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I am grateful to Mr Portillo for his clear arguments about N.H.S. funding. As doctors we are in the strange position for any industry of being able to generate a huge demand for our product. This arises because we are currently dealing with a general population who are scared and anxious about their health. People are being encouraged to report all their symptoms as quickly as possible to a doctor and to fear the worst. How many children with self limiting viral illnesses are brought to our surgeries because of fear of meningitis?
We are also dealing with a scared and anxious medical profession whose members are all consciously or unconsciously practising from a defensive posture. We are all scared to miss things. We are always going to give way to the request for an extra X-ray. After all we rationalize it might show something unexpected. Our real fear is of complaints and the lawyers.
So long as the meeting place between doctor and patient is dominated by an unstated fear the N.H.S.will be unable to reduce the neurosis driven demands of the public and the neurosis driven response of the doctors.
In a private industry with payment per item of service this demand would generate extra profits for the company. In a cash limited service extra demand will generate strain on the resources and result in anguish and disappointment for doctors and patients alike. This friction between demand and resources is reaching a head and without either demand reduction or extra funding I see only disappointment and stress for patients, doctors, managers and the politicians.
the most sensible thing i have heard from Mr Portillo in years
I am grateful to Mr Portillo for his clear arguments about N.H.S. funding. As doctors we are in the strange position for any industry of being able to generate a huge demand for our product. This arises because we are currently dealing with a general population who are scared and anxious about their health. People are being encouraged to report all their symptoms as quickly as possible to a doctor and to fear the worst. How many children with self limiting viral illnesses are brought to our surgeries because of fear of meningitis?
We are also dealing with a scared and anxious medical profession whose members are all consciously or unconsciously practising from a defensive posture. We are all scared to miss things. We are always going to give way to the request for an extra X-ray. After all we rationalize it might show something unexpected. Our real fear is of complaints and the lawyers.
So long as the meeting place between doctor and patient is dominated by an unstated fear the N.H.S.will be unable to reduce the neurosis driven demands of the public and the neurosis driven response of the doctors.
In a private industry with payment per item of service this demand would generate extra profits for the company. In a cash limited service extra demand will generate strain on the resources and result in anguish and disappointment for doctors and patients alike. This friction between demand and resources is reaching a head and without either demand reduction or extra funding I see only disappointment and stress for patients, doctors, managers and the politicians.
Competing interests: No competing interests