Is You Gp Practice One Of Those Taken Over By An American Health Insurance Company?

[Chinajan]

58 practices covering 0.5M patients

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/26/nhs-gp-practice-operator-with-500000-patients-passes-into-hands-of-us-health-insurer?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

[Chinajan]

*your not you in title

[mushroom25]

I'm confused. how can you "privatise by stealth" something (GP practices) that's already private?

[bednobs]

no

[New Judge]

I wish mine was among those practices. As I have often pointed out on here, my GP practice is an abysmal operation which serves no useful purpose to its patients. Its opening hours are restricted to four and a half days a week (with an hour and a half closure for lunch on the four days they do remain open all day, despite there being at least a dozen cars in the staff (only) car park every day). It has been virtually "dark" since last March. It is taking no part in the vaccination programme (despite having adequate and suitable premises). It is a complete and utter waste of space and money and serves only to provide a barrier to keep patients away from seeking the treatment they need from people who know what they are talking about. A bit of US "pazazz" might make it marginally more useful.

[Sunk]

Ownership has gone from a British company to an American one.
Other than it is a lot of power for one company to have 59 GP Surgeries, not sure what is wrong with foreign ownership. Most of the English Premier League is owned by foreigners.

[woofgang]

"Practices may employ fewer GPs – and they may bring in substitutes for GPs like pharmacists and nurses"

Anybody else think that Allyson Pollock is a bit behind the beat here?

[barry1010]

NJ, why don't you register with another GP?

[ToraToraTora]

most GP practices are already private. Nothing to see here.

[New Judge]

//NJ, why don't you register with another GP?//

For two reasons, barry:

1. My current GP practice is 300 yards from my house. Not that it has made much difference in the last year as face to face consultations are all but abandoned, but I imagine things will change when the country regains its marbles. The next nearest is over two miles away in the middle of a busy High Street where parking is impossible.

2. The local alternatives are equally abysmal.

The GP system is an expensive anachronism. It was fine in the days of Dr Finlay, when you rang your GP at 2am and he was at your front door at 2:15. Things are not like that now. Leaving aside the Covid complications, it takes two weeks to get an appointment with my GP (and all the others locally). By the time I see a doctor I will either be dead or better. I don't want to see a doctor just to have a chat or to "make sure everything is OK." I've plenty of people to chat to and I know when everything is not OK. That's when I want to see a doctor.

I have never known my GPs to actually cure me of anything. They have either alleviated the symptoms until my body recovered by its own efforts or they have had to send me to somebody who knows what they are doing. The "middle man (or woman)" should be cut out and patients given direct access to the specialists as required.

[THECORBYLOON]

'The "middle man (or woman)" should be cut out and patients given direct access to the specialists as required'

How would you know which specialist you required?

[New Judge]

At present if I go to the GP with gut problems I will be asked a few questions, probably prescribed some pills and asked to return in a fortnight if I'm neither better nor dead. If I return not better the GP will refer me to a second stage undertaken by a specialist in bowels and giblets.

The first stage can be eliminated and replaced by an online "triage/preliminary diagnosis" system. The patient can then be either told to go to a pharmacy for medication or directed to a specialist. Yes, there may be a few patients sent in the wrong direction. But that will pale into insignificance compared to the number of people attending GP clinics unnecessarily.

The overwhelming majority of patients attending GP appointments do not need to go there. They either need basic medication which properly trained pharmacists could dispense (for example, broadband antibiotics are available from pharmacies in Europe) or they need specialist attention.

The GP system is a very expensive "clearing house" designed to keep people away from specialists. Already there is talk of GP consultations being made over the phone as the "new normal." It's only a short step from there to make those consultations remote and robotic. Times and technology change. Unfortunately the primary healthcare service hasn't changed with them.

[Mamyalynne]

No, mine isn't one.

[Untitled]

I actually agree with New Judge re: GP surgeries... the current system is not fit for purpose. People should be able to go directly to the specialists they need.

I am a little uncomfortable with the role of US insurers though... those companies are known for predatory practises and I do not wish for this country's healthcare system to become anything like that in the US.

[dannyk13]

No. My GP provides an excellent service.

[Zacs-Master]

NJ, if your local doctor’s surgery is useless, isn’t it irrelevant how close it is?

[Bazile]

Where did you check ,mamy

[TonyV]

We are fortunate, if we ring our GP 1st thing in the morning, you will get an appointment for the same day.

[Mamyalynne]

Clicked on the links in the article in the OP.

[teacake44]

The TV program, GPs behind closed doors is a complete joke, not only a joke but taking the hiss out of the public. No such surgery in my area or lots of others were doctors sit there listening to ones personal problems. The perfect practice? for TV viewing only.

[TonyV]

Also our GP surgery is owned by the partners.