SCARBOROUGH GPs are set to rebel against a debt-cutting NHS directive which they claim will leave patients in pain and suffering. Members of the GP representative group, the North Yorkshire Local Medical Committee, say they have been ordered not to refer patients for hospital treatment unless it is an emergency.

Dr Douglas Moederle-Lumb, of Peasholm Surgery, said the move, which aims to cut North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust's projected debts of about £45 million, virtually urges GPs to commit malpractice.

He said: "We as GPs are being asked only to refer patients if it's urgent and an emergency, but just because a condition is not life-threatening, it does not mean it is not life-disrupting. If we only refer patients who need emergency help, that will leave a lot of patients suffering and I will not allow myself to do that and neither will any of the other GPs in North Yorkshire."

"The General Medical Council is clear that GPs must act in the best interest of our patients and if they believe referring them to hospital is the best thing to do, then that is what they should do."

Traditionally, GPs have been able to send patients to hospital whenever they felt it necessary. But the PCT has now set up an exceptions panel, which now looks at every single hospital referral and can decide to over rule the GP.

Dr Moederle-Lumb, who is also the Deputy Medical Secretary of the local medical committee, said the move has put another level of bureaucracy in the way of patients' needs.

He said: "We understand the pressures faced by the PCT and will work with them to help find the solutions to the problems, but the message that we would like to get across to all our patients is that we will not put pounds, shillings and pence before their care."

Non-life threatening operations, including surgery for chronic pain, IVF treatments for women not near 40, vasectomies and wisdom teeth treatments have been suspended. Patients referred to hospital will have to wait for at least 12 to 16 weeks, even if the hospital can see them more quickly.

A PCT spokesman said the referral's committee has been set up because of a lack of consistency among GPs over referrals.

He said: "We will initially turn around all referral's in five working days. Each case will be treated on its merits and what is clinically necessary will be taken into account, including patients' quality of life. There is no outright ban on any procedure taking place if it is clinically necessary."

19 January 2007

Mick Pilling (write) Chairman: Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group

WE SUPPORT THE DOCTORS:  I would urge everyone to support there Doctors decision; we are talking NHS; this was set up to help everyone, from all walks of life, because these so called PCT's have got themselves into a state of bad management; are we to suffer....this is another case of money before health; these decision are not made with peoples health in mind; how can these PCT staff sleep at night?  It's ludicrous, despicable and damning...

Doctors from all towns should stand together; don't let this happen to a town near you.