Even not being a doctor I can see that they are being unreasonable. Surely the test should be if the injection is intended to treat a condition in the muscle, or if the muscle is just being used as a route into the body.
One of the features of cash limiting the funds is that any practice that gets clever is just robbing their colleagues.
John
-----Original Message-----
From: GP-UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of North Mike (F81717) Maylandsea Medical Cent CM3 6AH
Sent: 04 May 2004 10:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: IM injections £40 a time
We (the PEC) are trying to draw up some detail around some of the directed
enhanced services so that practices only claim for reasonable things and
don't abuse the system. One practice has indicated that every time they
give, for example an IM injection of stemetil or diclofenac, they will be
eligible for the Minor Surgery fee of £40 under the 'injections (muscles,
tendons and joints)' clause.
I'm sure that this is not what was envisaged when the document was drawn up
(nor that we will be injecting tendons rather than tendon sheaths). Are we
within our rights as a PCT to specify that these sorts of things are
excluded? If so, what should we include as an acceptable IM injection?
Mike
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