Message board

Bob Haresceugh: 

Whilst the NHS has improved dramatically over the last few years and the services provided by GPs extended in breadth and depth there is still a long way to go. In any delivery system the three drivers are quality, timeliness and cost. Objectives have to be set for each of these and delivered. I sense the NHS [...] More >

Posted 14th April 2010 | 2 Responses »

Paul Mainwaring: 

I have not read too many stories yet, but the NHS does not have or need the large private sector to take it over. But let’s remember, most GP are private employers and do not work directly for the NHS. All the NHS requires is for everyone that works within it to pull together and remember; [...] More >

Posted 6th April 2010 | Leave a Response »

Dr Andrew Bamji: 

I am saddened by your booklet – if only because it expresses, more concisely than I could, what I have been saying for the last 6 years. It is vital that we show up every last wasteful NHS initiative so that as doctors we cannot be threatened by the smear that we are only protecting [...] More >

Posted 23rd March 2010 | Leave a Response »

Brian Ashby: 

After reading all of the contributions to this message board. I daresay that each of us has a point and an argument. However, whilst we all put forward our arguments and points of view as to what the problems are within the NHS, The many and varied arguments although justifiable, leave the Government completely free, [...] More >

Posted 17th March 2010 | Leave a Response »

M.E.MOBASHERI MD: 

You do not have to be genius to find what the conservative is up to. they will complete Mrs. Thatcher’s unfinished job by late 1980s. If they get the ground we will have a broken society as Americans before President Obama’s election. Right wing in the USA still resisting for change that people voted for. [...] More >

Posted 4th March 2010 | Leave a Response »

Peter Lorse: 

While attending my local GP surgery I happened to pick up one of your leaflets: “Warning! Commercialising the NHS is damaging our health service”. Although I agree with the principles of resisting the commercialisation of the NHS, and find the idea of ‘business’ running away with the “CASH” as depicted on the cover of the leaflet [...] More >

Posted 1st March 2010 | Leave a Response »

Thomas: 

To paraphrase your publicity material; ‘DID YOU KNOW Some NHS care is provided by NHS CONSULTANTS working in large multinational companies. They are funded with taxpayers’ money but their profits go to shareholders, not patient care (that is after the Consultant has taken a wedge) We don’t think that’s right. Do you? Help us put patients before Consultants profits.’ If you’re going [...] More >

Posted 25th February 2010 | Leave a Response »

Dr Jonathon Tomlinson: 

“As the great sage Jagger said, “You can’t always get what you want!”” House. According to Zack Cooper and Julian Le Grand, writing in support of patient choice and provider competition in the BMA News in May 2009, “the true test of how a health service is performing is whether patients are satisfied with their care”.[1] [...] More >

Posted 22nd February 2010 | Leave a Response »

John Toby: 

I should dearly like to endorse these Principles and I believe that I do agree with most or all of the intentions that lie behind them. However I should like to make a number of points which I think need to be addressed if the BMA is to give clear leadership on these issues. [...] More >

Posted 22nd February 2010 | Leave a Response »

Su Ram: 

Why should it publicly provided? NHS trusts are heavily bureaucratic and out dated and why should they be the only one to provide ever expanding and demanding heathcare. There are very many out there who could provide the same quality care with much better management and along the same NHS founding principles (free at the [...] More >

Posted 22nd February 2010 | Leave a Response »

Morris Bernadt: 

Allyson Pollack’s book “NHS plc” is a devastating critique of the marketisation of the NHS. A blind faith in market forces preceeded by a decade the financial collapse of 2008 and underlies the puchaser provider split, PFI, ISTCs and competitive tendering. I fully support the BMAs eight principles. A fortune would be saved by abolishing [...] More >

Posted 22nd February 2010 | Leave a Response »

Jonathon Tomlinson: 

The WHO Committee on Social determinants of health report published in August 2008 contains an unequivocal defense of publicly funded healthcare: “Health is not a tradable commodity. It is a matter of rights and a public sector duty. As such, resources for health must be equitable and universal. There are three linked issues. First, experience shows that commercialization [...] More >

