I have today, caught up with what so may of you are already aware of - that the NHS policy now is that a GP cannot refer a patient before putting it to a panel to decide.
The reason for this is to cut the NHS costs by 30%.
There is a newspaper article on O2Trees post regarding this if you haven't already seen what has happened.
As a person whose life has been shortened by the lack of referral, I have, of course, now taken an active interest in why this has happened.
I would like everyone that this has happened to to write to their MP. Its a request and hopefully a start...
There are already - which I am already looking at today - many campaigners out there trying to put lives before money saving in the NHS.
This is all new to me, but something has to be done.
30% saving now.......how about next year and the year after..........?
Written by
Ktomoph_
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Bad journalism is a terrible affliction and the Daily Mail, with regrets to readers here who take it, is the worst possible example of this.
There can be no doubt that cost cutting is having an effect upon the NHS, the sheer amount of people within your local A&E & GP Surgery seeking help for things that a chemist could easily cope with doesn't help. Before I get shot down in flames this is reflective of where I live and what i have seen, I am a massive supporter of free health care and always will be, but the money spent on administration beggars belief. Oh and nurses deserve a huge pay rise, not too sure about some doctors!!
I did sit here for some time after writing the headline words! The reason for this being that I am not a 'leader' as I don't have the confidence to be that person. So I have scared myself a little that I feel strong enough to have posted this.
Yes. You are right about bad journalism and certain - actually the majority - of the newspapers are guilty of this most of the time!
The articles are a good indicator as to what IS happening.
I also agree with you about most surgeries having patients that pharmacists could help. But they mostly want to see the GP who can diagnose what they have and help them.
The problem arises when the GP does not know what you have and despite giving in detail what the symptoms are, he/she does not refer you. The HUGE question is WHY NOT?
Asking the GP 'why not' has not been answered, which has led me to research why not.
Although we can read in the Times article that you have attached, it still says the same as that in the Daily Mail. That to cut costs by 30% the GPs have to go before a panel to refer.
The thing is - to start the process of referral, it is the GP who will decide who can or should be put forward for scans etc.
If he/she does not listen and therefore does not 'hear' your cry for help because he does not recognise or pick up on any symptoms you are relating, he/she will not put you forward. No matter whether this cutting costs venture is in place or not.
What is going on?
I care very much because it has affected me.
I appreciate your views on this as it is a new area for me.
The article clearly states non-urgent cases. Not to nit pick but that is an important line.
Sorry but I am not in a position to comment on individual cases as I don't have the facts from both sides. If you don't get referred by your GP there may be many reasons, the question should be referred to your practice as previously stated no one here has both sides of the facts.
Mistakes are made, as in every walk of life, medicine isn't a precise science, many symptoms have commonality and it is unfortunately a common theme to be misdiagnosed or not be diagnosed at all.
This isn't endemic, most GPs are good at their job, but again some are not so good. Some probably deserve more praise for spotting illnesses in their patients but as with most reviews the bad ones get the most publicity.
Referrals in general work very well, again, no system where human interaction has a part to play is ever going to be foolproof. I would be open to ideas of how else this would work without allowing all and sundry to turn up at their local hospital demanding tests for a symptom that, according to Google, has them suffering from bubonic plague.
Personally I don't believe this forum is the place for these kind of debates, your first stop should be with your practice to ensure your complaint is heard and acted upon. If you are not happy post that you can take it further and they should advise you of the procedure for this
I think firstly I would like to ask why you don't think this forum is the place for these kind of debates?
I came to this forum because like you, I have a problem with my heart and needed reassurance and information and sometimes just to read other peoples dealings with their disease. It helps me enormously.
I also hope that I have been able to contribute by giving support or advice to other people.
It has slightly saddened me that you don't want me to discuss this on this site.
I am also saddened that you appear to not want me to relate my experience openly on this sight. It is very obvious that I will be unable to put forward my GPs reason for failing me and this would be because he cannot admit why because NHS advises him not to admit why nor take responsibility. And this is because our society thinks everything is based around money!
With regard to the article and what it states - my thoughts just went to 'what about the people who are regarded as non urgent?'
There are mistakes made - it is human nature.
This isn't the area to make cuts. It is the cost of administration and mostly the outrageous wages that are paid to those that are in the administration hierarchy where the cuts would save billions.
How will the GP know which is non urgent if, as the recent post from plonk proves, he/she will only forward urgent cases?
Everything is relevant, and please accept that my post was and is part and parcel of what this forum is about.
I respect your opinion as I do with anyone who has one. I may not always agree, but I think very carefully if I am considering responding.
I do pop onto the forum regularly and generally just read what is happening with people on the site, as it helps me a great deal. As a recently diagnosed HF, we all know what a scary place it can be.
When I wrote 'what is going on?' it was not meant as as a personal question for anyone on this forum to attempt to answer. It was one of those questions that I was actually wondering 'out loud'.
I am the only one who can deal with what has happened to me, and since my recent op, I have had the strength to deal with it.
I have written posts regarding my previous GP - prior to becoming seriously ill - who was wonderful, as is the arrhythmia and cardiology team who have made a huge difference to my life.
Having moved house and county, meant a different GP practice, and it was a bit of a shock to my ailing system. As my previous posts have said, I seriously considered moving back to the county I left, just to go back to the most brilliant GP ever.
Each of us on this forum has our scary times and unfortunately mine was when I could not get any help or recognition when my condition deteriorated to is worst.
I will always give praise openly, but the shock and realisation that my current condition would not have been so bad if my current GP had made a referral is still hanging heavy.
The forum has many others who have had the same or worse experience.
Yesterday I searched for posts that related to my experience and, as stated, sat for sometime contemplating whether to post after reading the articles and how it will affect us all - cos Im not that brave - and also checked the administration rules before doing so, because I was concerned about not wanting to upset anyone or flout the rules.
With reference to my GP - I have done all the correct things to deal with this - spoken with the GP, spoken with the practice manager, and then placed a written complaint.
I have had meetings - it is still ongoing.
I think that yesterday I was not expecting to receive a 'put down' regarding what has happened to me - yes, I had expected someone, and probably more, to make a point about the article and make their opinion about that.
I suppose I really wanted to know more, and how or if this policy has affected anyone else, particularly if they were actually aware of it affecting them.
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