Hi Ahmad and all

>>If we have to go private to achieve it then I guess I will never be as
ready
>>as now.
>
>How many of you can identify with Paul's statement above?
>
>Ahmad

Firstly may I take this opportunity to express my support for the DFI
movement.

Wasn't sure which secondary thread to reply to because your original posting
seems to have spawned so many others and I suppose this would suit equally
the DFI, Manifesto, Shotgun Marriage, etc.

Your outstanding and respected contribution to this list must surely be
acknowledged by all and perhaps you could use your influence to consolidate
all related discussion under one heading. (Cyberhuggy ;-))

I am sure that there are many more "out there" who would be supportive of
your ideals if there was a clearer way forward to achieving them. WE all
know that the present NHS free for all is unsustainable but let's face it,
WE have been having these "Bail out or bail faster" discussions since the
early days of gp-uk. My local colleague will shortly be publishing the
results of his straw poll concerning the PCGs and predictably through our
informal contacts I already know the likely outcome :-) Hopefully this will
be taken up by the magazines and perhaps a national poll will follow with a
similar ratio of For/Against. However, where will this get us when the only
negotiating body we have has in the past effectively ignored a mandate from
the membership and accepted a deal on our behalf. The problem with the PCGs
that we are all becoming aware of is that in any community of around 100,000
there will be GPs who find the idea appealing and even if one says "Sod it,
I'm having nothing to do with it but I'll get dragged in kicking and
screaming at the lowest level" there will be some amongst that population
who will say "Ah, but if we aim for a higher level then we'll have much more
say in how our resources are used, etc. etc." In other words, you're stuffed
:-(

There are also several threads on the go at the moment originating from
those attending meetings with HA's re PCGs, enquiring as to optimum size,
payments for attending,etc. These will win the day unless something dramatic
happens :-(

The original question posed in this bit of the thread was about whether or
not we could identify with readiness for going private. This will obviously
depend upon personal circumstances and geographical area as well as whether
or not it is happening nationally. How would Hotch's Practice fare against
another down the road offering the standard "Free at point...etc."

I could identify with Paul's statement but would feel a lot more comfortable
if it was an "All for one...." scenario.

Someone said "Get real, Ahmad" and I can sympathise with this attitude given
our profession's past performances against HMG but let's face it, the
showdown, collapse, sinking or whatever you call it IS going to happen and
all that any Government is interested in is making sure that "IT" doesn't
get the blame. WE have to be prepared to stand up and say "Yup, it's our
fault but we did it for your own good because if we hadn't then you'd have
had no Service at all"

So, say we get out 5,000 DeFIers. Then what?

Lead us .......Pleeeeease.

Peter

P.S. What are you doing visiting an Na+ ? :-)))

Dr Peter Wilson
GP, Broadstairs
Medical Manager - EKDOC



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