Is it an April Fool joke? Today the NHS is restructured.

[FionaGFG]

Unless you've been living in a cave for the last few years you can't have failed to notice that the coalition Government has been planning how to restructure the NHS in England. However, there's been very little real in depth press coverage of these changes. Indeed some NHS campaign groups have accused the Government of creating a media black out on the topic.

So we thought that as the Government's reforms come into force today it would be useful to give you a simple run down of the changes, as each and everyone of us will be touched by the changes in some way.

What you need to know...

1) GP-led groups have now taken control of local budgets

Pros: GPs are closer to their patients & their services that those civil servants in Ivory towers

Cons: Few GPs have the additional time or training to manage these changes, many have stated in the media that their hands are tied as they have to follow Government cuts. The perception is that they will have freedom as to how budgets are spent, the reality is...yet to be discovered

2) A new board, NHS England, will oversee the day-to-day running of health services

Pros: this may create more joined up thinking

Cons: does it add another layer of bureaucracy to an already complicated organisation?

3) 152 primary care trusts are scrapped

Pros: will the new NHS England board ensure greater consistency and communication across regions, helping eradicate post code lottery decisions?

Cons: will it make it harder for local people to have a body to complain to and have transparency and clarity on what is happening to health services in their local area?

4) Private companies now make up more of the NHS

Pros: will this make access to treatment simpler, quicker and more efficient?

Cons: or will this mean that private companies will simply cherry pick services and treatments that they want to offer - which are the most profitable for them? Will we find that some vital services not profitable and so waiting lists are extended? Will there be pressure for GPs to use private providers to 'save costs'? Is this the start of a slippery slope that will slowly erode the very nature of the public NHS?

What do you think?

Love or loathe the new NHS reforms?

Do you think that Coeliac services will be cut? Will there be even less prescription food available? Will Coeliac check-ups be cut (from our past surveys it seems like only a tiny minority of you actually have annual check-ups anyway)? Or do you embrace the changes? Would you like to see the NHS fully privatised? Or do you fear that we'll end up like the USA with a two tier healthcare system i.e. for those that can afford to pay for it versus the poor who cannot?

Discover more:

journals.bmj.com/site/nhsre...

keepournhspublic.com/index.php

bbc.co.uk/news/health-21887554

opendemocracy.net/ourkingdo...

doc2doc.bmj.com/forums/off-...

[urbangirl]

It is not just changes to the NHS that are worrying - changes in welfare benefits are changing too and that may well affect people with illness. Some people affected by the bedroom tax (and other changes) are going to have limited income and for those on special diets this will have an impact. Eligibility criteria for all kinds of benefits are changing.

I am concerned that the NHS changes will lead to services becoming competitive rather than patient centred. Health and welfare are inextricably linked together - with good reason.

It is a very sorry day indeed.

[Hidden]

In Australia there is no subsidy for people who are coeliac. No food on prescription. Bread cost over $6.00 per loaf and most gluten free items 30% dearer that normal food. Generally restaurants charge more for GF food as well.

I believe I pay more than $100.00 for food extra per week.

However we do have a medical system that allows my GP to bulk bill and prescription medicines are $5.90 per item. How do we compare to the UK?

[FionaGFG Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Roscoe

We have food on prescription (generally basics like flour, bread and pasta), not everyone uses it though. Most bread is around £3 here and GF items are around treble the price of 'normal' food. Restaurants rarely have a GF menu (unless they're a chain keen to tap into the Coeliac pound) and then we rarely get to take part part in the 2 courses for £12 combo deals as the GF versions are normally excluded. GP prescriptions recently when up - so they're around £7.50ish per prescription. However, you can order a pre payment card so you pay around £10 per month - which works out well if you have a few regular items each month i.e. asthma inhaler, prescription food, eczema cream etc.

How does medicare work in Oz? Would you recommend it?

[1stgls]

This sounds exactly the same as the "fund holding" system that failed a few years ago -- that was also meant to allow GPs buy in services relevant to their community and access hospitals/clinics which were better suited to a patients particular needs and also which had shorter waiting lists for differing complaints. I do not think any system will fit everyone and--- in my opinion-- we do need to stop paying inept drs who cause expensive harm.