News
NHS “TOP UP” PAYMENTS – RCGP
RESPONSE
RCGP Chairman Professor Steve Field: “It seems
unfair to withdraw NHS treatment from patients who pay for cancer
drugs which might potentially save their lives and this decision
will help remove the distress and uncertainty for patients at what
is already a traumatic time.
“We appreciate the Secretary of State’s
personal involvement in the debate and are pleased to have had the
opportunity to discuss with Professor Mike Richards such a
crucially important issue for our patients.
“We welcome proposals to speed up the NICE
appraisal processes so that new cancer drugs are made available to
more patients more quickly and would like to see a review of less
effective drugs so that further resources could be freed up and
better invested to benefit all patients.
“The new funding guidance for PCTs will also
help remove the postcode lottery where patients in some areas have
been allowed to pay for their drugs in exceptional circumstances,
but we must have safeguards in place to ensure that patients who
choose to top-up are not charged over the odds because their drugs
work effectively.
“However, our main priority must always be to
make sure that the services and care provided by the NHS are
equally accessible and equally effective so that no-one loses out
and fewer patients feel it necessary to resort to private
treatment.
“The NHS must remain free to all at the point
of need and cannot be turned into a two-tier system where care is
determined by a patient’s decision to pay.“
Addressing Health Inequalities: a guide for general
practitioners
The RCGP Health Inequalities Standing Group
has launched Addressing Health Inequalities: a guide for
general practitioners, a booklet which offers evidence-based
examples of how GPs can positively influence health inequalities
amongst their local population as practitioners, commissioners and
community leaders. Produced with input from a variety of key
stakeholders, the booklet has been sent to every GP practice and
PCO in England and Wales. The full document is available
here or on the RCGP
website.