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Country Doctors Association
-------------------------------------------------------------------- All colleagues and their staff who have an interest in the future and well-being of general practice in rural areas and market towns are urged to join the Country Doctors Association - the only independent voice for rural practice. To join, please click "JOIN" on the bar alongside. The rest is easy ! Join and shape CDA policy and rural practice for the future in these important, watershed years. See below what the CDA is currently doing:- In co-operation with a major
pharma firm the CDA will shortly be launching a new, thorough and
comprehensive distance learning course for doctors'
dispensers. Further details will be announced as the date
approaches. There will also be a major publicity campaign in
the medical media. If you are keen on education keep your eyes
peeled. Full details will be given on this site. The CDA is attempting to preserve the right of market town doctors to dispense to their rural patients. . We are not, at this stage, demanding the right for universal dispensing although that does seem logical. It would be most helpful if those market town practices which have rural patients and who may have any interest at all in the future in applying to dispense would contact the CDA through FEEDBACK as soon as possible. Please circulate this message to neighbouring practices. ____________________________________________ The CDA is also interested in surveying rural practices to determine how their out-of-hours service functions and whether there are any practices still doing all their own night calls - or in very small rotas. ---------------------------------------------------------- PCGs are charged with "addressing inequalities in healthcare in their community". The CDA would value comments as to how PCGs are achieving this in rural/market town areas. ---------------------------------------------------------- PCGs are also charged with developing community health services. This includes district nursing and social services. The CDA is interested in how these have improved or changed since the advent of PCGs in rural or market town practices.. ---------------------------------------------------------- PCGs are asked to advise on commissioning secondary care services. The CDA would like to know whether old established, satisfactory patterns of referral to secondary care have been made more difficult or even abolished in rural or market town practices. -------------------------------------------------------- The CDA is interested to audit the number of patients who are currently electing for private care despite not having private insurance. The reason why should be given. -------------------------------------------------------- The CDA is currently surveying rural and market town practices - not just dispensing practices - to estimate the opinions regarding the present negotiations with pharmacy to "close the loophole" at the expense of preventing market town rural dispensing applications. -------------------------------------------------------------------- The CDA is presently attempting to determine what difficulties exist for rural practitioners to maintain continuing professional development. Suggestions as to improvement would be welcome. --------------------------------------------------------- The CDA is about to survey dispensing practices to determine the number of dispensary staff they employ, the number of their dispensing patients and the qualifications of their staff - the opening hours of their dispensaries --------------------------------------------------------- What would you as a market town or rural doctor most like the CDA to concentrate on? 1. The difference in resourcing
between rural & urban practices? Please use FEEDBACK and your reply will be with the Association within minutes. The Association would appreciate contact with any colleague who is prepared to put aside a little time to help with these surveys. Contact may be made at any time through
FEEDBACK or directly to:
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