Sunday, January 22, 2012

Health and Social Care Bill Must Be Rejected

Red Lines for House of Lords

All UK citizens should fear the future of the NHS and their own healthcare unless the Health and Social Care Bill is thrown out, even at this late hour.

The link offers a legal framework for the challenge.  Everyone is encouraged to make their  loca Peer aware of the concerns.

All UK doctors are urged to contact their College to make their concerns known too.

The following is from http://callonyourcollege.blogspot.com/

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2012

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Urgent - Lobby Your College

This website has been set up to allow doctors to lobby their Medical Royal Colleges about the Health and Social Care Bill currently in the House of Lords.
In only a few weeks time this Health Bill could become law. Your input is urgently needed.

The Bill 
   - poses an enormous risk to the future of a viable equitable NHS. 
   - allows the elected Secretary of State to abdicate his or her ultimate responsibility for the NHS. 
   - allows local hospitals to use up to 49% of their beds for private patients meaning NHS patients will wait longer for their care.
   - will tranform a cost effective public service into a healthcare market.
   - has no democratic mandate. We were promised 'no top down re-organisation of the NHS' prior to the election yet we now see this enormously damaging NHS upheaval before us which is already proving a huge distraction to all NHS workers.

Continuing with the implementation of the Bill carries far more risk than stopping it now and withdrawing it.

The Bill is now opposed by the British Medical Association, the NHS Consultants Association, theRoyal College of Nursing,  Royal College of MidwivesUnison and Unite.

The Bill has now received a damning report from the Health Select Committee

We now ask for the help of all doctors who are members of a Royal College to lobby your own College about the Health Bill, advise them that you are opposed to the Health Bill and ask them to speak out on your behalf.

We ask you to cut and paste the template email below and then click on the link for your own College which should allow you to send the email easily. Of course feel free to design your own email.

It would be helpful to know how many of you have contacted your College so please add your name to the 'comment' section below (or initials if you prefer to remain anonymous).
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Dear College President,

I am writing to you as a member of our College. I have major concerns over the Health Bill currently in the House of Lords and ask that you speak out and oppose this damaging policy. 

The Bill lacks a democratic mandate and carries enormous threats to the structure and function of the NHS.  It threatens quality, training and standards, all of which fall within the remit of our College. The risks of continuing with this legislation are now felt to be greater than the risks of stopping it.

Our medical leaders need to lobby against the legislation. Please join the BMA, RCN and RCM in publicly opposing the Bill and calling for its withdrawal.

Yours sincerely,

---------------------------------

List of Royal Colleges and their email addresses you can click after you have copied and pasted


Royal College of Physicians         infocentre@rcplondon.ac.uk
Royal College of Surgeons           president@rcseng.ac.uk
Royal College of GPs                  president@rcgp.org.uk
Royal College of Radiologists       president@rcr.ac.uk
Royal College of O&G                 president@rcog.org.uk
Royal College of Psychiatrists     reception@rcpsych.ac.uk
Royal College of Paediatrics        president@rcpch.ac.uk
Royal College of Pathologists      president@rcpath.org
Royal College of Anaesthetists    president@rcoa.ac.uk 
Faculty of Public Health              president@fph.org.uk
College of Emergency Medicine  mc.prescem@gmail.com  - Mr Mike Clancy

Chair of Academy of Medical Royal Colleges - Professor Sir Neil Douglas
                                                neil.douglas@aomrc.org.uk 

 

Saturday, January 7, 2012

New Preventive Services, Screening Recommendations Dominate Patient Care -- AAFP News Now -- American Academy of Family Physicians

New Preventive Services, Screening Recommendations Dominate Patient Care -- AAFP News Now -- American Academy of Family Physicians

Useful summary for those of use who work outside USA to get a feel for the direction of preventive primary health care services.

A Tale of Coronary Artery Disease and Myocardial Infarction — NEJM

A Tale of Coronary Artery Disease and Myocardial Infarction — NEJM

A marvellous essay on history of heart disease.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Happy New Year

With the New Year has come wind and rain in UK to blow away the holiday cobwebs. It is nearly 4 years since my memorable terrible hospital experience. Now focussed on General Practice it is clear that many people are struggling in the current climate. Money is tight, relationships are under strain. Meanwhile, the NHS reforms continue to bite although not formally implemented. Let us hope that the coming year brings pleasant surprises.