Foreign GPs.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.express.co...Ps-must-speak-English

Has the NHS something to learn from the taxi drivers, or would this also be racist?

[Gromit]

A good command of English should be mandatory for such an important role as an out of hours GP, I am surprised it isn't already.

If the taxi drivers you allude to are the ones in southampton, reported yesterday, then I doubt the NHS will have learnt from that. The NHS and Government do not work that quickly.

The Government's GP contract has been a disaster for the public, both in terms of care (or lack of it) and it terms of value for money (they are vastly over paid).

The Tories should rip up these contracts at the first possible opportunity.

[anotheoldgit]

What do you put the demise of the NHS down to then?

I know I always seem to say this but, years ago, if one of the family fell ill, out of hours, all one had to do was to pick up the telephone, and phone one's GP, within minutes he was at your home sitting on the bed, examining the patient.

In out of hours cases where the patient was ill but could be moved, one only had to put the patient into one's car, and drive them to the Doctor's home.

Even during surgery hours, there was always one Doctor who was on call, and he drove around in his motor car, paying his visits.

Seems like a different world now.

[Sqad]

Gromit

//The Government's GP contract has been a disaster for the public, both in terms of care (or lack of it) and it terms of value for money (they are vastly over paid)//

Spot on. They can thank Patricia Hewitt for that, even the Drs couldn't believe her offer.

Gordon Brown said..." We will make them do overtime".....some hopes.

//The Tories should rip up these contracts at the first possible opportunity.//...not a chance in hell.

[Gromit]

/// What do you put the demise of the NHS down to then? ///

The NHS is in better shape now than it has ever been. There is no demise, it is treating more people than ever, employing more doctors and in newer and better equipped hospitals. Unfortunately, it is not all good news. GPs and Dentistry are both areas which are failing.

Is it coincidence that GP and Dentists are self employed and are award a contract for NHS work?

France, by the way, pays its GPs half of what we pay them, and so can employ a lot more of them.

[Sqad]

Joy, when we are nearing Scarborough on the coach, will you call fro silence as I do my Cliff Richard impersonation of "We're all going on a summer holiday"

It is very impressive.

[Sqad]

Ooops! sorry, wrong thread.

[Sqad]

Gromit/steve

One shouldn't compare the quality of NHS care with what it was, but compare it to standards of care in the European Union.

More doctors and more money do not necessarily mean a better standard of health care.

One must be careful as to what one is comparing NHS progress or otherwise to.