Re: patient choice

[Guest guest]

Lilian and all - I was reading something today about patient choice - I will find the link and post it. But apparently the rules are now that from July 07 extended choice applies to orthopaedics - so provided the hospital meets the criteria laid down the patient can choose to go anywhere for orthopaedics. All other specialties will by April 08 be able to choose to go anywhere in the country provided the providing hospital/clinic meets the laid down criteria.

Methinks your PCT / GP are trying to pull the wool over your eyes Lilian - by my reading extended choice comes in from April 08 irrespective of where you live in the country!

Gill

----- Original Message -----

I think it depends a lot in which area you are living Gill. It is eventually coming where we can choose where we like all over the country but it is starting in certain areas first. Our area is not due for this until two thousand and ten. This was what I was told by our PCT representative at a meeting regarding this book and choose situation.

Very similar to changing to digital. Not all areas have to change at the same time. I believe areas in the north are going to have to change in 2008 but again I think our area is the last and 2012 is our deadline.

What it has caused is a lot of confusion. One thing now is that they do not send you appointments, so when I am told to come back in six months, I have to remember when that six months is up, I have to phone for the appointment and am not allowed to phone prior to one month before it is due. This is OK for someone who is organised and remembers to use their diary, but I wonder how many slip through the net because they forget.

Lilian

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[Guest guest]

Ah ha Gill, I thought they were doing that! Its was me who posted about not being allowed to choose.. They want me to go and sit quietly in the corner, no chance of that now, I have the bit between my teeth, and am hard on their trail... Its another thing I have on the go at the moment. Thank heavens for Armour. I think that's what that song is about. "I can see clearly now the rain has gone". Cannot remember who's song it was though.. It should be the TPA's Armour song. Carol X Re: patient choice

Lilian and all - I was reading something today about patient choice - I will find the link and post it. But apparently the rules are now that from July 07 extended choice applies to orthopaedics - so provided the hospital meets the criteria laid down the patient can choose to go anywhere for orthopaedics. All other specialties will by April 08 be able to choose to go anywhere in the country provided the providing hospital/clinic meets the laid down criteria.

Methinks your PCT / GP are trying to pull the wool over your eyes Lilian - by my reading extended choice comes in from April 08 irrespective of where you live in the country!

Gill

----- Original Message -----

I think it depends a lot in which area you are living Gill. It is eventually coming where we can choose where we like all over the country but it is starting in certain areas first. Our area is not due for this until two thousand and ten. This was what I was told by our PCT representative at a meeting regarding this book and choose situation.

Very similar to changing to digital. Not all areas have to change at the same time. I believe areas in the north are going to have to change in 2008 but again I think our area is the last and 2012 is our deadline.

What it has caused is a lot of confusion. One thing now is that they do not send you appointments, so when I am told to come back in six months, I have to remember when that six months is up, I have to phone for the appointment and am not allowed to phone prior to one month before it is due. This is OK for someone who is organised and remembers to use their diary, but I wonder how many slip through the net because they forget.

Lilian

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[Guest guest]

I was going to start this email with Oh Carol - but that's another song! In my case its I can see clearly now the grey-y, foggy veil has gone - getting thyroxine really felt like a grey net curtain had been moved - everything seemed so much brighter!

Maybe its a government plot to not treat us so we dont make waves?!! - power to your elbow Carol, go get em!!! They dont know what they have in store do they!

more and more I see why patients dont trust PCTs - I like to think its the same as with GPs - that they are ignorant rather than malicious - many of us who work in pCTs do so because we actually care about patients - unfortunately for others this obviously isnt the case!! More jobsworths and pulling wool over eyes I think!!

Gill

[Guest guest]

Oh Carol, how I agree with that. Without Armour, heaven only knows where we would all be. For one thing, I most definitely would NOT be running TPA-UK as I would be completely incapable of helping anybody, let alone myself. Go to this link and listen to the music playing this song, by ny Nash http://susie1114.com/icansee.html

From: Carol Fullbrook

thyroid treatment

Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 9:57 PM

Subject: Re: patient choice

Ah ha Gill, I thought they were doing that! Its was me who posted about not being allowed to choose.. They want me to go and sit quietly in the corner, no chance of that now, I have the bit between my teeth, and am hard on their trail... Its another thing I have on the go at the moment. Thank heavens for Armour. I think that's what that song is about. "I can see clearly now the rain has gone". Cannot remember who's song it was though.. It should be the TPA's Armour song.

