Chair's Blog Archive
Next Steps
30.03.12.
The controversial Health and Social Care Bill was passed last
week despite opposition from RCGP and a host of other royal
colleges and health professionals across the UK. The
scale of concern expressed was considerable and we remain concerned
about the effect on patient care in England. In Scotland we have
our own challenges but we will continue to work with all our
partners to provide excellence in patient care now and into the
future. To reinforce this message I, and the RCGP Chair and
Chairs of Council from Northern Ireland and Wales, wrote to Health
Ministers last week to reiterate our ongoing commitment to a
UK-wide vision of patient care. You can read the press statement
here.
In the letters we called for an ‘investment’
in general practice and a commitment to build on its strengths
by:
- providing more care in the
community
- providing more GPs, spending
more time with patients and
extending
GP training
- effective GP input into
integrating health and social care;
- greater involvement of
clinicians in decisions about how
services are planned
- recognising the value
of Generalism
- achieving change through working
in collaboration across health and social care.
There are undoubtedly tough times ahead,
however, with such a strong and committed GP workforce here in
Scotland, I am positive about our future.
We are undertaking an exciting piece of work,
in partnership with Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS)
to investigate how individuals and communities can support people
to live well with long term conditions. As part of this work RCGP
Scotland is looking to appoint a clinical lead in order to take
forward activities over an 18-month period. If you think you can
bring something to the project, why not apply? Further
details are available here.
I spoke at the National Rural Practice conference
organised by the RCGP Rural Forum on 16 March and was delighted to
meet GPs from remote and rural areas all over the UK from Orkney to
Cornwall and including Wales and Northern Ireland. There was a good
mix of stages from First 5 to last 5 and a very positive
atmosphere. Great to see rural practice in such good heart and
congratulations to the Rural Forum.
Please send me your thoughts and
comments, I would like to hear from you.
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