DH to mandate GPs to encourage lifestyle change every time they see patients

[Northerner]

The Government is set to include a statutory duty in the NHS Constitution for GPs to ?make every contact count? to ensure their patients and colleagues are leading healthier lives, despite concern it will be used for performance management.

In a document summarising the responses to their consultation on the proposed changes, the Department of Health concluded that mandating NHS staff to ?maximise opportunities? at each contact on health and wellbeing would be a ?welcome? change to the constitution.

But the DH admitted a ?significant? number of respondents were concerned about its implementation and enforcement, voicing concerns about whether this would be used as a tool for performance management.

The duty was first suggested by the NHS Future Forum last January to require GPs to ask about diet, smoking, exercise and drinking habits, but was described at the time by the RCGP as a ?muddled? idea.

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/cl...ey-see-patients/20001909.article#.USNQd6XASSo

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[trophywench]

They don't know how to give such advice, so how can they?

They have no idea whatever - for instance - what it's like to be diabetic, or on a really really low wage (or unemployed). Or for anyone who doesn't have their own transport. Or can't afford the bus fare to somewhere GP wants to send em, eg hospital. How could they?

If you want to pack up smoking, they just tell you how bad it is for you which you already knew otherwise you wouldn't be here, would you? then say you can't have Xyban or whatever it is called cos you are diabetic and give you 3 weeks worth of nicotine patches. No 'Advice', no suggestion to come back, no motivational encouragement.

Like politicians, they don't really live in the real world, do they?

 

[LeeLee]

Following on from TW, ... and, depending on which PCT your GP belongs to, will probably not offer the kind of help/intervention that would benefit a particular patient. Some might benefit from weight loss groups, or one-to-one sessions with a nurse specialist, or referral to a qualified dietician, or advice on exercise... the list goes on. It's all well and good mentioning lifestyle at each appointment, but without practical help many of those who mught be willing to change simply don't know where to start. Rant over.

 

[Northerner]

So many GPs only offer 10 mins per appointment these days - how much of that time is going to be taken up with discussing things like this? If you place extra workload on the system you have to fund additional resources - more doctors so that more time can be spent with patients, plus of course all the extra resources mentioned to actually help people.

It's a bit like that 'are you depressed' question they are supposed to ask people with diabetes - there's very little time to discuss things if you say yes, and a dearth of support on offer