Carol

X

Re: patient choice

Lilian and all - I was reading something today about patient choice - I will find the link and post it. But apparently the rules are now that from July 07 extended choice applies to orthopaedics - so provided the hospital meets the criteria laid down the patient can choose to go anywhere for orthopaedics. All other specialties will by April 08 be able to choose to go anywhere in the country provided the providing hospital/clinic meets the laid down criteria.

Methinks your PCT / GP are trying to pull the wool over your eyes Lilian - by my reading extended choice comes in from April 08 irrespective of where you live in the country!

Gill

----- Original Message -----

I think it depends a lot in which area you are living Gill. It is eventually coming where we can choose where we like all over the country but it is starting in certain areas first. Our area is not due for this until two thousand and ten. This was what I was told by our PCT representative at a meeting regarding this book and choose situation.

Very similar to changing to digital. Not all areas have to change at the same time. I believe areas in the north are going to have to change in 2008 but again I think our area is the last and 2012 is our deadline.

What it has caused is a lot of confusion. One thing now is that they do not send you appointments, so when I am told to come back in six months, I have to remember when that six months is up, I have to phone for the appointment and am not allowed to phone prior to one month before it is due. This is OK for someone who is organised and remembers to use their diary, but I wonder how many slip through the net because they forget.

Lilian

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[Guest guest]

I believe that it is ignorance Gill on the part of the majority of PCT's and medical practitioners,and not that they just don't care about patients. However, when you get right to the top, I don't believe it's ignorance with the Professors who are teaching young medical students. They are showing that those activists in the BTA really do NOT care about patients, their interest lies elsewhere. As I keep saying, watch this space. I will be posting the TPA comments on the BTA Statement on Armour to them this week and then we will wait and see what they have to say. Dr Peatfield has read through it all yesterday, and today, I have to tidy up the references because I had one statement in twice and the references attached to that one statement were 10 in number. What a job. However, he said it was "excellent" and that there has never been such a document before, so it is a "first". I want to get it out to every doctor in the UK.

Luv - Sheila

Re: patient choice

I was going to start this email with Oh Carol - but that's another song! In my case its I can see clearly now the grey-y, foggy veil has gone - getting thyroxine really felt like a grey net curtain had been moved - everything seemed so much brighter!

Maybe its a government plot to not treat us so we dont make waves?!! - power to your elbow Carol, go get em!!! They dont know what they have in store do they!

more and more I see why patients dont trust PCTs - I like to think its the same as with GPs - that they are ignorant rather than malicious - many of us who work in pCTs do so because we actually care about patients - unfortunately for others this obviously isnt the case!! More jobsworths and pulling wool over eyes I think!!

Gill

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[Guest guest]

I thought that it was Jimmy Cliff who sang this, I had not realised it was ny Nash.

Luv nne

Go to this link and listen to the music playing this song, by ny Nash http://susie1114.com/icansee.html

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[Guest guest]

>

> However, he said it was " excellent " and that there has never been

> such a document before, so it is a " first " . I want to get it out to

> every doctor in the UK.

Good on you Sheila. You & others like you are blazing the trail. Be

proud of your lunatic fringe!

Rosie

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila,

Will you want help with

printing and posting when you send this out?

----- " . I

want to get it out to every doctor in the UK.

Luv - Sheila

[Guest guest]

Think they both sang it nne.

Luv - Sheila

I thought that it was Jimmy Cliff who sang this, I had not realised it was ny Nash.Luv nne

Go to this link and listen to the music playing this song, by ny Nash http://susie1114.com/icansee.html

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[Guest guest]

Did a quick search Sheila, yes ny Nash sang the original and Jimmy Cliff did a cover version, I love learning new things so started of my Thursday well.

Luv nne

Think they both sang it nne.

Luv - Sheila

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[Guest guest]

>>> All other specialties will by April 08 be able to choose to go anywhere in the country provided the providing hospital/clinic meets the laid down criteria.<<<<

Who sets the criteria?

Methinks your PCT / GP are trying to pull the wool over your eyes Lilian - by my reading extended choice comes in from April 08 irrespective of where you live in the country!

