"Well I'm sorry Holmes but I just don't understand."
"Whatever's the problem now Watson?"
"This new government of ours - they say that they're all in favour of
developing primary care and then they go and abolish tax relief on the sale
of premises at retirement. I mean really - GPs just won't be as willing to
put money into their surgery premises. We used to use that to top up our
pensions, you know."
"Very nice too."
"Well not really Holmes - I doubt whether there'll even be an NHS pension
when I get there. There's no ring-fenced fund, you know. It’s a
pay-as-you-go scheme."
"And you're concerned that you'll have paid and it'll have gone."
"Exactly."
"I see."
"Look Holmes, GPs may as well not own their surgery. They may as well rent.
In fact, they may as well sell their buildings, get together in larger
premises and cut their overheads. They're nibbling away at cost rent, you
know. And when it’s all in the PCG budget it'll be a case of shall we
maintain our cost rent or do more hip operations."
"You are in a bit of a fix there, Watson."
"Of course, once we are in a big PCG health clinic we may as well be
salaried. But I can't see them wanting to change over to a salaried service.
Think of all the employment costs."
"Borne by whom, Watson?"
"Well by the PCG, I suppose."
"Exactly."
"Oh. Oh dear. I think I see now."
"Watson, I think I'm continually confused by you lot."
"Whom?"
"You doctors. I can never decide whether you are all brainless, spineless or
both."
"Well I must say I think that’s unnecessarily brutal.”
“You would do Watson; you’re a nice chap. So which is it?”
“Well its difficult to say, really. We're a bit of a mixed bunch. We're all
so different, you see."
"Yes Watson, I fear I do."
Dr Lester Russell
[log in to unmask]
The Osborne Practice
25 Osborne Road
Southsea
Hants
PO5 3ND
01705 821371
Fax 01705 291076
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