Posted 22nd February 2010 | Leave a Response »

Jonathon Tomlinson: 

The WHO Committee on Social determinants of health report published in August 2008 contains an unequivocal defense of publicly funded healthcare: “Health is not a tradable commodity. It is a matter of rights and a public sector duty. As such, resources for health must be equitable and universal. There are three linked issues. First, experience shows that commercialization of [...] More >

Posted 22nd February 2010 | Leave a Response »

JULIAN LAW: 

The intention of the reforms within general practice is to provide better quality of care for our patients. Unfortunately many suggested changes are met with a reactive defensiveness rather than reflective creativity from general practitioners. This is partly because the government has not always articulated its vision to society and the medical profession. Furthermore [...] More >

Posted 22nd February 2010 | Leave a Response »

Kdiyali M Srivatsa: 

I believe in providing free high quality, comprehensive healthcare for all. By making it publicly accountable and involving commercial organisation, PPI and profits generating, our ministers have killed our NHS. By allowing nurses to lead and not listening to what we medical professionals say and not acting in patients and the public interest the days [...] More >

Posted 22nd February 2010 | Leave a Response »

James MacCabe: 

One of my patients has a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which has been well controlled for many years. His GP referred him for an appointment in a foot clinic run by the private sector. The patient received a letter cancelling the appointment and advising him to contact his GP to rebook the [...] More >

Posted 22nd February 2010 | Leave a Response »

Geoffrey Williams: 

Thanks for providing this opportunity to support the NHS. I suffered a mild stroke back in 2006 and received excellent treatment at our local NHS hospital. Sadly, most people are unaware of the creeping threat to Britain’s most cherished institution. Many patients believe it’s wonderful when their operation is carried out at some brand-spanking new [...] More >

Posted 22nd February 2010 | Leave a Response »

Magda Aznavor: 

Doesn’t Dr Hamish Meldrum, the head of the BMA have a share in one of those new polyclinics? And I have some younger doctor friends who actually would never consider joining this organisation because they believe it only caters for the interests of senior GPs and nothing else! Indeed, that seems to be the case [...] More >

Posted 15th February 2010 | 3 Responses »

Shan Morgain: 

The NHS keeps being attacked in media articles which is making it look bad. Commercial health care providers have powerful lawyers which sue the media if THEIR failures are exposesd. The result is that we all get an unfairly negative impression of the NHS. Go in any commercial hospital and you’ll see the same dirt, the [...] More >

Posted 12th February 2010 | Leave a Response »

David: 

PBC was a useful tool for resolving problems within the NHS and improving services but is not supported properly by PCT’s. There is far too much waste,inefficiency,red tape,auditting and “counting of paperclips” at PCT’s. There really needs to be a bonfire of administrators in order to free General Practice and let it thrive; PCT’s meddle in the [...] More >

Posted 17th December 2009 | Leave a Response »

James MacCabe: 

One of my patients has a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which has been well controlled for many years. His GP referred him for an appointment in a foot clinic run by the private sector. The patient received a letter cancelling the appointment and advising him to contact his GP to rebook the [...] More >

Posted 11th December 2009 | 1 Response »

Kadiyali M Srivatsa: 

I believe in providing free high quality, comprehensive healthcare for all. By making it publicly accountable and involving commercial organisation, PPI and profits generating, our ministers have killed our NHS. By allowing nurses to lead and not listening to what we medical professionals say and not acting in patients and the public interest the days [...] More >

Posted 3rd November 2009 | Leave a Response »

JULIAN LAW: 

The intention of the reforms in general practice is to improve the quality of patient care. Unfortunately many of the suggested reforms are met with reactive defensiveness rather than reflective creativity. It is true that the government has not articulated its vision of the future of general practice well. Added to this individual GPs do [...] More >

Posted 27th October 2009 | Leave a Response »

Diana: 

