I’m not sure if this is what Rachel Joyce had in mind when she talked about localising the NHS on ConservativeHome today.
Radical proposals for East Anglia could see up to
40% of outpatient hospital consultants visiting patients at home. And hospitals can share staff too.
This was announced by Neil McKay, who only four weeks ago took over as chief executive of the new East of England Strategic Health Authority, where local health trusts are desperately trying to claw back millions to make their books balance.
I wonder if there has been any consultation with consultants about this, how can it be cost effective for a consultant to travel around a rural region like East Anglia making home visits?
In theory, it sounds great to have your consultant call at your home, but nobody is going to believe that it is being done for the benefit of the patients.
Neil McKay sounds like a hatchet man to me. He is quoted as saying that balancing the books was the top priority, how hospitals have got to get rid of their debts. I thought the NHS’s priority was to provide a reliable health service, that the health needs of the public were paramount.
Seems like an election stunt to me but I could be wrong.
So they are now trying to get consultants to do the job that the old district nurses used to do before their numbers were reduced due to MHS cut backs.
It just sounds too good to be true to me, and this in a country where you can’t normally get a housecall for love nor money! I agree it must be an election or cost-cutting ploy.
If it’s as good as it wants us to believe, there will be a big rush of people wanting to move to East Anglia. Only I hope it attracts a few healthy souls too.
Ideas always seem to be ‘floated’ to see what the public’s reaction to it will be.
I suppose the sharing staff aspect is important because hospitals won’t be able to afford their own.
My guess is it will break up the power of consultants. They will be forced to work with Nurse practicioners and quietly there will be less and less of them.
As the son of a GP I spent many hours waiting in the car as my mother did house calls at the end of surgeries. You can get a GP out for love or money these days.
Who believes you’ll have a consultant travelling from house to house ?( There by spending most of their days on the road not seeing pateints instead )
Speaking for myself. Our hosptial system is run down.. too much “balancing of books”.
i would gladly pay more tax for better health, better roads and better public transport…
Hi Ellee, you are right, in theory it sounds great to have consultant call at our home. But as you rightly said if the motive is not for the benefit of the patients, but for cost cutting amd balancing of books, then it will not work out I guss…..
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