Hello All,
As both the Labour and Tory parties are now championing the idea of
foundation hospitals, I was wondering if anyone knows of any research that
draws on the experience in Spain of foundation hospitals? For example, is
there any evidence to support the claim by former health minister Frank
Dobson and many other commentators, that their introduction in the UK might
lead to staff being poached by hospitals offering better salaries / working
conditions - leading to a two-tier NHS?
Secondly, does anyone know of any published materials (ideally in English or
French) that set out the legal structure / responsibilities / powers of
Spanish foundation hospitals?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated - thanks in advance.
All the best,
Ben
Benedict Irvine - Project Manager, Civitas Health Unit
Civitas: The Institute for the Study of Civil Society
The Mezzanine, Elizabeth House
39 York Road
London, SE1 7NQ
Tel: 020 7401 5472
Fax: 020 7401 5471
Mob: 07879 408084
email: [log in to unmask]
Website: www.civitas.org.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mcdaid,D" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 12:10 PM
Subject: Liam Fox outlines Conservative plans for the NHS in the UK.
> Dear Colleagues
>
> As promised i have attached information on Dr Liam Fox's speech to the
Conservative Party (The principle Opposition party in the UK) Conference
yesterday, outlining his views of the direction of the NHS in the UK. The
speech concentrated on promoting patient choice and on diversity in funding
arrangements., drawing on experience from Spain of Foundation Hospitals,
which have a high degree of independence in management, organisation etc.
Additional user charges for health care services were ruled out, with one
notable exception - introduction of charges for those who abuse the system
ie failing to turn up for appointments
>
> Best wishes
>
> David McDaid
> LSE Health and Social Care
>
> Press release below
>
> Access to full text of speech at
>
>
http://www.conservatives.com/conference/2002news.cfm?obj_id=40954&class_id=S
peeches
>
>
> Conservative party web site short press release below
>
> Conservatives have pledged to reform the NHS to make it work better, while
remaining true to the values and ideals of the NHS. Addressing Conference
representatives in Bournemouth, Dr Liam Fox, Shadow Health Secretary,
outlined how Conservatives will stimulate greater diversity and choice in
the funding of healthcare and decentralise the NHS to put patient choice at
its heart. He declared, "I want to see that choice extended to as many
people as possible - inside and outside the NHS."
>
>
> Dr Fox laid out a series of new policy statements. New 'Foundation
Hospitals' would be given the freedoms similar to those enjoyed by their
equivalents in Spain. Measures would also be introduced to recognise the
contribution by people who lighten the NHS' burden.
>
>
> Dr Fox explained, "Labour believe that it is morally unacceptable to allow
people to buy better care for themselves or their families using private
income. But what is really morally unacceptable is that people should be
forced to use their own savings to escape from a system they have
contributed to all their working lives. Yet that is what is increasingly
happening in this country."
>
>
> He also promised that Conservatives would address the issue of
irresponsible patients who miss their appointments without cancelling.
"Those who use emergency services in an inappropriate way and without
thought to others may deny vital treatment where it is needed. Likewise
those who treat the ambulance service as a taxi service need to understand
the possible clinical consequences. Even more widespread is the failure to
turn up to appointments with all the inconvenience it brings for staff and
other patients. We intend to introduce charges for those who abuse the
system we all depend upon and we are studying practical ways to do this.
Health care should be free at the point of use, not free at the point of
abuse", Dr Fox concluded.
|