This was all said at an open meeting so I cannot see why they would be doing this. Why would they want to do this. They are not having to pay out for transport and usually most people do not want to go too many miles away. Why would they want to stop me going to say Clacton hospital but I am allowed to go to Colchester hospital when they are both about the same distance away. What would be the reason behind the PCT saying this. It was their representative who was informing us all of this.

Lilian

[Guest guest]

My take on this matter Lilian is that you are entitled to pick your hospital/consultant from any that are in the PCT's area. Are they in charge of both hospitals or does Clacton come under a different PCT?

Luv nne

Why would they want to stop me going to say Clacton hospital but I am allowed to go to Colchester hospital when they are both about the same distance away. What would be the reason behind the PCT saying this. It was their representative who was informing us all of this.

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[Guest guest]

HI Rosie

I'm very proud of our "lunatic fringe" - these professors will be working very hard to prove that our information is completely incorrect, of course.

Luv - Sheila

Good on you Sheila. You & others like you are blazing the trail. Be proud of your lunatic fringe!Rosie

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[Guest guest]

Thankfully it isn't or I would be late to my destination LOL - always leave at 8am when off to my sister for the day, she would wonder where the heck I was. Something nice happening that you are wishing your life away ?

Luv nne

Good lass - I actually keep thinking it is Saturday today for some reason ;o)

Luv - Sheila

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[Guest guest]

I was giving an example but yes one is in the area they are responsible for and the other hospital is not.

It is just that we have been told that it will not come to our area until 2010 whereas Gill says we should all be able to choose anywhere from April 2008. The PCT rep did say it would start in some areas in 2008. Perhaps it is just that our PCT will not have got their act together until 2010

Lilian

[Guest guest]

I have been told by my GP that it is not available here either Lilian. I am confused, will the new rules mean that we can insist on going out of the area?

Luv nne

I was giving an example but yes one is in the area they are responsible for and the other hospital is not.

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[Guest guest]

It looks like at the moment we cannot but it is coming that we will be able to go to any hospital in the country (which meets their criteria). I think the confusion is exactly when it is going to happen.

Lilian

I have been told by my GP that it is not available here either Lilian. I am confused, will the new rules mean that we can insist on going out of the area?

[Guest guest]

Thanks Lilian, I shall be talking with my GP about this as there are NHS dr's in London who prescribe armour and I just need someone to see me once a year to say that I am going well and my bloods are fine - not a lot but I refuse to pay a Private Dr £240 for that privilege and a letter - I can buy my meds for less than that so no point at all.

Luv nne

It looks like at the moment we cannot but it is coming that we will be able to go to any hospital in the country (which meets their criteria). I think the confusion is exactly when it is going to happen.

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[Guest guest]

Hi Lilian - criteria is laid down by DoH/NHS - Im not an expert on this area (or any other come to think of it ha ha!) but I think the link gives the criteria for hospitals etc to be on the extended choice menu.

Re what your PCT said, I would think that if this was said openly it was probably what they believed at the time and things in the NHS are changing so fast its very hard to be up to date. The hospitals will fit the criteria so will be included in the extended choice menu from April. Put it down to ignorance and ask them again!!

Transport is still an issue with patient choice and most people do want to go to a local hospital - some, like some of us on TPA, want to go to someone with a better track record or near to family in other areas - its part of the nHS drive to up quality by introducing competition - the idea being patients will go to the hospitals with the best results (in theory). I cant see any advantage in the PCT not wanting you to have a choice - it costs the same wherever you go - the only possible advantage I can see is that they dont have the commissioning contracts people to manage lots of different invoices from hospitals, but I think its more likely to just have been ignorance.

Gill

[Guest guest]

Hi Lilian/nne - the link re extended choice is the DoH/NHS guidance that PCTs have to work to. This is therefore a requirement that patients are allowed extended choice for all specialties from April 08. I dont know the guidance in detail but there are usually targets attached to these policies and its a brave or foolish PCT which wouldnt ensure they had these policies in place! So yes come April you can insist on a referral to any hospital that meets the criteria - which NHS hospitals will meet, most private hospitals will meet it too if they have got their act together. The criteria is to ensure that hospitals, private clinics etc, are up to scratch - not just to rule out patients being able to go to them. Now the GPs have a choice menu, which typically will have 4 or 5 providers for each specialty (except very specialist areas where providers are few). The extended choice menu will be available for all GPs to access all the accredited providers. The criteria clearly says that the time for this to happen is April 2008. If it affects you please study the guidance document, as Im not an expert in this area and have a lot going on so dont have time to study it in detail Im afraid.

