The following is a PR release from a firm providing private GPs.  It sees a bright future.  In the NHS GPs are seeing a more repressive and more demanding regime under this government, so here's a revolutionary thought, why don't we GPs abandon the uncaring NHS and leap for the rewards of private medicine?  The quality of life may just be a great improvement.   And, after all, it's the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Health to provide an NHS not the doctor's to supply it.   Editor.

Private GP Surgeries May Bloom under Government’s Primary Care Proposals
  
  
To answer the growing NHS GP shortage, private companies are increasingly being encouraged into primary healthcare by Tony Blair and Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt. In this environment of crisis and change,
subscription-based phone GP services such as GP-line ( http://www.GP-line.co.uk), run by Medical Solutions to give patients an alternative to long waits, are likely to blossom.  
  
The BMA says 10,000 more GPs are needed to maintain current service standards but, worryingly, around 20% of GPs will retire during the next two years as 36% of practitioners are aged over 50. The Department of Health
announced that the number of GPs surgeries will actually reduce from 10,000 to 1,800 over the next few years as a result of retirement of GPs in single and two partner practices – an 80% reduction overall.  
  
According to ‘Your Health, Your Care, Your Say’, a 42,800 person study conducted in late 2005, 20% of UK residents experience problems registering with a GP and 52% find it difficult to book an appointment – especially out of hours. Furthermore, patients without appointments may experience long waiting times in surgeries, GPs’ telephone lines may be constantly engaged (25% of people gave up according to a YouGov survey), and complaints concerning “rude” and “offhand” receptionists are rife.  
  
Bruce Tranter, director of Medical Solutions, comments: “This large piece of government research highlights that patients who work and need to see their GP outside 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday have a particular problem.
Research shows that approximately 90% of GPs have opted not to work out of hours and Saturday morning clinics are now closed in most areas. As a result, the NHS Direct helpline, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and A&E are all being roped in as substitutes for GPs, in an attempt to maintain a primary care service of sorts. The Government is also fast tracking nurses and paramedics into a new Medical Care Practitioner position to help carry out patent assessments and prescribe drugs to cover the shortage of GPs. A lot of changes are taking place.”  
  
At present, private healthcare providers are being welcomed into the NHS 'family’ by Tony Blair to increase “competition and choice”. In a series of manoeuvres, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has introduced independent
sector treatment centres (ISTCs) and ‘nurse-led’ treatment centres, while reversing the fate of community hospitals. Meanwhile, supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsburys are being encouraged to get in on the act and open GP surgeries in their bigger stores.  
  
Bruce Tranter says: “It’s difficult to keep track of the changing world of primary care, given the almost weekly announcements from the Health Secretary. What we do know for sure is that the situation surrounding the
shortfall in GPs and the new NHS GP Contract is causing concern and problems for patients needing access to a GP for diagnosis and advice.”  
  
He adds: “The government's own report actually questions whether it has sufficient resources in terms of finance and qualified professionals to deliver its planned service improvements, and how much of the GP’s role can
be delegated to other professionals without compromising safety and clinical effectiveness.”  
  
In this environment, high quality private services such as GP-line are becoming invaluable to patients who don’t want to wait for a consultation. GP-line gives unlimited access to a qualified, practising GP around the clock – not just in daytime surgery hours. The service is staffed by a team of experienced and specially trained UK family doctors. Over 70% of callers’ health concerns are resolved following the telephone consultation, which gives the patient a diagnosis and clear course of appropriate action. The patient can also gain a second opinion following an NHS consultation where more GP time would have been beneficial.  
  
Richard Proctor of GP-line says: “GP-line provides primary care in a critical area of healthcare where people are increasingly experiencing difficulty accessing a NHS GP for diagnosis, advice, reassurance and referral for treatment. We expect our business to grow significantly as a direct result of NHS problems and government policy. These days, people are looking outside their traditional local surgery for a diligent approach.”  
  
Anyone can join GP-line: there are no exclusions on grounds of medical history*. The service costs £58/year for a single person, £108/year for a couple or single parent and £148/year for family membership. An easy payment
scheme based on monthly direct debits is available.  
  
  
Notes
GP-line was created in 2005 to provide sales and distribution for Medical Solutions, a Berkshire-based specialist primary care provider which has operated since 1998. Medical Solutions has almost two million members. All
its doctors are registered with the General Medical Council and insurance cover is provided by a medical defence union.  
  
* According to the Royal College of General Practitioners.  
** GP-line is not designed as an alternative to normal emergency services. Members should continue to be registered with their local NHS GP and GP-line doctors cannot prescribe drugs  
  
For further information, please contact:  
Richard Proctor, Director of communication GP-line.  
Tel: 0845 2573675  
Email:  Richard@GP-line.co.uk  
  http://www.GP-line.co.uk
  
 (4/3/06)