Cost of care is the key

From Dr Nigel Stevens.

I WAS dismayed to read Deputy Gorst’s recent comments suggesting that primary medical care was sub-standard in Jersey compared to other parts the world.

I have been a GP in Jersey for the past 17 years after previously practising in South Wales.

My own personal experience of my colleagues in Jersey is that on the whole they are motivated and caring professionals, who do their best within the constraints of the system imposed on us.

However, we are lagging behind in central data gathering to provide evidence that primary health care is up to standard, as there is currently no means of doing this.

The main reason that health care is sub-standard in Jersey is because patients simply do not like paying to see their GP, which is understandable.

Unfortunately, we have no option but to charge our patients unless the Health Service is nationalised. GPs also have to earn a comparable wage to GPs in the UK otherwise we will not be able to attract British doctors to the Island.

The fact that we charge patients for consultation definitely damages management of chronic illnesses, as patients often refuse to be appropriately reviewed.

If changes to improve primary health care are imposed on general practice without appropriate funding this will simply damage health care further, as cost for consultation will rise, reducing access to medical services for those who are less well off.

GPs in the UK can ‘prove’ they are doing a good job by a process of audit and tick-box medicine, collecting endless data on patients. This potentially leads to an impersonalised service that is not patient-centred, as the GP is motivated by data collection to earn points, which is reflected in his pay. Does Jersey really want to go down this particular path?

My own experience of primary health care in the NHS recently in relation to my elderly parents in South Wales is not a happy one. However, I am sure that their carers can prove they are doing a fantastic job according to their statistics.

Speaking for myself, I would be happy to see any changes in primary health care that improve patient access to medical services, such as better funding from the States, insurance schemes, or even nationalising primary health care.

I can only speak for myself but I would be happy to work in any system that improved patient care but no option is without its potential cost. This is not a medical but a political problem. Do we nationalise all the Health Service and increase taxes? Deputy Gorst, over to you.