Comments on: NHS Neglect: £20 to See Your Doctor In The Evening (Bring Wine) http://www.anorak.co.uk/173886/money/nhs-neglect-20-to-see-your-doctor-in-the-evening-bring-wine.html Tabloid news for broadsheet readers Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:21:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: steve lawrence http://www.anorak.co.uk/173886/money/nhs-neglect-20-to-see-your-doctor-in-the-evening-bring-wine.html/comment-page-1#comment-7540 steve lawrence Mon, 04 Jun 2007 14:01:48 +0000 http://www.anorak.co.uk/money/public-purse/173886.html#comment-7540 GPs were forced to give up RESPONSIBILITY for out of hours by the governments over exacting "standards" such as response time to answering the phone/recording all calls etc - technically impossible for the single handed or small group of doctors. This responsibility was taken by the Primary Care Trusts at a personal cost of £6.000 to each GP. Prior to the change in RESPONSIBILITY the service was provided by Co-operatives of local GPs who were paid about £23 per hour. Many of these same GPs continue to provide the medical cover for the co-operatives -but for a commercial rate of pay. All doctors working for out of hours providers have to be fully trained, qualified GPs -so I do not see what the problem is as nothing has changed in the way out of hours cover is provided. If GPs are to extend their opening - the number of doctors available at any one time will be reduced -reducing the choice of doctor for the patient. Already elderly patients are having to make very early or late appointments to see the doctor of their choice rather than having an appointment in the late morning or early afternoon. GPs were forced to give up RESPONSIBILITY for out of hours by the governments over exacting “standards” such as response time to answering the phone/recording all calls etc - technically impossible for the single handed or small group of doctors. This responsibility was taken by the Primary Care Trusts at a personal cost of £6.000 to each GP.
Prior to the change in RESPONSIBILITY the service was provided by Co-operatives of local GPs who were paid about £23 per hour. Many of these same GPs continue to provide the medical cover for the co-operatives -but for a commercial rate of pay. All doctors working for out of hours providers have to be fully trained, qualified GPs -so I do not see what the problem is as nothing has changed in the way out of hours cover is provided.
If GPs are to extend their opening - the number of doctors available at any one time will be reduced -reducing the choice of doctor for the patient. Already elderly patients are having to make very early or late appointments to see the doctor of their choice rather than having an appointment in the late morning or early afternoon.

]]> By: http://www.anorak.co.uk/173886/money/nhs-neglect-20-to-see-your-doctor-in-the-evening-bring-wine.html/comment-page-1#comment-7503 Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:59:34 +0000 http://www.anorak.co.uk/money/public-purse/173886.html#comment-7503 This is the medical version of paying again for rubbish to be taken away. I'm in full agreement that if people choose to not attend a prebooked appt then they are charged, but I cannot understand why people must be charged to be seen in the evening. My vet runs 3 surgeries a day, and emergency appts during the working week, and they all cost the same which ever time one attends. There is no extra charge for the pm one, which is usually the busiest. This is the medical version of paying again for rubbish to be taken away. I’m in full agreement that if people choose to not attend a prebooked appt then they are charged, but I cannot understand why people must be charged to be seen in the evening.

My vet runs 3 surgeries a day, and emergency appts during the working week, and they all cost the same which ever time one attends. There is no extra charge for the pm one, which is usually the busiest.

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