-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Hawking <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 11 April 1998 18:17
Subject: Re: Primary Care Groups
<snip intro>
>>What if, for whatever reason, your enforced workload were to be increased
by
>>a certain percentage for no extra remuneration or resources? What
percentage
>>would you be prepared to take on without meaningful protest? Think about
it
>>......5%......10%......20%.......50%. Where do you draw the line?
>This is what happened in 1990: can't remember *anyone* prepared to
>indulge in "meaningful" protest - what is that, anyway?
OK - so move the line up a bit more. Make any difference?
>>What if, for whatever reason, your pay was reduced without any reduction
in
>>workload? What percentage would you be prepared to lose before taking
>>definitive action? Similar line drawing exercise :-)
>Only possible definitive action would seem to be early retirement -
>remember the indignation about forcible retirement at 70? ;->> come to
>think of it, isn't early retirement contributing to the GP manpower
>crisis?
>What action are you suggesting?
>>
>>The PCG movement could effect such changes by a variety of mechanisms :-(
>The "new contract" did ..
I was really trying to expose the flaws in the argument of - Labour
Government has whopping great majority and therefore represents whopping
great majority views and therefore everyone has to accept everything in the
pre-election manifesto including the GPs rolling over yet again. I was also
trying to imagine a "last straw" type scenario which the PCG movement could
become in the opinion of ............ How many?
>>Still haven't seen anyone opposed to a ballot :-)
>Who would set the question? what would you do with the results? Would
>*you* make it a resignation issue - and if you did, could *you* afford
>to resign in 11 months time?
I am hoping that the questions might evolve from the LMCs conference. I must
admit that I was only enlightened fairly recently to the methods by which
many GPs allegedly withdrew their undated resignations by the back door last
time. The NHS is an almost monopoly employer of GPs but the GPs are also the
almost monopoly workforce. Why is it that the Government seems able to
exploit this aspect whereas the GPs are always all over the place. The old
tactic of Divide and Conquer appears, tempt a few with aspirations to power,
draw more in on fear of being left out, leaving the remainder who will just
get swept along dragging a few kickers 'n' screamers behind 'em.
I did originally think it was a "mass" resignation issue but, as above, have
recently been disillusioned. I certainly think we should have a ballot and
force a rethink of the whole NHS and not just the PCG movement.
Unlike Ahmad I would have to say that I couldn't resign over the issue
unless everyone else did and we all came back under a newly negotiated
contract.
>Mary
>
>"I was sitting there, all miserable and depressed, when I heard this
>little voice saying 'Cheer up! It could me much worse!' So I cheered up,
>and sure enough it got much worse..."
How very true to life :-(
Dr Peter Wilson
GP, Broadstairs, Kent. <http://www.albionrd.demon.co.uk>
Medical Manager - EKDOC <http://www.ekdoc.com>
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