MP accuses doctor of trying to further political ambitions
A DOCTOR who warned that patients in the NHS were being put at risk to save money has been accused of making the claims to further his political ambitions.
Newark MP Patrick Mercer hit out at Carlton GP Dr Ian Campbell, who sent a letter to 6,000 of his patients warning them that doctors and nurses were being "pushed beyond the point of safety" and "asked to take risks with your health in order to save money".
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Dr Ian Campbell
His words caused controversy among patients, sparked debate with fellow doctors, but Mr Mercer said the GP was pushing a political agenda.
Mr Mercer said: "I think it is disingenuous of Dr Campbell not to mention the fact that not only is he chairman of the Newark Labour Party, but that, of course, such a letter can only help with any future political ambitions that he has."
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But Dr Campbell, who has been a GP since 1989, said the MP bore a grudge against him. He said: "I stood against Patrick Mercer in 2010 and have not expressed any intention of standing against him again. Clearly old grudges run deep.
"My concern here is with healthcare provision, not politics. My letter, as you will know, does not contest that financial responsibility within the NHS is necessary. It's about how that responsibility is exercised.
"The disparity the Nottingham North and East Clinical Commissioning Group is creating with healthcare provision against other areas of the city is a concern, and unfair."
In his letter, Dr Campbell said the CCG, which caters for 145,000 people, had overspent – believed to be by about £4 million – and is now having to make savings.
The Government's NHS shake-up has abolished primary care trusts and replaced them with clinical commissioning groups, which are led by GPs.
Yesterday, Nottingham North and East CCG met GPs from its 20 practices and discussed the overspend.
Part of the problem is that some practices refer more patients to hospital than others.
Dr Campbell said that when a patient is sent to hospital it costs the CCG up to £2,900.
He said: "Although we have tried as a clinical team to reduce unnecessary hospital visits whenever possible it now seems we have to go even further. In other words, we are being asked to take risks with your health in order to save money."
His words caused concern among patients who are governed by the Nottingham North and East CCG.
One such patient is Mapperley resident Maureen Richardson, 69, who said: "Of course I worry about what Dr Campbell has said, but I think he is right to raise his concerns. Doctors shouldn't put cost cutting ahead of care."
But Dr John Doddy, a GP in Stapleford and part of the Nottingham West CCG, disagreed with Dr Campbell. He said: "It's about having a collective responsibility. Doctors will be able to deliver an improved standard of care when they know how much things cost."
11 Comments
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by Badlydressed
Friday, March 15 2013, 2:05PM
“Dont be conned into thinking this latest round of changes is about 'choice' in the NHS. The government are still trying to introduce secondary regulations under the Health & Social Care Act that will force CCGs to put everything out to competitive tendering. GPs won't be able to choose between providers on clinical grounds and with local priorities in mind. Instead we'll end up with Virgin Healthcare, Circle, and a host of other corportae profiteers sucking money out of the NHS. Please write to your MP, to the CCGs, to your GP - we all need to make a stink about this, before its too late.”
by Classof2011
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 1:02PM
“I am one of Dr Campbell's patients and I am still waiting for my letter as are my mother and two sisters! Have these letters been sent out or was it all bluff????”
by smshogun
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 6:17PM
“Bill: with ever increasing numbers of ailments and treatments, both the doctors and equipment need updating with skills and equipment as many ailments can show pretty much the same outward signs and symptoms. Doctors are really the first line to give a preliminary diagnosis as to a range of possible conditions, from here they would now be sent to hospital for an in depth testing regime and a full diagnosis.
Liability (for liability read money) is the real issue as just one large claim against a doctors practise or an NHS trust can raise premiums significantly which takes finance from other areas of the budget such as treatment.”
by Vox_Populii
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 6:06PM
“Is this the same Dr John Doddy who sits as a Conservative County Councillor? How is his opinion any more valid when he's actually more political than Dr Campbell?
What a sorry episode.”
by SBBahn
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 3:55PM
“I wonder how Dr Doddy will decide who is worth treating when he knows the cost of treatment? There is not a bottomless pit and it may bother Dr Campbell that he will be forced into deciding who to treat but it would appear Dr Doddy will be happier in making the choice. Are GP's going to publish criteria we must meet to be worth them spending their budget on us? Don't be critical of your GP or you might be put on the "don't bother" list.”
by mof_gedling
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 2:10PM
“quietly wonders who paid for these six thousand letters ?”
by J_Orange
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 2:00PM
“BLawrenson - I'd expect it's more a matter of equipment improving than GPs losing their confidence or skills. A local surgery simply hasn't the range of equipment. And given the increasing prevalence of ambulance chasing legal firms and their keenness to sue in the event of misdiagnosis there's added pressure to be as thorough as possible.”
by BLawrenson
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 1:46PM
“Surely the question that needs to be asked is why it is so expensive to send a patient to hospital for a test. Diagnosis used to be what GPs were good at, are they loosing confidence in their own skills ?”
by choirbod
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 1:14PM
“I'd have thought that any political ambitions he had would be very worthy as he seems to be trying to stop, or at least limit, privatisation of the NHS. Good for him!”
by NFFC1898
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 12:48PM
“Mr Mercer said: "I think it is disingenuous of Dr Campbell not to mention the fact that not only is he chairman of the Newark Labour Party...................blah blah
You are a pratt Mr Mercer as he is just a Doctor telling the truth about the dismantling of the health servive and bringing in via the back door private companies to profit on ill health!!”