Patient Participation Group (PPG) blog
Please see a recent post made by our PPG regarding GP Collective Action.
Duddon Valley PPG: GP Collective Action
You may, or may not have heard that GPs in our area are embarking on a ‘collective action’ in the New Year. Below is a copy of the official letter sent out by the group of practices involved in our local Primary Care Network.
The action will involve some routine services being referred elsewhere, instead of being done at your local GP practice. (The practice staff have information on how your needs will be met.)This action is being taken because, whilst the tests/ procedures etcetera will be paid for by the NHS if they are done in say a hospital; if the GP does the test, the practice will NOT BE PAID for these procedures by the NHS. This is plainly unfair (and has been going on for a considerable length of time), and considering the increasing pressures put on to GP practices (both professionally and financially), should not be allowed to continue.
This DOES NOT AFFECT you receiving any tests which your GP considers clinically necessary when you present as a patient with signs or symptoms that need investigation. These will be carried out as normal, in practice (if appropriate), as required.
As a Patient Participation Group, our remit is to ensure that good communication exists between the practice and its patients. However, there has to be a GP practice extant for that to take place, and it is a fact of life that some GP practices around the country, have been forced to close because the current GP NHS funding is increasingly inadequate to maintain services as required by the GP NHS contract. The proposed rise in National Insurance contributions paid by employers is just another financial burden that will exacerbate their current problems.
Fortunately DVMP is managing at the moment, but it is incumbent upon us to support the practice – we need our GP practices – I’m sure none of us would argue with that! So please be as supportive and understanding as you can.