On Thu, 26 Nov 1998 16:22:03 -0000, Laurie Slater wrote:
>I believe that it is not reasonable to expect GPs to bear the
>cost of electronic communication of patient data, or data
>required to run the NHS. If the powers that be decide that this
>is the future for health care in England (and they have), then
>regardless of the proposed mechanism, I expect it to be centrally
>funded.
Nothing else should do, (unless .... we have 'The Firm' scenario in
reality)
>Why would I turn down the offer of fully reimbursed NHS net
>connection?
Of course, you should have it. Never suggested that you didn't. What
I am suggesting is this: get the thing then do what you want (I can't
be more explicit than that!)
> I am not a technophobe and I too believe (with
>reservations re security issues) that electronic communication is
>the way forward in delivering better health care. OK there may be
>better technological solutions, but this will all come out in the
>wash.
Not only that there are far better solutions for *what you and other
GPs want to do*.
I do not believe that NHSnet or Son of NHSnet (GPnet) can actually
deliver the kind of benefits that GPs **want**
The WAN is useful in many other ways, but not for what *you* want :-)
>Why would I not disconnect if I am asked to pay out of my own
>pocket for the pleasure of delivering good health care?
No reason at all. However, I am a believer in purity.
If I am offered something that I know to be rum, then I would decline
and focus on what I believe to be of benefit to me.
The more people take it up, the more convinced those on the 9th floor
will be that the thing is worth having.
My whole argument rests on the premise that the thing *is not* worth
having.
>Not at all. If the process continues to be centrally funded I
>will embrace the efforts to make it workable and I will continue
>to contribute enthusiastically to this end, despite the
>inevitable growing pains.
I believe the thing is all mashed up and not worth agonising about. It
needs a decent burial and a jolly good wake :-)
>If it is not funded. I will not play ball. The effort expended in
>setting the system up in the first place will however be far from
>wasted. My practice will have a modern hardware set-up with
>which I can continue to deliver efficient local care and I will
>be wiser - if a little older! <g>
Certainly! Now, if you plan ahead for that scenario, you might even be
in business with something that works long before that happens ;-)
Risk
---------------------------------
Dr Ahmad Risk
Editor Health Informatics Europe
http://hi-europe.co.uk
Tel: +44 1273 321805
Fax: +44 1273 774614
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