In message <[log in to unmask]>, Graham Ride
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>In the new IM & T Strategy, Frank Dobson in his Foreword says:
>
><QUOTE>
>In the immediate future the most important non-clinical priority for the NHS
>must be to complete the work necessary to cope with the Year 2000 problem
>and make sure the NHS continues to function and function safely.
><UNQUOTE>
>
>The only further mention is in the short term strategy.
>
><QUOTE>
>The period from now to the year 2000 will be taken up in delivering a number
>of strategically critical components of the new strategy, some of which are
>already established in NHS business plans or are specific short-term targets
>in The new NHS.
> Ensuring the NHS copes with the millennium (Year 2000) problem
> .............
> .............
><UNQUOTE>
>
>At least it comes at the top of the list. Let us hope that these objectives
>are delivered despite the fact that all money to be used on the solution has
>to come from existing funds. And this includes your funds in the Primary
>Care sector.
>
>Would it have been wiser to shelve some of the new initiatives like PCGs and
>NHSNet until this problem was solved.
I'm sure you're right!
> There must be a cost to all of these
>whether IT heavy or not, surely?
Yes, and a lot of it is *time*
We're 1000 GPs short (that's official!)
Estimates of the time needed to be involved in a PCG seem to vary, but I
have heard about 3 days a month for Board members (this would take 21 GP
days out of the system in every PCG.. *every month*)
Y2000 problems can be quite timeconsuming in themselves..
And just in case you'd forgotten, even more work is being transferred
from secondary to primary care.. whether funded or not, it still takes
time...
Does *anyone* have time left to see the patients?
Mary
Mary Hawking Kingsbury Court Surgery Church Street Dunstable LU5 4RS
tel:01582 663218 (surgery)fax:01582 476488 (surgery)
Member of British Healthcare Internet Association
Dunstable and Houghton Regis Locality Commisssioning Pilot
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