Gill

It looks like at the moment we cannot but it is coming that we will be able to go to any hospital in the country (which meets their criteria). I think the confusion is exactly when it is going to happen.

Lilian

I have been told by my GP that it is not available here either Lilian. I am confused, will the new rules mean that we can insist on going out of the area?

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[Guest guest]

Thank you so much Gill, this is very helpful because I can print it out and take it with me and let him say, oh no haha, when I have the proof in my hand. I can wait until April to get a referral to someone who knows what the heck they are doing. I wonde why my PCT is adamant that I can only go to someone in my area, perhaps they think that I am not likely to find out the truth - silly people, they should know better LOL.

Luv nne

Hi Lilian/nne - the link re extended choice is the DoH/NHS guidance that PCTs have to work to. This is therefore a requirement that patients are allowed extended choice for all specialties from April 08.

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[Guest guest]



nne - I think the document tells us it should happen in all specialties from April. What you are suggesting is exactly the sort of thing the NHS are encouraging to happen - patients will go to the hospitals/consultants who give them good treatment, the poor/bad hospitals will have to think very hard as to why they arent getting the referrals in (and the money that goes with the referral). Hospitals and specialties that cant pay for themselves will have to cut services - if they arent getting the patients through the doors they arent getting the money in! This is very good news really for us hypoTs as if we all go to the good docs such as the ones on the list the other hospitals/consultants - including the prof weetmans of the world, will either have to change their ways or find that their hours of work (or jobs) are cut! Couldnt happen to a more deserving bunch could it!!

Gill

Re: patient choice

Thanks Lilian, I shall be talking with my GP about this as there are NHS dr's in London who prescribe armour and I just need someone to see me once a year to say that I am going well and my bloods are fine - not a lot but I refuse to pay a Private Dr £240 for that privilege and a letter - I can buy my meds for less than that so no point at all.

Luv nne

It looks like at the moment we cannot but it is coming that we will be able to go to any hospital in the country (which meets their criteria). I think the confusion is exactly when it is going to happen.

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[Guest guest]

Oh boy, are they in for a great big shock, right in their very wealthy pockets, especially as you say Gill with all of us who are not being treated right. Money made from keeping us sick as well. I must say though that my GP is great, just not totally up on what is going on in this big wide world. He is the sort who acknowledges me outside of the surgery and is very pleasant - I cannot speak too highly of him really although I have not got what I need, he has done his very best to get me everything I need but is held back by red tape and the other dr's. I for one am most grateful for your information, it will help me no end.

Luv nne

nne - I think the document tells us it should happen in all specialties from April. What you are suggesting is exactly the sort of thing the NHS are encouraging to happen - patients will go to the hospitals/consultants who give them good treatment, the poor/bad hospitals will have to think very hard as to why they arent getting the referrals in (and the money that goes with the referral).

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[Guest guest]

You're welcome nne. Ive found that a lot of GPs arent very knowledgable about this sort of policy so taking it with you could be a good idea - but maybe he will have got the message by April anyway!! If the PCT have done their job!!

Gill

Re: patient choice

Thank you so much Gill, this is very helpful because I can print it out and take it with me and let him say, oh no haha, when I have the proof in my hand. I can wait until April to get a referral to someone who knows what the heck they are doing. I wonde why my PCT is adamant that I can only go to someone in my area, perhaps they think that I am not likely to find out the truth - silly people, they should know better LOL.Luv nne

Hi Lilian/nne - the link re extended choice is the DoH/NHS guidance that PCTs have to work to. This is therefore a requirement that patients are allowed extended choice for all specialties from April 08.

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[Guest guest]

That is the biggest IF you have every seen in the case of my PCT and I will not be waiting until April to take it, I shall be taking it with me on the 17th as I have an appointment to discuss the PCT's refusal for me to go outside of the area!!! How timely was that LOL.

Luv nne

You're welcome nne. Ive found that a lot of GPs arent very knowledgable about this sort of policy so taking it with you could be a good idea - but maybe he will have got the message by April anyway!! If the PCT have done their job!!

Gill

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