Time to put action into words

Dr Copperfield pens an open letter to patients following the BMA’s announcement for planned industrial action to start in August

So now we know. The initial sabre rattle of industrial action will be something along the lines of not doing fit notes, scripts, and investigations which should have been arranged by secondary care. In other words, a homoeopathic work to rule, which will hardly have Rishi quaking in his Adidas Samba OGs.

This is hardly surprising. Devising realistic and effective GP industrial action has proven fiendishly difficult in the past; with the exception of the undated resignation option – which, depending on your conspiracy theory dial setting, is probably/possibly exactly what the government wants anyway.

I’d suggest a change of tack. No one cares about how hard we work, or how poorly we’re funded. What people do care about is themselves. So let’s make it all about the patients. I’d suggest an open letter to various media outlets along the lines of the following:

“Dear member of the public,

You are in danger. And you’re in danger because general practice is falling apart. You’ve probably noticed this already. It’s difficult to get an appointment at your local surgery. And when you do, you may not see a GP anyway.

Most of you – especially regular users of healthcare – value your GP highly. You know we can deal with the vast majority of your health problems and have your best interests at heart. The problem is that mismanagement of the NHS has meant fewer GPs, with us replaced by other workers, such as nurses, pharmacists and physician associates.

These people are hard working and well-meaning. But they are not GPs. We train for 10 years before we qualify. So we can deal with complex problems, spot serious issues among the minor ones, and decide which tests you really need. Importantly, we know when you need specialist help. Non-GPs do not have this training – at least, to nowhere near the same level. It’s not their fault. They have been thrust into their current frontline positions by government policy.

This has to mean a poorer service. A more dangerous one. This has happened by stealth – there has been no public consultation. 

Are you happy with this? If not, write to your MP, now. Or just go ahead and storm the Houses of Parliament. Whatever it takes.

Regards,

The one remaining GP in England.”

This, I think, would achieve more than all of the fiddling-around-the-edges industrial action. It would gain publicity and focus political minds. Oh, and it would tell the truth. And when you have two opposing views, one political and one medical, I reckon I know which the public will believe. Even if it is terrifying.

Dr Tony Copperfield is a GP in Essex