I'm a GP. And I'm a GP...

[jcrbex]

Worth watching, if only to clarify what we actually do every day at work. There probably is a workable model for private primary care provision, but the Sainsbury's model certainly isn't it. The glitch?...that general practice doesn't work by episode. Patients' problems, and therefore their diagnosis and management, are often longterm and best suited to longer term contacts over years rather than swift 10 minute prescription handovers. The family GP is here to stay one way or another.

[samsonpug]

Well done-a nicely made video. The vast majority of patients that I know are desperate to maintain the existing service. It is for this reason that we should try and protect it. The policians have their own agenda-as do the media.

Jaffa cake--I found your comments very amusing; well done.

[3A5B7C9]

It IS about GP popularity - don't you see?

The NHS is just a version of a badly run company.

[3A5B7C9]

No comments for months. I'm not surprised. Is anyone bothered? GPs are not popular people perhaps.....not even with hospital colleagues?

[drbmills]

No not much in the way of comments but the viewings keep happening, drip drip. It's not actually about GP popularity, it's about whether you want your future GP services run by huge companies whose ultimate loyalty is to the 'bottom line'/shareholder. If that doesn't bother you then so be it. Maybe watch it again.

[3A5B7C9]

And GPs are the ones most bothered about proposed changes! must be something to do with the huge amounts they are currently earning from the NHS.

[BlindLemonJaffaCake]

GP's totally suck. I'vd never met a single GP that hasn't mis-diagnosed me at some stage. Arrogant, rude, tossers (of both sexes) who spend more time guessing wrong, than guessing right. I don't trust any of them.

[peterjohnston9883]

Excellent job in getting hte salient points across; if only the BMA were half as good...

[magsie40]

Well done. Gets the points across very nicely. Let's hope this gets the coverage it needs

[3A5B7C9]

I was surprised when talking to my own family, the younger generation, living in London, that they are not particular about seeing the same GP or having a GP who is familiar, saying they have never known any differently. They seem satisfied as long as the doctor deals with the problem properly and provides the appropriate treatment, a good bedside manner is always a bonus! Fortunately for those who don't use the service often they don't see any problems with the way things are developing.

[3A5B7C9]

Comments so far are mainly from doctors, where are comments from the public? It seems biased and from GPs' viewpoint. Good doctors will always work conscientiously and for their patients.

[drbmills]

It would be great to have more comments from the public/non GPs. My aim of doing this was to raise some awareness (obviously biased by my views that health care shouldn't be a place for profit) that the UK is sleep walking towards widespread private health care provision, much as we did with dental care.

more comments and thoughts please...

[3A5B7C9]

Only 500 characters allowed per comment!

Here's second half:

Some members of the public already feel that the GP service is abused and if patients had to pay they would think twice about troubling their GP to have fleabites looked at.

[jonesmd41248]

GPs would do extremely well by working for a PLC as they would get the usual package of professional perks including nice car, mobile phone private healthcare and professional insurance. Plus a standard 37.5 hour week, loads of money for overtime, and they wouldn't have to worry about paying for and running their practices sorting out locums when they are sick etc. I am impressed at the commitment of most family doctors working as they do despite biased critiscm from politicians and press.

[drbmills]

I think in the short term GP's would do "well". Until the 'PLC's' got their feet well and truely under the table then they would 'cut costs' to improve profits, with all that thay entails.

For most young people, with unconnected/single episode health needs it's ok to see any GP but most health care involves chronic disease management in those post retirement age. That's where knowing your GP and vice versa counts.

[jonesmd41248]

I agree. I notice that one of the companies running the out of hours services in some areas has rather a lot of ex IT specialists managing it. So perhaps we can expect that patients will be treated subject to the companies Service Level agreement with the PCT. And we all know what happened with the hospital cleaning service when it was privatised.

[3A5B7C9]

Can you explain what a PLC GP would be? It's not clear to many. A good doctor is a good doctor and that's what patients want. Profits would go to those who work in the service surely? to doctors? who's going to provide the profits? paying patients? if so, they would want to know where profits go!

[drbmills]

A good doctor is, amongst other things, one who is free of profit driven targets. Big business tenders for the job of providing health care, get a lump sum for doing it and then squeeze the margins like mad. The GP gets a salary and the shareholders get the profits. They will also without doubt insist that docs offer/push non NHS services offered by the same company. People who are ill/worried are incredibly vunerable to 'it might just help' expensive tests.

[3A5B7C9]

That's a judgement on the intelligence of patients.....some are more intelligent than many doctors give them credit for; and don't forget... professionals themselves are also patients.

[drbmills]

most patients make excellent choices in my opinion but they have come to me as a doctor to discuss them. Someone comes to me with headaches and wonders if they need a CT scan (they've seen the adverts). If I had a target of so many private brain scans to meet every month (in order to keep my job) then how balanced would my advice be... It's not a problem about patients making bad decisions it's about doctors making them due to pressure to meet financial goals.

[3A5B7C9]

What puzzles me somewhat is this: if it's such a big issue with the profession (GPs) who obviously will know more detail than the public, why hasn't the profession as a whole coordinated a strong and coherent protest to this government?! if things are surreptiously being changed within General Practice without public awareness why hasn't the media broadcast this?

[xalanfx]

Brilliant!

[taliskerman]

Spot on. Wish we had a TV in our waiting room to educate the electorate.

[paddymosse]

Well Done Guys. Sums it up nicely.

Paddy

GP REG

[c86001]

this is great. Would it be possible to have it in DVD formatt to place in surgeries, so that we can show patients.

[7789902]

Privitization is inevitable as long as

certified gov't bribe-artists are around (lobbyist). In Canada our ex-Prime Minister was found with $300k stashed away in his safe (out of the prying hands of banks and people). That prime minister was Mulroney. Money makes politicians happy and rich...and trust me, it's a matter of time before gov't start tweaking your laws with lame excuses.

[7789902]

Our ex-PM, when confronted about secret bank accounts in the USA, always maintained he never had a bank account ther. 8 yrs later after damning evidence from other sources he was always honest with us - it turns out he had a SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX - ooooohhhh!!!...well, shit, he was telling the truth about no bank account because a deposit box ain't an account. We are so stupid. That dude was being honest the entire time...sorry, Brian Mulroney for questioning your integrity. You are an honest man.

[7789902]

An american politician was also found with loads of cash in his freezer. Another dude bought a house under $300k the market value....that dude's name is Obama. See, the polticians best friend is a LOBBYIST...as long as they are legal democracy is for sale. I WILL NEVER VOTE IN ANOTHER ELECTION AGAIN. IT'S PARTICIPATION IN A SHAM.

[zaktowerhamlets]

Hi Drbmills

Welldone!

This will certainly help to make public awareness against privatisation of the NHS.

Keep it up !

Zak

[funkyGP]

this is fantastic - should be made into a TV commercial to educate the British public and counteract the spin the government has poisoned them with.

dr adam harrison, GP UK.

[drbmills]

well, if you know anyone in the TV business... or Mr Moore's address...

[funkyGP]

if only... think Michael Moore has his hands full with the US's health woes though! and the British public think they've got it bad (thanks to HMG's evil ways)...

[amdsweb]

Excellent!

[b4d4bing]

amen!!!!!!!!!!