Sorry????  you would rather "hope" that GPs are *not coping and need
more support* than hoping it is just education they need??? Seems rather
uncharitable...

Anyhow...

The business model of general practice was chosen in 1948 - it will be
changing soon I expect - however until then Pleeeese understand the
basis on which we are remunerated - Most are still businesses - we
employ people - we are contracted to provide a range of services - we
receive income streams related to this work into the "Practice" - we
have expenses like salaries and office consumables and computers and
maintenance and rates and mortgages on the building and .... - some
income streams are from non NHS work and some are from reimbursements
and grants and a medley of other sources

Our accountant takes expenses from the income - gives some to the
exchequer and the profit is divided between the partners

Now it just so happens that the government does not wish *any element*
of the money it has agreed to provide for contracting *medical services*
to include reports for Access to medical report act,Access to medical
Records Act,  Data protection Act, HGV medicals, insurance reports,
adoption reports, Power of Attorney statements, holiday cancellation
reports, passport signatures, driving licence signatures and many many
others

The government has written down in our contracts that it does wish for
some forms and reports to be provided within that money envelope like
MED3,4,5 forms, seat belt exemption certificates, notifiable diseases,
and a few others - these are therefore part of the "terms of service"

Most vendors require payment when parting with goods - it makes good
business sense especially when many other "less publicaly trusted
professions" are tardy with payments

As for not being interested in patients well being then the public do
not agree with you  - there is no other profession who is more trusted
to tell the truth and it is simple hard work day in and day out by
general practitioners with members of the public that has earned that
high degree of trust - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/663449.stm  -

Trying to escape paying a professional fee by appealing to some moral
higher cause of "patient care" won't wash

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Occupational Health mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Adrian & Lucy
Sent: 09 October 2002 18:11
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: GP's & OH services


One particular practice I work with in Leicester is positively hostile
to OH correspondence.  They actually prepare reports, but then refuse to
send them unless we pre-pay.  And this is a practice where one of the
partners is a close friend of an Occupational Physician who works with
us.  They do not seem the least interested in their patients' well-being
at work.

Sadly, there seems to be a dramatic amount of education missing from
these so-called professionals, or they are not coping with the pressures
of the job and need more support.

I hope it's the latter.

Lucy Kenyon
M.Med.Sci.  R.G.N.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kate Venables"
<[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 5:48 PM
Subject: GP communications and payment


> Personally, I am rather bothered about a GP charging for a
doctor-to-doctor letter to an occupational physician where the intention
is to assist in the diagnosis of occupational disease, aid decisions on
fitness for work, or facilitate adjustments in the workplace.  This is
not "private work".  Surely, this arises directly out of the NHS
responsibilities?  And the GP benefits from the exchange in receiving
feedback about occupational aspects of his/her patient's ill-health.
>
> Kate