Tories promise 6000 extra GPs by 2024
BMJ 2019; 367 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l6463 (Published 12 November 2019) Cite this as: BMJ 2019;367:l6463
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Dear Editor
May I draw the attention of the readers to BBC NEWS Leeds and West Yorkshire. A four year old boy in Leeds General Infirmary on 3 Dec, lying on a pile of coats and breathing through an oxygen mask?
Before political parties start pointing fingers at opponents, may I remind readers:
1. The lack of staffed beds is due to the abject failure of successive governments to assume that patients cannot be looked after at home - without GPs, without nurses and other clinical staff.
2. In this particular case, if the BBC is telling the truth, the behaviour of a certain MINISTER leaves me in no doubt how heartless he is.
Can his subordinates be trusted to tell him the sad truths?
Competing interests: No competing interests
It is important for UK patients to clarify if those 6,000 new GPs will actually be nurses frenetically trained to become "physician assistants" and assigned GP tasks.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Firstly, more money.
What matters is WHERE the money goes.
Does it go on more GP hours on face to face consultations with patients?
And I mean on GP hours. Not on cheap substitutes, reminiscent of Chairman Mao’s barefoot doctors and India’s planned use of quacks by giving them six months if training and registering them.
I remember the millions spent by Mr Blair - and he cut the GPs’ weekend duties.
As for the Conservatives and the Lib Dems. They have had the opportunity to do something useful since the departure of Mr Brown.
They did not improve patients’ experience of the NHS.
PLAGUE ON ALL THEIR HOUSES.
Competing interests: A patient
Re: Tories promise 6000 extra GPs by 2024
Dear Editor
Promises, promises.
2024 is a long way away. My horizon does not extend that far.
But did you know, HER MAJESTY’s Govt has added a QUADRIAGE to the traditional triage?
Delay access to the patients knocking at the GP surgery’s door. Some will die waiting to get an appointment to see the GP. Good news, Mr Johnson? Less work for the NHS?
Yes. But many more patients will become worse and then your health and social care minister will have more burden on his hands.
All morning I tried to ring the surgery to seek a telephone appointment with a GP.
Gave up in despair.
Somehow I must hobble to a bus stop, go to the surgery, to seek a telephone appointment.
Makes sense to you, Mr Prime Minister? A happy new year to all.
Yours in despair
JK Anand
Competing interests: Patient, in the twilight of life. Not visible, not audible, even? ( to the NHS)