Thanks for this Stuart -

I think it important to make the point that GPs are not employees within
the NHS

Whilst it is good to hear that funding was available it remains the
prerogative for any self employed person to decline work especially if
struglging with the ability to deliver what is generally expected of a
GP under the current contract

I could have predicted that you would get a piece meal varying price
response - some practices just don't want the extra hassle and work
involved - OTOH some will be better organised ,better resourced and
have an eye for a good business opportunity etc...

The idea of regional vaccination centres sounds a good one to me -
however there are other models that might maintain a better balance of
efficency and convenience and allow those practices that wish to avoid
this work the opportunity to not be involved and those that do to
organise to make a profit from it

There are circa 450 PCTs in the country who now perform many of the
functions of the now defunct Health Authorities - Each PCT will have a
number of GP practices within its catchment ( range 20 to 100 - average
30 )  - Within each PCT I would estimate there would be at least 5
Practices well organised and able to arrange to accommodate new
*profitable* work

In Bristol there are 5 PCTs

I have no knowledge of how the Police are organised managerially
nationally/regionally but I suspect that it would be sensible for each
PCT to develop stong links with equivalent Police type organisations and
vice versa.

There are a smaller number of Strategic Health Authorities also now who
if approached could liaise with there equivalent Local Medical
Committees (GPs local trade Union) to identify practices within each
Major town who could organise to take on the work.

As you say there is also the local Trust hospitals/ NHS Plus

I am an approved NHS Plus occupational Health Provider ( although they
are not yet listing GP practices on the site which would have been
useful to you I guess)

I know of 3 other local practices so approved

I/we would be happy to provide a quote for doing Bristol and whatever
you condsider a convenient radius around it

Let me know

Mark



-----Original Message-----
From: Occupational Health mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stuart Cooper
Sent: 03 July 2002 01:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Hep B Vaccination


Thanks Mark and to you all for your comments.

For interest .......

We are paying whatever the GP is asking for Hep B inoculation so funding
is not an issue.

The reason that we are not doing it ourselves is that we are a national
police force, not just county based.  Our officers are therefore located
throughout the UK in numerous locations, some remote.

GPs therefore are the most convenient and appropriate source of
inoculation for many of these people.  Having said that we are going to
need to look at it again now and probably move to regional vaccination
centres (which will mean significant travel for the people concerned) or
funding it via local NHS Trusts/NHS Plus.

I do as I am sure all of us appreciate your comments with regard to GP
workload Mark.  The same could be said though for many NHS health
practitioners operating today, not just GPs.

Best wishes,

Stu.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark O'Connor" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2002 11:01 PM
Subject: Re: Hep B Vaccination


> There has been no guidance on Hep B
>
> There is a national shortage of GPs
>
> Many lists are closed
>
> Many practices within the UK are unable to replace GP that have
> retired, leaving the same work amongst fewer
>
> There were a total of 18 new GPs in 2002 for the *UK* ( Government
> target of 4000 by 2004 looking farcical)
>
> Recent GP suicide  where overwork contributed according to Coroner
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_2065000/2065436.stm
>
> It is as hard to find Nurse Practitioners and Practice nurses and to
> keep them
>
> The workload of seeing people who are ill or believe themselves to be
> ill is rising as is the requirements to see them ever more sooner
> whether clinically appropriate or not
>
> Secondary work to this core activity unless adequately remunerated is
> likely to be declined or not looked upon with the excitement non-GPs
> seem to think we should look at it
>
> So you are either not paying the true market rate for the work or
> perhaps you are the straws on the camels' back
>
> The Police force should have this project properly funded and it
> should be coordinated nationally with all resources and medcial
> manpower organised by the Police Force OH department
>
>
>
> Mark
>
> GP - approaching retirement aged 40
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Occupational Health mailing list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stuart Cooper
> Sent: 02 July 2002 14:43
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Hep B Vaccination
>
>
>
> Hi All,
>
> I am currently doing a locum for one of the Police Forces and are
> undertaking a forcewide Hep B programme.
>
> We have come up against some resistence from GPs to administer Hep B.
> This is not just to administer Hep B for free, since we are happy to
> pay, but to administer it at all.
>
> Does anyone know of any recent guidance to GPs or change in practice?
>
> Thanks in advance.  I hope that you are all well.
>
> With my very best wishes,
>
> Stu.