I've been contacted by a TV journalist - see message below. If you think
you can help without brining the profession into disrepute please contact
her by phone or email. The phone number is 0208 752 7651
--
Fay
FROM
The BBC is planning another special event day about the NHS for
Wednesday 24 March 2004. The hour-long BBC One programme will revisit
the 5 top priorities which the public voted for during the last BBC NHS
day and review what progress has been made in the past 2 years. The 5
main concerns of the viewing public were free long-term care for the
elderly; improved staff pay; reduced waiting times for heart and cancer
care; improved A&E and cleaner hospitals.
We are waiting to hear if the Prime Minister will participate, if not
John Reid.
While much of the programme will focus on how the NHS has improved - or
not, we want to make a 5 minute film that turns the tables and
highlights the complaints that NHS staff have about patients. The point
of this is to say that the public has a responsibility not to misuse the
service.
We are looking for GPs who are frustrated with how the public waste
valuable NHS resources. This is their chance to re-educate the public!
The sorts of things we imagine staff being frustrated about are
* missed GP appointments,
* the worried well
* calling 999 for a broken toenail
* patients who eat smoke and drink too much and then complain about
feeling unwell
* asking for medical certificates inappropriately - this list was
apparently compiled by GPs:-
A letter for a patient to state that their new coat caused
them a rash, so that the shop would give then a refund.
A certificate for an employer veryfying that the employee is "fit to handle
cheese".
A certificate confirming that the patient is alive for actuarial purposes
Exemption, on grounds of disability, from charges to pay on entry to public
toilets.
Letter for army cadets to exempt them from physicalactivities.
Please can GPs contact me by phone or email by the end of tomorrow [Wed
18 Feb]Or email me up until the end of the week [Fri 20 Feb]- I will try to
reply on Monday next week.
Many thanks once again.
Kim Barrington
Assistant Producer
NHS Day 2, BBC TV
[log in to unmask]
t: 00 44 [0]20 8752 7651
Room 1226, BBC TV White City, 201 Wood Lane, London, W12 7TS
BBCi at http://www.bbc.co.uk/
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