RCGP comment in response to the health select committee’s
thirteenth report into public expenditure
24/01/12
The report confirms what we already suspected
- that patient care in some areas of England is being adversely
affected by the disruption going on in the Health Service.
The NHS is facing many competing and conflicting challenges, and
it is vital that we do not lose sight of what matters most and that
patients can still feel confident that they are receiving the best
possible care.
We welcome GPs becoming more involved in the commissioning of
local services for patients but healthcare professionals are
feeling the combined squeeze of the health reforms and the pressure
to save money. Any disruption to patient care does not
reflect well on the NHS and every effort must be made to ensure
that patients do not unwittingly bear the brunt – particularly the
most vulnerable in society.
Staff are also finding their futures uncertain and the reforms
risk acting as a distraction from their important day jobs of
managing and delivering services. Linked to this is the need to
increase numbers and expand the abilities of healthcare
professionals to meet these challenges: the RCGP will continue to
push for greater numbers of GPs and for extended training to meet
the needs of patients, now and in the future.
ENDS
Further information
RCGP Press office – 020 3188 7574/7575/7576
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk
Notes to editors
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more
than 44,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We
work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general
medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education,
training, research and clinical standards.