill, needing specialist care including intensive care and surgery. Why ? They’re customers – the seller can terminate the contract . There’s also less job security, research and training for doctors employed privately.


• There’s a shortage of dermatologists in the UK, so the 6 consultants " lost " from Nottingham may find other NHS posts if they wish. Of over 80,000 doctors on the GMC specialist register only 650 are dermatologists.


• However, a balance is needed ! The claim that a third of NHS contracts have been awarded to private sector providers in England since last year’s reorganization is misleading. The actual proportion of the NHS budget spent on private providers is around 6% - an increase of 1% since 2010.


• We are still in a UNITED Kingdom, with an NHS - devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland . It’s organized differently in the 4 countries - Scotland spends much less than 6% on private providers. It’s often not made clear in the media whether they are talking about England ( costing £ 110 billion in 2012/13 ), Scotland ( £ 9 billion ), Wales ( £ 5 billion ) or Northern Ireland ( £ 4 billion ).


• Better private health care is NOT always true . You may be seen quicker and dine on better food. If the treatment is straightforward ( say hernia repair, removal of unsightly skin " moles ", minor cosmetic surgery, health screening with scans ) … no problem . It’s your choice how you ( your employer, or even the NHS using the private sector ) spend money in addition to paying taxes.


• Private sector is happy to " cherry pick " these services. Fully informed consent ? Medical cover at night ? Resuscitation teams ? Intensive care ? Private ambulance(s) ? Unexpected findings needing surgery, or complications ?


• Most skin " moles " are NOT cancer, but the few which ARE need rapid specialist treatment. The NHS is there to pick up the pieces, but it won’t get paid for emergency admissions from the private sector ! Taking legal action for negligence is also not so straightforward in this sector.


• Last year’s NHS reorganisation ( England ) focused on competition and choice. NHS England’s boss Simon Stevens didn’t mention competition once in his 5 year Plan. Competition and choice don’t figure in an NHS with no spare capacity and needing to make savings to cope with increasing demand .


• The NHS is worth saving . Patients before profit ! It’s unique in using public funds from taxes to pay for mostly free delivery. It spends under 10% of GDP on health ( about half that of U.S., and over twice that of the Philippines ). At worst some more services may require up front payment ( perhaps through insurance ) but the private sector has different priorities.

Universal integrated health and social care CAN be achieved in the UK . The public do need to be more aware of the true cost of the services, treatment and drugs – and just how much smoking, alcohol abuse and obesity add to that cost.

[joebloggs]

Private companies main purpose is to make a profit, and no one should be making a profit from people being ill

[Abigail]

Thanks Doc, I really appreciate your comments. This article struck a note with me as I have a skin disease, I can fully understand the doctors reasoning but I really feel it is a shame that the patients will suffer with the loss of these doctors.