If the NHS is “the envy of the world”, why is no other country following the lead? And please stop comparing the UK with USA, there are other countries with much better and more efficient systems than both of the above. Wake up! More >

Posted 12th October 2009 | 1 Response »

Sebastian Hendricks: 

The NHS has seen significant improvement over the past 10 years. This is not because of private forces or private companies providing services, but because the required financial resources were provided so waiting time initiatives could reduce queues and doctors started to think about service improvements. The fault is that the NHS does not work as [...] More >

Posted 12th October 2009 | 1 Response »

sdasan: 

I am all for a publicly owned and provided NHS which is free at the point of access. However the current system is creaking through lack of sound medical /clinical leadership. If sensible doctors and nurses and allied professionals were in charge and they had good leadership skills focussed on designing and [...] More >

Posted 9th October 2009 | Leave a Response »

AngryNHSworker: 

Commercial companies blatantly milk the NHS “cash cow” for all it\’s worth, especially in the growing I.T. areas. A case in point would be certain job that used be done “in-house” now requires: - A call logged with an external helpdesk, - Followed by a quotation - Which has to have a purchase order raised against it. - On receipt of the P.O., the 3rd party will [...] More >

Posted 9th October 2009 | Leave a Response »

Graham Todd: 

Lovers of NHS Market reforms should reflect on the US experience. As Douglas Kamerow pointed out [BMJ 29/11/08] the US spends far more per person than any other country, yet has paradoxically poor healthcare process measures and healthcare outcomes. The market cannot fix the NHS. Removing much of the NHS from political control and setting [...] More >

Posted 1st September 2009 | Leave a Response »

David Hickson: 

It is vital that the principles of the NHS be maintained through whatever reform may be needed. “Free at the point of need” prohibits use of payments made by patients to access NHS services to fund those services, or to subsidise provider’s costs, let alone contribute to someone\’s profit. For this reason, it is imperative that [...] More >

Posted 24th August 2009 | 1 Response »

nickcooper: 

Occupationally driven provision of specialist services by named clinicians (registered with and accountable to the GMC also insured with a UK insurance provider which will cover damages in each case of mishap)has yet to be addressed in all NHS Regions to the extent that it has for the insured population in the US. Daniel Hannam’s [...] More >

Posted 19th August 2009 | Leave a Response »

reena: 

what has changed for the bma? gps were brought kicking and screaming into the nhs and never wanted it. let’s not perpetuate any myths that gps are anything but private contractors who need their pockets lined at every opportunity. it’s all the private sector so who cares. you’re just worried about your own incomes – [...] More >

Posted 17th August 2009 | 1 Response »

Gary: 

The majority of patients I see as a community therapist report previous experiences of the NHS ranging from incompetent to appalling. This soviet style bureacratic colossus is a self serving interest group whose principal beneficiaries are the staff whose knee jerk defensiveness is legendary More >

Posted 14th August 2009 | Leave a Response »

Jonathan Berry: 

We are entering a period of unprecedented reduction of NHS resource in real terms, for five to perhaps 10 years. The NHS remains wasteful in many ways and in many areas. The private sector is NOT automatically better or cheaper, and yes, it often pays a dividend to shareholders. But a properly managed mixed economy, [...] More >

Posted 23rd July 2009 | Leave a Response »

Mervat: 

After the need to use the NHS in the past two weeks for my self and my family, for two life threatening treatments, and after we were denied proper treatment and care on both occasions, because of cost cuts, I say bring confident, well-watched private health care. I say it is against human right to [...] More >

Posted 20th July 2009 | 2 Responses »

Tiz North: 

The Govt wants to privatize so that it wont have to pay pensions. All of the reform is about saving money not better care for patients. Part of our Endoscopy service was outsourced without us being told – so much for local decision making and clinical involvement. Contract paid for but do the patients want [...] More >

Posted 20th July 2009 | Leave a Response »

sundar: 

