Waiting times and the patient's charter

BMJ 1994;309:343 (30 July)

Letters

Waiting times and the patient's charter

EDITOR, - A M Ansons and colleagues say that they "have alreadyhad to accede to the divisive requirements of a two tier systemengendered by fundholding and non-fundholding practices, whichis inevitable (and undeniable)."¹ Guidance from the Departmentof Health and the Joint Consultants Committee issued in 1991stated that "hospitals should not offer contracts to one GPor health authority which would disadvantage the patients ofanother."² The NHS Executive has not been honest enough to retractthis publicly and connives and encourages preferential treatmentfor, in particular, patients of fundholding general practitioners.

It is up to doctors to stick to the principle of treating accordingto clinical need so that money available to the health serviceis used for maximum health gain. Once we give in to politiciansand managers for short term gains the public will, rightly,lose faith in us.

C J Burns-Cox

Directorate of Medical Services, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE.