Action for ME: GP home visits under threat

[Wits_End]

Based on my experience home visits in the UK are an urban myth.

My caree has had several this year.

 

[Gecko]

Motion passed - shockingly

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/gps-vote-for-home-visits-to-be-removed-from-contract/20039743.article?utm_source=Pulse Views Newsletter

The motion called on the BMA GP Committee to 'remove the anachronism of home visits from core contract work' and 'negotiate a separate acute service for urgent visits'.

They also voted for the GPC to negotiate a separate acute service for urgent visits.

After a long debate, with many speakers on both sides, it was voted 54% for to 46% against.

The vote means that the GPC will be mandated to negotiate for this in contract negotiations. In the debate, the GPC said that it was highly unlikely NHS England would accept such proposals.'

Not much comment on twitter but what I can see on the whole seems to think this is a bonkers idea:


Edit: On a personal note: I have been able to access home visits when I've been entirely housebound, at both GP practices I've been registered with, but I realise this appears to be an extremely fortunate situation to be in.

 

[Michelle]

In my city (Portland OR - so not in the UK) we have a practice that does only home visits. I wonder if it might be worth NHS putting together home-visits only surgeries? For many years I was on Coumadin, and I remember asking my clinic what would happen if I was too ill to make it to clinic to have my INR checked. The nurse always looked at me blankly. It was clear the idea that someone couldn't get to the clinic just simply didn't register. Dragging myself in there every week or two sucked away so much functional capacity. Thankfully that home-visit practice was able to take over my care when I simply couldn't get to the clinic any longer in 2011. God knows what would have happened to me without them.

According to The Guardian, the Health Minister Matt Hancock says the idea of dropping home visits is "a non-starter."

 

[Wonko]

That's just coz it would be politically unpopular with his voters and probably end his career.

I am led to believe that the majority of the current governments voters are of advanced years, so may be slightly attached to the idea that a GP would visit if needed.

It is well known that the government will not withdraw a much loved and needed service.

What they 'may' do is redefine 'needed' so that it has only ever applied to 3 people, all of whom died in 1785.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

The health secretary seems to have blocked this proposal for stopping home visits.

 

[Forestvon]

Last time I had a home visit was about 5 years ago and my GP told me that GET was the best evidence-based treatment for ME.

Whenever I speak to a different Gp (never about ME) if poss I ask what they know about ME and tell them about the probs with GET and NICE being revised now and if they visit I give them at least one Lauras comic strip and ME awareness leaflet and asked last one if he could take more and he did.
Download www.mechat.co.uk/db/tips.htm
Also send them Dr Hngs book.