BRITISH PARLIAMENT IS CHANGING: WHY NOT BMA? I can not subscribe to all the principles. Publicly funded is ok, but why should it fully provided only by the poorly managed trusts? There are many providers who would provide the same level of patient care with much better facilities and modern management. There will be more value for [...] More >

Posted 20th July 2009 | Leave a Response »

Richard Grünewald: 

These principles are worthy, but rather miss the point. The NHS will win hands down when competing with the private sector if working on a level playing field. But we need competition to keep us sharp. If patients don’t tell us they get a better service in the private hospital up the road, [...] More >

Posted 7th July 2009 | Leave a Response »

Jonathon Tomlinson: 

Gordon Brown has just announced that he is going to use Human Rights not to allow people to access private health care, but to force PCTs to send people to private health care. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/six-new-rights-for-every-nhs-patient-1722927.html Perceptively he’s made it clear that ‘choice’ and ‘rights’ are the ethical pillars on which capitalism is justified. Choice and Rights are [...] More >

Posted 1st July 2009 | Leave a Response »

jonathon tomlinson: 

More evidence. According to the WHO Committee on Social Determinants of Health: In middle-income countries, higher levels of commercialization are systematically associated with worse and more unequal health-care access and health outcomes (HSKN, 2007). In low-income settings, unregulated fee-forservice commercialization is particularly damaging to health outcomes. In terms of health equity, publicly financed health care, regardless of [...] More >

Posted 22nd June 2009 | Leave a Response »

pat: 

Exremely bad idea, let Doctors working in the independent sector give a unbiased view, send reporters in undercover and you will realise they are in it for the money. ony doctors are paid well, rest staffed by immigrant nurses and untrained staff with little career progression. Doctors have a golden hand shake which makes it difficult [...] More >

Posted 22nd June 2009 | Leave a Response »

David Lomax: 

I\’m afraid that this \’campaign\’ shows how out of touch the BMA has finally become. They can put their heads in the sand if they wish but \’publicly funded\’ DOESN\’T WORK. Surely after half a century they should be able to see this! But no; they don\’t like change. The NHS finally looks like it [...] More >

Posted 22nd June 2009 | Leave a Response »

John Gardner: 

I cannot subscribe to the proposed Eight Principles. They are full of the idealistic rhetoric that most of us left behind at the school debating society. We deride governments for not facing the reality of rationing – and in the very first principle we have the same avoidance of reality. Who is [...] More >

Posted 22nd June 2009 | 1 Response »

Sir Terence English: 

I agree with the 8 Principles. But I would delete the word “comprehensive” from the first one. The NHS will never be able to afford all that modern medicine has to offer, so let us not pretend it can. More >

Posted 22nd June 2009 | Leave a Response »

C Gunstone: 

GPs have proved targets produce results since the 1990 contract. We voted by a majority for QOF when we voted in the new contract. I’m not sure that the NHS should be medically led – since its inception, doctors have not always served the best interests of the NHS – politicians at least have been elected [...] More >

Posted 19th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

mike: 

Grow up and welcome to the 21st century. Medicine has changed and the BMA and some doctors have failed to notice. So 62% of clinical directors are concerned about ISTC quality – what do they know about quality in their own areas? What are they doing about deadwood doctors they wouldn’t send [...] More >

Posted 18th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

David Wrede: 

Oh Dear! Same old nonsense from the central BMA. The medical profession has been shackled & disempowered BECAUSE the NHS was and is tax funded & hence totally centrally politically controlled. It goes through the nenaderthal boom and bust of political and economic cycles BECAUSE it is tax funded. Beveridge (and Churchill before him) wanted an [...] More >

Posted 18th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

brent prior: 

I agree with most of the 8 Principles content. However if raising funds from the private sector can be cost-effective and helps patients then isnt that a good thing? Also being aware of the cost of services and goods is surely necessary when funds are limited. Doesnt it enable the provision of the greatest amount [...] More >

Posted 18th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

Dr Oliver Smyth: 

