On 21/01/07, Bill Westwood <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> It's difficult not to believe there is a conspiracy at work to demoralise
> GPs and ultimately get rid of them,
I honestly don't think New Labour are clever enough to arrange a
conspiracy. It's pure ignorance, short-sightedness and self interest.
They've cocked up education, the petrol crisis (I recall a minister at
a press conference, several days into the crisis, admittng that they
hadn't understood how petrol distribution worked), Iraq, the hospital
sector and medical training. The past being the best guide to future
behaviour, why should anyone think they are likely to improve general
practice?
My recollection is that during the contract negotiations, the
Government insisted that contracts should be held by practices and not
with individual GPs. I think this was so that services could be
provided by any private company in future, not just those owned by
GPs. Once prices for services are agreed, it's none of the
Government's business how much any individual within a private company
earns.
--
Michael Leuty
Nottingham, UK
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