NHS funding

[libbygood]

Can someone please explain to me in real laymans terms what withdrawing NHS funding at regional level exactly entails.

Libby

[BLFCommsTeam]

Hi Libby,

Can I ask whether this question relates to the current issue of funding and support being withdrawn from local respiratory networks, as part of the NHS reorganisations and the introduction of the new 'Strategic Clinical Networks' (and as is being discussed elsewhere on the web community and in Breathe Easy groups around the country)?

Thanks!

[Beehappy]

Yes please a simple explanation that can be used by members to relay their distress at theses actions is a splendid suggestion, thank you so much for this assistance to help ourselves.

thank you

[Hidden]

Hi Libby

Firstly, the funding that is being withdrawn is nothing to do with our medical treatment or any aspect of our health care - all will go on as before. It is the fact that Lung disease will not be covered by the new 'Strategic Clinical Networks' (SCNs) that are being funded and set up next year that is the issue. Other conditions such as cancer, diabetes heart disease, mental illness and even maternity will benefit from this - we will not.

So - what exactly is it that we may miss out on? Well, the aims of the SCNs include things like reducing mortality, improving patient quality of life or ensuring 'best practice'. There is a great deal that could be improved for us even without new drugs or treatments being invented and so the SCNs would identify where those improvements could be made and work towards getting them implemented. If that all sounds a bit wishy washy then think of this as an example ;

Not so long ago a lot of women died from breast cancer because they were diagnosed too late. Long waiting lists for x rays were identified as a sizeable and common problem. Ways were found to prioritise detection and now all women should have their first diagnostic x ray at the hospital within 3 weeks of an appointment being requested. This has saved many lives and is one of the factors that has resulted in the majority of breast cancer patients now surviving their ordeal.

Now, as we often talk about on here, there is a lot of variation in the way COPD is treated so a major aim of the SCN would be to reduce the variation in diagnosis and care around the country. Mortality rates for COPD are, I believe, at their highest in the North East, and country wide there is a great deal of variation. It is believed that if the improvements to care outlined in the 'Outcomes strategy for COPD and asthma' were implemented right across the NHS then around 7,800 lives could be saved every year*. Such improvements to respiratory care would have been the focus of those SCNs had we been included.

So, as I said at the outset - our medical treatment will go on as before. Nothing is changing or being taken away from us in that respect. But that is the saddest thing - because with the new SCNs, many lives may have been bettered or saved for little extra cost, with no new expensive drug or treatment needed - just the best possible outcomes for all concerned. Let's hope that with the BLF and others fighting this decision - and our letters to our MP's - someone, somewhere, will see sense and put this right. P.

*dh.gov.uk/health/2012/05/nh...

[jojam in reply to Hidden]

Excellent expaination Parvati. Hope you are keeping well

Best wishes

Jo

[jojam in reply to jojam]

Whoops typo should read 'explaination'

[maruth in reply to jojam]

thank you, it was a worry.

madeline

[libbygood]

Thankyou Parvati, very well explained - I understand now.

Libby

[nannie63]

Couldn't have explained it better myself. Still leaves a lump in my throat though. I had the privilege and honour of working on the palliative care side of cancer care for over 26. Nevertheless l still struggle to rationalise why some areas continue to remain at the forefront of any initiative to improve care. I believe that everyone has the right to receive the best possible treatment / care that enables them to live for as long and as well as possible in a place of their choosing. Sadly the 'postcode lottery' does still exist, we do have vision but don't always see and we listen but we don't always hear what's being said.........how frustrating. Take good care of yourselves, keep positive and keep fighting. Sorry about the grumble, these are my thoughts. xx

[blackbird]

Thanks for posting the question libbygood - I was kinda confused myself. And thank you parvati for your explanation I understand now,

[Hidden]

Can I ask whether parvati's answer relates to the current issue of funding and support being withdrawn from local respiratory networks, as part of the NHS reorganisations and the introduction of the new 'Strategic Clinical Networks' (and as is being discussed elsewhere on the web community and in Breathe Easy groups around the country)?

If you want an answer in laymans terms, from a scientist point of view, we as millions of Copd. sufferers have missed the boat again, a few thousand M.E. sufferers supported and represented by the M.E. Action group, have managed to be included in the 2013 plan to exlude certain forms of illness from funding and support.

I do hope the B.L.F. can explain where we failed and are able to remedy the situation before the fiendish plan is implemented

Thanks!