In message <[log in to unmask]>, Dr Alan Hassey
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Mary Hawking wrote:
>>
>> In message <[log in to unmask]>, Jon Rogers
>> <[log in to unmask]> writes
>> >Leonard Peter <[log in to unmask]> writes
>> >>My FHSA says they have a right to allocate patients even if the live
>> >>outside my area. I think this is wrong and unjust.
>> >
>> >I agree it is wrong, but re-reading the regulations it does appear it
>> >MIGHT be legal...
>>
>> can anyone tell me if this one is legal?
>> There are a small (but increasing) number of patients unacceptable to
>> *any* practice in the area. The HA has decided (with,I think, the
>> agreement of the LMC) to put these patients on a rota of two to four
>> weeks, to different practices. Note,these patients are *not* allocated -
>> so no practice can reject them - and immediate necessary treatment fees
>> are paid for any services - avoiding the problem of where they are on
>> the first day of the quarter.
>> Are there any regulations covering this?
>> Mary
>> >
>> >Para 16.(1)
>> >"... shall assign him to and notify accordingly such a doctor as they
>> >think fit, having regard to -
>> >
>> >a. the distance between the person's residence and the practice premises
>> >of the doctors in the area;
>> >
>> >b. ...."
>> >
>> >The question is probably what is the definition of "area". If it is the
>> >area of the FHSA, then that is v worrying, and not a little daft. If on
>> >the other-hand it is the area of the practice, then you have clear
>> >grounds to dispute it.
>> >
>> >In the definitions, the only mention of "area" is "practice area",
>> >whereas "locality means the locality for which a committee (FPC?) is
>> >established".
>
>Everey patient has a right to a GP. Where the patient will be rejected
>by every practice (this has happened with 1 patient to us) then our HA
>did just the same - pay whichever [practice sees him oin an emergency
>fee basis for that consultation. Seems reasonable, and with the co-op
>covering nights it's not a problem at night either...
Does this raise another issue? We use a deputisng service - not a co-op
- so some of the doctors will not be principals with any health
authority. If there's a problem (and complaint) about the treatment
given to a rota patient by a non principal, could the patient's lawyer
sue the deputising service? *I* haven't got ..him/her.. on my list.. so
I hope my practice couldn't be sued.
This system would seem to ensure that these patients do *not* have a GP
- legally..
Mary
>
--
Mary Hawking
Kingsbury Court Surgery
Church Street
Dunstable
Beds LU5 4RS
tel:01582 601289 (home)
01582 663218 (surgery)
fax:01582 476488 (surgery)
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