The NHS was created during a time of extreme poverty. Most had little health care. Disease was rife and it was a desperate situation. Over the years the country has improved considerably. Is it still possible to consider a main pronciple for the NHS as beingg able to still provide free health care to all [...] More >

Posted 18th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

Roger BURNS: 

In order to save money we need to change the culture of the NHS as an organization, and to change the attitude of the public. First I suggest we agree that everything has a cost in the NHS, and to let the patients, doctors, nurses and all staff know that cost, with each service: prescription, [...] More >

Posted 18th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

Lynne M Drummond: 

Whereas I am 100% behind the idea that patient care is the paramount reason for the NHS. I do feel that spending targets do have to come into the equation as there will only ever be finite amount of money. The NHS has sufferered from poor and inadequate management and consequently much money has been [...] More >

Posted 18th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

tim manners: 

Just to enter the lions den – I support numbers 1 and 8 and disagree with all the others. The BMA is fighting a biased rearguard action defending an organisation that is quite simply unsuited to the modern world – it is too inefficient,too large, too inflexible, too full of staff self interest (why cant [...] More >

Posted 18th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

Simon Ruffle: 

About time the BMA put patients at the heart of their pronouncements. Let’s hope they follow it through and the public perception sees Doctors, the BMA and the NHS working for them. Perception at the moment is blighted by HMGs desire to look good with access and quantity of work over care and quality. Time [...] More >

Posted 17th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

David Ingram: 

The main problem with the NHS has been overuse for minor conditions in primary care (almost from its inception) so that major health events are missed without expensive work-arounds (surveys, widespread testing of fit people for major conditions eg colon cancer and breast cancer). Charges should be made for visits to GPs and Casualty in [...] More >

Posted 17th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

Nick: 

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with decisions made with either targets or money in mind, and the patient seems to be either an afterthought, an inconvenience, or an obstruction to whatever is planned, be it ward efficiency, length or stay, reconfiguration (how I detest that word) or whatever. The internal market and the targets culture is [...] More >

Posted 17th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

Stefano Lupparelli: 

In an ideal world, it would be to be hoped that a noble art such as Medicine and Surgery should not be affected by economics. Our commitment to help our patients by availing ourselves of all available resources stems from the Hippocratic oath that is still being sworn in many universities nowadays. Unlike the ideal world [...] More >

Posted 16th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

Dr Jonathon Tomlinson: 

“As the great sage Jagger said, “You can’t always get what you want!”” House. According to Zack Cooper and Julian Le Grand, writing in support of patient choice and provider competition in the BMA News in May 2009, “the true test of how a health service is performing is whether patients are satisfied with their care”.[1] [...] More >

Posted 11th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

David Clegg: 

Those responsible for bringing the NHS increasingly into the commercial sector should listen to the current Reith Lectures given by Professor Michael Sandel – the first of which has already been delivered. More >

Posted 11th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

john main: 

I have grave concerns about the market model of health care, but have no confidence at all in the BMA as the body to address this. Your continuing support for private medicine is not compatible with your stated principles, and of course your defined role as a trade union for doctors, precludes, as [...] More >

Posted 10th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

Jo Loughton: 

It seems that the Government has no intention of listening to our concerns. They continue to feed unrealistic expectations to patients and promote the idea that we can see any patient at any time or place of their convenience – even if they all want to be seen at the same place and time by the [...] More >

Posted 9th June 2009 | Leave a Response »

Santiago Dargallo Nieto: 

Working in partnership with the goverment trying to explain that the NHS is not a bottomless pit but a finite resource and therefore lowering some of the expectations of what the NHS can do for patients. Also stop using health & health professionals as a political football More >

Posted 2nd June 2009 | Leave a Response »

Steve Ford: 

It is time to move from being indignant to being active. I have retired from general practice prematurely in order to stand as an Independent candidate at the next general election. At the moment I believe we would be pushing at an open door. Please may we have some more candidates, ideally one in every [...] More >

Posted 2nd June 2009 | Leave a Response »

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