Value Blog

May 2008 - Posts

• Will change be led by local clinicians?

  GP's Valuing General Practice campaign has got off to a tremendous start but there's much yet to accomplish. This week's GP is full of campaign articles including a splash revealing global sums may benefit from a cut to QOF, a piece by the Medical Women's Federation arguing that practices should be incentivised to have partners, an editorial encouraging a radical rethink of the quality framework and a feature about the value of GPSIs in practices. We're currently working on this week's issue but can reveal that the campaign has this week won the backing of the BMA and Londonwide LMCs. Professor Steve Field, RCGP chairman, has written a piece explaining why the RCGP backs Valuing General Practice. In it he says: 'If change in our healthcare system is to be successful, it must be clinician-led. Strong GP leadership is needed at all levels, but most importantly at local level to drive local change.' Do you think change will be both local and clinician-led? Posted May 15 2008, 04:15 AM by Neil Durham with no comments

• Who will work in polyclinics?

  This week's GP is full of items building on our Valuing General Practice campaign. We compare NHS screening tests with those offered by private companies in Medeconomics, carry a letter arguing that the government is waging war on small practices, an editorial warning of an imminent attack on MPIGs and a news story about talks to save threatened rural practices. We're currently putting together next week's GP but look out for a piece by Dr Clarissa Fabre, president elect of the Medical Women's Federation and an East Sussex GP, explaining why her group is backing the campaign. She writes: 'The government sees polyclinics as the way forward because it thinks (mistakenly) that women will not mind being salaried, and will tolerate being controlled by large private companies. 'Nothing could be further from the truth. 'Women doctors, just like men, want the commitment of a partnership. 'It is essential that incentives are introduced, so that practices take on partners, rather than salaried doctors or nurses,' she adds. There is more to the campaign than polyclinics but it is an important issue. What do you think? Is the government banking on women GPs to work in polyclinics? Is it about to be disappointed? To join in the campaign, go to www.healthcarerepublic.com/value. To read Dr Fabre's full piece, look out for next week's GP. (dated 16 May)     Posted May 09 2008, 01:47 AM by Neil Durham with no comments

• Think tank urges NHS to focus on value for money

  The NHS won't be able to cope with future demand unless it focuses relentlessly on value for money, according to think tank Reform. Its report 'Demand for a new era: the future of health' argues that rising life expectancy, higher living standards and expensive new treatments will combine to massively increase patient demands. The NHS will be 'overwhelmed' by demand unless it provides better value for money, Reform argues. What do you think? Posted May 06 2008, 10:09 AM by Neil Durham with no comments

• Polyclinics cast planning blight over general practice

  This is what GP columnist Chris Lancelot thinks about polyclinics - they're wrecking general practice before they've even started. Is this what's happening in your area? 'A vicious planning blight has descended upon primary care. The damage potential of the Darzi clinics is so great that it has rendered nearby GP practices almost incapable of action. 'Those situated near the planned polyclinics have been talking openly of losing half their patients. What practice will take on new staff, extend its premises, engage a new partner or replace a retiring one under these circumstances?' Read his full searing commentary in next week's GP. Posted May 02 2008, 06:39 AM by Colin Cooper with no comments