Coalition Government's NHS 'Reforms' - Does anyone support them?

[Valden]

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, with the support of Nick Clegg (who's party are against it, democracy for you) are handing 80% of the NHS budget to GPs. Apparently this means that GPs cut out all those annoying beaurocrats and buy the best treatement for you from the most suitable medical facility, be it any number of private clinics. Oh yes, there is the little issue of GPs actually turning a profit if they manage to save 5% of their budget.
GPs now have a chillingly real motive to save money at the expense of the patient. The most suitable treatement will be cast aside in favour of the most 'cost effective' alternative.
But it gets much worse. The NHS Reform bill (which is three times larger than the bill that created the nhs) allows doctors, i mentioned earlier, to choose the best suitable clinic for the patient's treatement.
Wait a minute; these are the same doctors who, in many cases, own shares in private clinics. They will be making a profit out of their patients yet again, this time by referring them all -perfectly legally- to clinics they have a financial interest in seeing succeed.
As with the 'Big Society' ('have a whip round or go without'), Mr Cameron is justifying his 'Reforms' with a vehement assault on those dastardly beaurocrats who hold up the nation with their cancerous flow of forms, to be constantly filled in by anyone with anything else important they should be doing.
This is sickening. Mr Cameron is landing the beaurocrats who will be implementing his unpopular policy with responsibility of it. Oh yes, if anything in government goes wrong, one of Mr Cameron's ministers boldly steps forward and denounces themselves, taking the blame for him.
This circle of blame perhaps had its place in Stalinist Russia, but not here.

[justicar5]

Mudpit that way ------->

[basics]

Valden,

While it sounds on paper a positive idea looking at what the doctors have got away with already makes me shiver at what they may do with all of our money. I mean they got the biggest pay rise outside of bankers with shortened hours that it is almost a great task to get a doctor at all. And into the bargain they got our surgeries which effectively they now own.

So where do we go now? Well as each surgery or practise is independent of all others it means that drug manufacturers can charge separate prices for the same commodity as and when they like and where do the doctors go then? We have already seen this with the NHS as it stands now so what chance do individuals have of getting fair prices.

[Valden]

Yep, it's worrying. The sooner we get Ed Miliband into Downing Street the better.
I didn't really expect anyone to comment on this thread with a serious defence of the coalition government, because there isn't one.

[removeduser_487563287433]

I think the vast majority of people against the reforms haven't the foggiest clue about them.

Your objections are idealistic. We can't afford the best options for patients, and giving doctors a motivation to perform cost-effectively means more funding available to treat more people better.

[justicar5]

I think the vast majority of people against the reforms haven't the foggiest clue about them.

Your objections are idealistic. We can't afford the best options for patients, and giving doctors a motivation to perform cost-effectively means more funding available to treat more people better.

or gives them motivation to treat as few people as cheaply as possible.

[Their Law]

or gives them motivation to treat as few people as cheaply as possible.

And they'd be held directly accountable for that decision rather than hiding behind administrators.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Why does it give them that motivation exactly?

[justicar5]

Why does it give them that motivation exactly?

The less they spend the more they get paid.

[removeduser_487563287433]

The less they spend the more they get paid.

Would you quote the relevant part of the proposal?