I have found a huge increase in readiness to take up private referrals.
Five years ago I would never have suggested a private referral. Now I find
myself saying that if the waiting list is too long maybe they would consider
a PP ref and many accept it.
Also easy to blame on new labour admin.... ;-)
Dr GM Trowell
Highbridge Medical Centre
Highbridge
Somerset TA9 1JP
01278 783220
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Highbridge - a cemetery with lights
-----Original Message-----
From: Guy Watkins <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 15 January 1998 19:38
Subject: Re: What are the merits of waiting lists?
>The use of waiting lists, for surgical procedures at least,
>is an implicit assumption that although we are busy now,
>and short of money and other resources now, next year
>things will be better.
>
>So, since we do this, there must be enormous compensating
>merits to the waiting list for operation, and the 8-52 week
>wait to be seen in outpatients.
>
>But, I don't know what they are. Can anyone suggest one?
There is good evidence from the referral / activity / waiting list
data from my local acute trust that decreasing the wait for treatment
increases the referral rate - and vice versa. I'm sure the wait is a
dissinsentive to both the GP and the patient - and therefore useful to
the NHS. It may be that there is an inverse correlation with the NHS
wait and the private referral rate locally, but interestingly, we have
failed to demonstrate that.
Without a wait at all the demand would increase hugely.
Guy Watkins
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