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Fines for GPs: Access must be improved
THE NHS has received billions of pounds in extra funding in the last decade and yesterday new data revealed further improvements in the health of the nation.
Early deaths from heart disease, stroke and cancer are continuing to fall although huge differences remain between prosperous and disadvantaged areas.
Of course it does not follow that the additional cash has made the key difference but it seems likely that the extra resources available to doctors and nurses, significantly improved access to care and advances in treatments are having a major impact.
Clearly, more needs to be done – although how upcoming spending cuts will affect this remains to be seen – and yesterday Ministers announced new measures to improve access to family doctors, including fining GPs thousands of pounds if too many patients complain about waiting times for appointments. Unsurprisingly doctors have reacted angrily to the penalties, arguing they should not be judged on the basis of an official survey of patients which they claim is severely flawed.
Yet they cannot have it both ways. They yesterday welcomed the survey which found on average nine out of 10 patients were happy with their surgery's care but they can hardly complain if other findings reveal too many people still cannot get an appointment within 48 hours.
Evidence from the 2004 GP contract suggests family doctors react with remarkable speed to improve care if they are given financial bonuses. It is not unreasonable for Ministers to assume they will move with similar alacrity to the prospect of losing money. Taxpayers are forking out huge amounts for the NHS. They are entitled to demand high-quality, easily-accessible care – and get it.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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