Proud of the NHS at 60
Posted by Ruth Kelly, MP for Bolton West, at 09:45, Mon 23 June 2008:
As the NHS celebrates its 60th birthday, patients tell me that access to GP services is the main health issue affecting them.
People in Bolton West say they want health care that is more personalised and convenient. They want to see doctors’ surgeries opening at evenings and weekends.
The introduction of GP led Health centres are not intended to replace existing GPs but to complement and enhance existing services.
This means:
- More GPs, nurses and other healthcare Professionals
- More appointments longer
- More convenient opening hours.
All these GP led Health centres will be open from 8am-8pm, 7 days a week. These centres will provide a minimum of an additional 2.6 million extra appointments a year across the country.
There is nothing stopping anyone in Bolton West from walking into one of the new GP led health centres to see a GP or nurse and they can do this whilst still being registered with their own GP.
They can also choose to register with the health centre if they wish to do so and will receive the same high quality services they would receive at any GP practice.
Another central issue affecting the NHS is preventative health care. I am delighted that Bolton Primary Care Trust is taking the lead in this area through The Big Bolton Health Check.
This initiative involves testing those over 45 to assess the risk of the person from developing heart disease. The scheme is coming to GP surgeries, shops, pubs and supermarkets. There is no other service like this in the country.
I was pleased to offer my support to help to publicise this initiative on Friday 20th June when I had my health care along with other residents of Bolton. The BIG Bolton Health Check is an excellent strategy and I am sure that the health checks being offered will encourage local residents to take positive action.
To find out further information, go to www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/specialreports/big_bolton_health_check/
Comments
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Posted by Eric Hewis, 10:18, Mon 23 June 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
No mention of NHS dentistry, a major bone of contention.
Posted by Greg Oxnard, 18:43, Mon 23 June 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
My view is that this is simply privatisation by the back door. Doctors have been given an excessively high pay rise. I think they should work for their money and provide more surgery hours for patients. These new "poly" clinics will result in a loss of the traditional doctor-patient relationship. This isn't simply an old-fashioned outdated tradition. Doctors who know their patients have much more chance of spotting problems than those who haven't ever seen them before. They will have no time to read up on notes and will either neglect the patient's history, or make a cursory scan of the history hoping not to miss something vital. - Greg Oxnard, Westhoughton.