Health chiefs to hold talks with York GPs over 'go private' letter claim

8:59pm Tuesday 4th October 2011 in News

HEALTH bosses are to hold urgent talks with GPs at a York health centre who wrote to patients telling them the NHS will no longer fund minor operations.

It has tonight been reported that doctors at the Haxby and Wigginton Health Centre had instead advised patients they would have to go private for procedures such as dealing with ingrowing toenails, mole removal and cutting out warts and cysts.

A letter from John McEvoy, managing partner at the centre – which serves more than 20,000 patients - obtained by the website nhsmanagers.net said: “We are holding your details on a list of patients who require a minor surgical procedure that is no longer paid for by the NHS.

“As a result, I am writing to make you aware of some of the options you have to have the procedure completed as a private patient.”

The Guardian reported Mr McEvoy as saying NHS savings meant health trusts were no longer prepared to fund such treatments and the centre had decided to explain that patients could have them done privately, with GPs making little or no profit.

NHS North Yorkshire and York’s medical director Dr David Geddes said the trust was worried about possible breaches of the Data Protection Act and the accuracy of the information, adding: “We have some concerns about the activities of the Haxby and Wigginton Health Centre and we will be discussing these issues with them directly as a matter of urgency.”

* Are you among the patients at Haxby and Wigginton Health Centre who has received this letter? If so, phone Mark Stead at The Press on 01904 567156.

Comments(10)

Theendoftheworld says...
1:34pm Wed 5 Oct 11

'The NHS is safe in our hands' ' We will not privatise the NHS'
Can someone please remind me which party said this.

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alfie says...
1:35pm Wed 5 Oct 11

I dont understand this story so is this untrue or not my doctor in york has said that cyst removel etc cannot be done on the NHS and has to be done privately because its cosmetic.

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perplexed says...
2:59pm Wed 5 Oct 11

Those who voted Conservative at the last election should hang their heads in shame.Who will challenge GP's when the PCT'S are disbanded and replaced by GP's? Lansley's so called reforms now mean that GP's will be both Commisioners and Providers.Surely, a conflict of interest? It is a disgrace!

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Zetkin says...
3:07pm Wed 5 Oct 11

Liberal voters must shoulder their share of the blame too.

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perplexed says...
5:52pm Wed 5 Oct 11

John McEvoy as well as a non-clinical partner at Haxby and Wigginton Health Centre is also Vice Chairman of the York Medical Group, which is involved in planning and commissioning GP services across York. Either Mr McEvoy's GP colleagues will back his discriminatory measures against the poor or they will not. Time will tell .

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interestedmountvale says...
6:16pm Wed 5 Oct 11

Is this the thin end of the wedge? It certainly will be if the Government's Health Bill is passed into law.
If I was a patient at the Haxby and Wigginton Health Centre I would be seriously considering whether I wished to remain registered with them.

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tulip84 says...
11:39am Fri 7 Oct 11

I would stay at this forward thinking practice who has the interests of it's patients at the top of the agenda, unlike the PCT. Well done Mr McEvoy and all the Partners there for knowing what your patients want and offering them a service and choice.

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tulip84 says...
11:40am Fri 7 Oct 11

I would stay at this forward thinking practice who has the interests of it's patients at the top of the agenda, unlike the PCT. Well done Mr McEvoy and all the Partners there for knowing what your patients want and offering them a service and choice.

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GP observer says...
6:32pm Thu 13 Oct 11

It is important to understand that GPs are independent contractors. This means they are in the private sector, just as Tesco's or Sainsbury's. Most practices offer a great level of service, some not so good. This is just another example of the private sector being innovative in order to make some more money. I think this is fine, but please let's allow more competitors in to the market place too. If GPs can sell services, I'd also like more choice of Tesco's and Sainsbury's offering a service too.

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GP observer says...
6:34pm Thu 13 Oct 11

It is important to understand that GPs are independent contractors. This means they are in the private sector, just as Tesco's or Sainsbury's. Most practices offer a great level of service, some not so good. This is just another example of the private sector being innovative in order to make some more money. I think this is fine, but please let's allow more competitors in to the market place too. If GPs can sell services, I'd also like more choice of Tesco's and Sainsbury's offering a service too.

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