Reforming the consultant contract again?: Acute trusts should prioritise care of urgently ill patients

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7478.1343-c

BMJ 2004;329:1343 (4 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7478.1343-c

Letter

Reforming the consultant contract again?

Acute trusts should prioritise care of urgently ill patients

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—It is a paradox that, if NHS consultants eradicatewaiting lists, they might experience less success in the privatesector.¹ The new contract will not eradicate private practice,and often NHS acute trusts cannot provide bespoke care but crisismanagement. Patients pay extra for fast, client oriented carewith a consultant of their choice.

One major cause of this situation is the need to reduce waitinglists while catering for acutely ill patients who are not onwaiting lists and commonly have no choice about treatment. Urgentand elective patients are trying to access the same health resourcesin acute trusts, and with the current emphasis this may disadvantageurgent cases waiting for treatment.

Acute trusts should make their primary mission the care of urgentlyill patients, and financial flows should reflect this mission.Elective work should be done through elective units. Trainingopportunities may be best in . . . [Full text of this article]

Adam P Fitzpatrick, consultant cardiologist

Manchester Heart Centre, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester M13 9WL adam.fitzpatrick@cmmc.nhs.uk