Health Quality For All: Next Stage Review Final Report (Darzi)
The original documents may be found here
The GPC guide is here
The DOH summary document (12 pages) is a good read. Generally it is fairly pink and fluffy with little detail (specifically about General Practice). We will publish more as further information arrives.
Gardasil
Question: I have had a patient who falls out of the age range for Gardasil (HPV) vaccination. What should I do about getting vaccination if it seems appropriate?
If you feel the patient needs the vaccination you are obliged by the terms of your GMS/PMS contract to do so.
Some PCTs have been asking GPs to resist this on the grounds of it having huge repercussions of prescribing expenditure. Whilst sympathetic to this problem this does not over ride our responsibility to our patients should you consider a prescription is indicated.
If you judge that the patient does not need the vaccination but they wish to proceed you may point the patient onto a private provider but you may not provide it privately yourself.
Patient Registrations - are signatures stil required?
Answer -Yes
A signature is still required according to regulations. Presumably patients who download the form will have to print them off, sign them and return them to comply with the current regulations. (Note missing signatures have been flagged in QOF visits.)
(http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2004/20040291.htm See schedule 6, Part 2, Para 15, sub-paragraph 3 & 4 patient or nominated representative signature is required)
Purchasing Land From A Neighbour
Question : I am looking for some guidance regarding the purchase of an adjacent plot to our existing surgery:
The current owner is a patient who, a number of years ago, said that we could have first refusal on his property when he wanted to sell. Yesterday, he approached his GP to say that he has decided to sell in order to move to a warden controlled flat locally. He stated that he wanted to move fairly quickly and he wanted to get a fair price. He has told his family that he wants to sell to us. How should we proceed?
Answer
- you must get an independent valuation
- involve a solicitor for fuller advice to the practice
- encourage the patient to seek legal advice
- involvement of the patient and (if possible) his family in the decision to sell
- involvement of the PCT at an early stage should it belikely that the practice might be seeking reimbursement for rent at a future stage
Iwantgreatcare.org
We have had a number of enquiries concerned about this website which has been set up by Dr Neil Bacon. Dr Bacon was instrumental in the setting up of Doctorsnet.He has recently sold this interest.
This website allows people to register their opinions on their healthcare personalised by their doctor name.
We have significant concerns about this site but do not believe there is much that we can do at present.
Presumably it's funding and viability will depend on number of visitors to the site.
The Owner of Ryan Air has found that every time they get headlines good or bad sales go up. There is no such thing therefore as bad publicity.One trategy may will be to completely ignore the site.
Doctorsnet has a number of threads pertaining to this site should you be interested in sharing thoughts and we will await further news with interest.
FS 2008
