United Kingdom
Related: About this forumHospitals must shrink or shut, doctors warn
GPs who now control much of the NHS budget have said many hospitals will have to drastically shrink or shut altogether because half their services should be provided elsewhere. Family doctors have raised questions over the future of hospitals by claiming services would improve if large swaths of medical care including diagnostic tests, outpatient appointments and dementia care were carried out closer to patients' homes.
Dr Michael Dixon, who represents many of the 211 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) that last week took control of £65bn of health spending, told the Guardian that hospitals would have to downsize as part of efforts to cut what he said was "an awful lot of fat" in the NHS budget and make healthcare more patient-friendly.
Dixon cited the example of frail elderly patients, who occupy about 70% of hospital beds and who could be looked after at home by teams of community-based health professionals.
He signalled that CCGs intend to use their new roles as key decision-makers in the NHS in England to drive through radical changes to how healthcare is delivered, especially hospital services. "A very large amount of what's currently done in hospitals could or should be done elsewhere. I think 50%," said Dixon, the interim president of NHS Clinical Commissioners, which represents 135 of the 211 CCGs.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/apr/07/hospitals-doctors
CountAllVotes
(20,854 posts)Might be better IMO.
Received a letter from a relative of mine now residing for the time being in Spain.
Her sister was told she had an aneurysm last year and was advised to follow up THIS year re: this serious problem.
So she waits 5 mos. for an appt. only to be told to come back again next year.
No treatment offered, no nothing.
Might as well shut the hospitals down if this is the type of service being "provided".
Kill the sick and move along ....
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)Where is she in the UK ?
CountAllVotes
(20,854 posts)But the sister owns property in Scotland.
I guess things have gone to hell everywhere from what she wrote in her letter to me.
I don't know that Spain would/could be any better (part of the EU) -- ?
Warpy
(110,913 posts)and my guess is that unless an aneurysm is dissecting, they won't do anything for anybody. Her position is even worse since she's not a citizen.
CountAllVotes
(20,854 posts)My cousin is quite old so the only way I can contact her is to write her a letter an mail it, something I must do soon as she was hoping to meet up w/me in Aug. and I cannot make it.
Sad situation for both of them. The sister is the one with the aneurysm. She is older than the one I mention above. I feel really sad for them as they are on their own pretty much.
I was shocked when I read that letter, absolutely shocked that they would tell someone with such a condition to come back next year *again* ... she'll likely be dead and gone by that time I fear.
Warpy
(110,913 posts)and surgery was not being considered as an option because their overall state of health was not such that they'd survive it long. Sometimes no care is the best care, especially when the person's comfort has been assured.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)It doesn't follow that Spain treats others the same though under current circumstances there.
CountAllVotes
(20,854 posts)I bet she knows about this and maybe that is exactly why she was in Spain "at the moment" as she wrote ... checking things out for her sister perhaps?
I wish I knew more but the letter was filled with plenty of !!!!! all over the place.