Welfare Reform on the Web (October 2001): National Health Service - Community and Primary Health Care Services

DOCTORS URGE £10 CHARGE FOR "NO-SHOW" PATIENTS

D. Charter

Times, Aug. 15th 2001, p.6

Results of a survey by the Doctor Patient Partnership shows that two thirds of GPs want to charge patients who fail to keep appointments. "No-show" patients waste 2.5 million hours in lost consultations a year at a cost to the NHS of £300m. Most GPs support a fine of about £10.00.

(See also Daily Telegraph, Aug. 15th 2001, p.10).

MINISTERS RULE OUT PAYING TO SEE GP

G. Jones

Daily Telegraph, July 30th 2001, p.4

The possibility of patients paying to see their GP, floated in a report by a member of the British Medical Association's General Practitioners Committee, has been rejected by the government.

(See also Guardian, July 30th 2001, p.7).

NEW PRIMARY CARE, NEW INFORMATION RESOURCES

P.A. Crouch, T. Ingledew and M. Thacker

British Journal of Health Care Management, vol.7, 2001, p.323-325

A new approach to keeping clinicians and managers up-to-date is being adopted through information management and practice support. Article begins by looking at current levels of access to information and what is actually required. It then goes on to discuss as new database called Clinnix which will help overcome the current lack of availability of information. Clinnix offers an effective aid to consultations given its speed of access; information is selected on the basis of its value to primary care; rapidly-updated clinical news and instant disease management information are provided.

ON THE WRONG FOOT?

S. Ward

Health Service Journal, vol.111, Aug. 9th 2001, p.24-26

Canvases opinion amongst health care professionals about the future development and value of NHS walk-in centres offering immediate treatment for a range of minor illnesses.

SEEN BUT NOT OFTEN HEARD: PROPOSALS FOR ENHANCING THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY PHARMACIST

M. Young

Pharmaceutical Journal, vol.267, 2001, p.199-201

Proposes that pharmacists should be relocated from the shop to work alongside GPs. Doctors should diagnose disease, while pharmacists should be placed in charge of the prescribing process and medicines management.