Making a profit at A&E is wrong
HSSD have announced they are going to the States to obtain approval so that medical consultants can charge for their services at the Accident and Emergency department and that they hope to raise an extra £100,000 a year by doing so.
We now have a new HSSD chief executive. Is this her idea? Or is it one she and the HSSD political board have decided on as part of a Financial Transformation Programme 'initiative'?
If so, does this mean the Capita consulting firm is going to be paid commissions on people's ailments?
It is just not right to make a profit out of people because they have to go to hospital. I sincerely hope States members will reject these proposals.
Also, I hope they will end the current system of people being charged to see a doctor at A&E, which is also most distressing for those without medical insurance or the means to pay such bills.
Anyone visiting A&E will find it difficult not to notice the sign detailing the many excessive charges awaiting those who have to be seen.
Of course the situation is even worse for visitors because HSSD still have not the caring nature to negotiate the long-overdue reinstatement of our reciprocal health agreement with the UK, unlike Jersey, who have.
Anyone with friends and relatives in the UK will know that despite some criticism of UK NHS A&E departments, they are in fact quite fantastic overall, and there are no charges for doctors or medical consultants. That is what many of us believe we are entitled to here in Guernsey.
This is what the debate should be about – improving the health services in Guernsey to benefit the people, not improving the ability to charge for such services to benefit consultants and the FTP.
TONY WEBBER.
anthonywebber@cwgsy.net.
Editor's footnote: A spokesman for HSSD replies: 'People attending A&E already have to pay for being seen by the doctor. Those doctors are working under a contract between HSSD and the Primary Care Company Ltd.
HSSD are recruiting a consultant in emergency medicine to provide leadership to the A&E medical service. Patients arriving at A&E will sometimes see a GP, as they do now, but may at other times see the consultant. The appointment of this consultant was included in the HSSD operational plan, which was published earlier this year. HSSD wants the charge to the patient to be the same, regardless of which doctor or consultant is seen in A&E.
Reinstating the reciprocal health agreement would cost HSSD and therefore the States of Guernsey about £350,000 per year. Even if there was an agreement, as with the old one, it would not cover the cost of flying patients back home. That's why taking out travel insurance remains so important.'
