>>
>> There are 2 issues:
>> 1. If you are willing to pay for a system 'outside' the tent, if I
>> were
>> the vendor of that system, I would make sure you *really* paid. Puts
>> you,
>> the consumer, at a disadvantage. Simple business and commerce. i
>> don't
>> expect said vendor will say: 2OK, you're really nice people who have
>> chosen to pay for my product, therefore, I will give it to you for
>> next to
>> nothing".
>>
>> 2. Your second point is more crucial. The national spine has become
>> an
>> imperative. If achieving it means breaking some eggs, this
>> government,
>> and its Mr Granger will not hesitate for one minute. Think miners vs
>> Thatcher.
>>
>> As we know, most GPs will choose cash self-interest when it comes to
>> it.
>>
>> AR
>
> I think there is an important difference between us & the miners, Mrs
> Thatcher could afford to take on the miners because it was already an
> industry in decline; general practice is not dead yet! I don't think
> the
> government has the stomach to take on GPs with an election 18 months
> away.
> I'm not suggesting bloody-minded intratransigence, but we need to stand
> our ground for the good of our profession & our patients. The
> goverment's
> plan for IT will not work without our co-operation & I'm sure they know
> tat.
All good points
There is also the issue of the 8bn being invested in primary care
through the new GMS contract. The quality and outcomes framework will
no doubt be used to trumpet the great improvements in patient care that
have flowed from this investment. Wholesale changes in practice systems
and the inevitable data losses will not only hit GP earnings, but
deprive the government of this good news story (and may show a fall in
quality).
The same issue also affects hospital Trusts who are facing major
changes to their information systems which they depend on for meeting
government targets. At our LSP cluster launch one delegate asked what
allowance has been made for disruption to patient services (and targets
missed) by the introduction of new systems? The answer was an
embarrassing silence. I think this will be an interesting area to
watch.
mike prentice
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