tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011346881005913563.post4951829984223120380..comments2023-10-28T07:21:11.555+00:00Comments on Dr Rays focal spot: "The days of the DGH are numbered"Dr Xavier Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09068308374633857210noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011346881005913563.post-20051162562077380442007-10-25T20:37:00.000+00:002007-10-25T20:37:00.000+00:00Hallo Anonymous,I think we probably know each othe...Hallo Anonymous,<BR/>I think we probably know each other because I knew Ara as an SR too.<BR/>I don't think the closure of the DGHs is being planned so much to restrict access but to allow the work to be done by less regulated and lower paid staff. This would have the same effect on healthcare as in other labour intensive industries such as catering and construction. This can't be done within the NHS because of the safeguards that have evolved but could be done by private operators if the licensing bodies such as the GMC allow it, which they seem happy to do. <BR/>Once health care is provided by private companies the notion of "free at the point of use" will erode as it has with dentistry and education. The companies will gradually seek payments for enhanced services such as reduced waits, better facilities and qualified doctors while the basic NHS service will gradually become a safety net for the very poorDr Xavier Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09068308374633857210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011346881005913563.post-75942429146638031082007-10-23T21:49:00.000+00:002007-10-23T21:49:00.000+00:002 observations1)if healthcare is perceived as free...2 observations<BR/><BR/>1)<BR/>if healthcare is perceived as free by the populace - as it is - then demand will tend towrds infinity. necessarily supply is limited so there *has* to be rationing. we used to do that by the device known as waiting lists. we can't have those now, so we covertly limit supply by a variety of duplicitous tricks including closing DGHs and limiting cash for the frontline.<BR/><BR/>2)<BR/>private companies are *in it for the money*. this is not inherently evil, it's just business. however, if you are in it for the money you will certainly limit availabiltiy of the service that makes you money - namely healthcare - and maximize revenue buy squeezing costs. i am stunned that anyone (other than a politician with his/her nose in the pork barrel) can really believe that this way lies better 'value for money' in terms of health tax spend<BR/><BR/>ps: i had that Ara Darzi in the back of my operating theatre once - he was a nice guy as an SR (if anyone remembers those!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011346881005913563.post-3112303371523263702007-10-23T19:08:00.000+00:002007-10-23T19:08:00.000+00:00great post, Phil Hammond's piece is also very to t...great post, Phil Hammond's piece is also very to the point, the mainstream media should be picking up on thisGarth Marenghihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07373175498875348430noreply@blogger.com