NHS...Touting for business...why?

[d9f1c7]

I've just had a call from my local Health Centre, asking me if I'd like to take advantage of their free NHS health check! Now I always thought the NHS where up to their necks in "customers" and really wouldn't be needing to rustle up new business so what's all this about? As regular readers will be aware, I am a big fan of the NHS so this is not me having a go, more of a curious observation.

[Davethedog]

How old are you? If your over 50 the NHS seem to be trying for pre-emptive medicine.

Enjoy it while you can.

[Sqad]

d9.....no idea, but i bet it is something to do with the GP's getting extra pay for each "free NHS Health check."

I may be wrong AND cynical.

[sunny-dave]

Assuming that you are a male aged 50 or over, this actually makes a lot of sense - many men 'avoid' the GP surgery and so potentially curable ailments go undiagnosed & untreated.

Doing an 'MoT' every now and then (usually taking just a few minutes of a nurse's time) can spot developing health conditions & get treatment underway. This can save the NHS a lot of time/money in the long run (as well as being better for you).

[sunny-dave]

Naughty old sqad - fancy suggesting that GPs are driven by money ..... ;=)

[Old_Geezer]

I'd guess that prevention is cheaper than cure ? Catching things early being a benefit.

Or I could mention that the NHS isn't a public service any more, apparently, they are all in competition for customers.

[d9f1c7]

I'm not over 50, if that helps.

[RATTER15]

I recently went to my GP with a stomach problem, over the next few months I had cameras stuck where the sun don't shine and provided samples from every orifice, I was actually very pleased and reassured with the treatment I received, I am over 50 so obviously at risk and very impressed with that particular service!

[Davethedog]

Not really, got no ideas now, so i'll go with sqad :-0

[Sqad]

O_G...

\\\\I'd guess that prevention is cheaper than cure ? Catching things early being a benefit. \\\\

Interesting and well worn statement......but is it true?

Health checks are all about diagnosis and NOT prevention.....a routine health check is unlikely to prevent ANY disease.

Mammograms...are they cost effective?.....do they improve the outcome of breast cancer......do they cause more concern than they are worth?

Should a man with no symptoms have an ECG and chest X-Ray?...does it improve the outcome of the disease?

Should a woman with a normal PAP result need 3 yearly pelvic examinations?

Should the over 65's have 3 yearly PSA's for prostate cancer?

All statements accepted, but what is the truth?

[Old_Geezer]

Fair point, but I'd suspect preventing getting beyond the early stages must have some financial pluses or the bean counters would not be allowing money to be spent on them. In my experience of commercial firms it is difficult to get management to agree spend on things that are vital, yet alone 'nice to have'. Is the NHS really that different ?

[Sqad]

O_G....the NHS is as a state run organization is politically sensitive and adored by the electorate and routine health checks are good political PR.

[sunny-dave]

Agree with sqad about at least two of his comments - the statistical evidence on mammograms is unconvincing to say the least (but the political consequences of reducing the programme would be unsustainable). The PSA test probably does more harm than good in generating unnecessary surgical interventions.

But both tests *may* save individual lives - so how do you balance that with the cost (both financial and in unnecessary worry and procedures) to the general population ...?

[starone]

I am very old (as you know) and every six months the surgery I am registered with send me a letter telling me it is time for me to have some tests done. I get the next door neighbour (he is very kind and nearly as old as me) to take me there and they do blood tests and check my blood pressure. I really believe this helps me as they would find out if my cholesterol had gone haywire, if I had diabetes, if my kidneys and liver are functioning properly and I think they do one for some kinds of cancer too. It would not cure anything drastic but it might keep me alive for a bit longer and as I like it here, I really appreciate that.

[RATTER15]

Sqad, surely early discovery of a cancerous lump that can be easily removed would work out cheaper than months or years of treatment operations and palliative care etc? Certainly better for the patient as my good lady Carakeel will testify having lost her 21 year old son from brain cancer because it was incorrectly diagnosed, she was told be a leading cancer specialist that her son would probably have been left with nothing more than a limp if it was diagnosed earlier. Carakeel herself nearly lost her life though bone cancer, fortunately it was diagnosed early enough and she survived this thanks to a medical trial in the USA where she went for treatment.

[Gromit]

GP Surgeries are privately owned businesses. The Doctors are self employed. They are paid for contract work by the NHS. It is in their interest to serve as many customers as possible and take the money for doing so. GPs are as up to their necks in customers as they want to be. It is a demand led business, so if demand is slacking (for whatever reason) then it is in the GPs interest to drum up some business.

[Sqad]

Ratter...we are dealing with 2 separate topics here......firstly symptomless people going for routine checks and in the case of Cararkeel's son, a patient with symptoms......quite differing scenarios.

As for mammography, there is evidence disputing that mammography and early X-Ray diagnosis improves the survival rates compared to early detection by the patient by palpating her breasts.

starby my love, if you feel that you are happy with 6 monthly checks....then that is fine.

[TheOtherHalf]

Take advantage I say. Within days of my 60th birthday I received an `invitation` to be screened for bowel cancer. A few days later they sent the pack for if you wanted to take part. Full instructions on how to do it at home (which I wont go into on here ) Something for you all to look forward to ! I guess it will save them money in the long run and could save your life

[sunny-dave]

Known locally as "Pooh Sticks" ....

[bednobs]

the health checks have ring fenced money from the govt. the thought is that you will get a risk factor for your chances of developing high BP, diabetes, heart disease etc in the next -- amount of years. The idea is that if you are at medium or high risk 1)the surgery can signpost you to services that will lower your risk and 2) it'll make yous scared enough to modify your lifestyle if you can. They are offering them to people over 40

[Carakeel]

Ratter is right, I have also had a breast cancer scare in the past few years, so I am grateful for the regular checkups offered. This year they have sent me the bowel cancer screening test kit. The sooner problems like these are found, the better. And yes, the tests are most certainly money well spent, as if left undiagnosed for any length of time, the costs become horrendous for the NHS and for the families involved!!