Comical Pat Strikes Again

The Secretary of State for Comedy Health has struck again this morning, this time with one of the most laughable policy ideas ever.

It has been well documented that in a large number of areas that there is a shortage of GPs. But instead of coming up with a plan for addressing this shortfall, comical ali Patricia Hewitt has confirmed to the nation that she hasn't got a clue.

Her plan, (wait for it) is to open GPs' surgeries in Supermarkets!

Yes, I can hardly believe the lunacy myself, but it is true, leading retailers will be invited to bid to open GPs' surgeries in their stores in areas with too few doctors under an initiative about to be announced as part of the public services review. Although there was no mention whatsoever as to how they would get GPs to work in these, when they are short of GPs already.

The services, in these supermarket surgeries, will be offered by private providers, which will means that GPs working in them will not be covered by the controversial GPs' contract - which allowed GPs to opt out of providing 24-hour cover - and so can offer "breakfast", evening and Saturday morning surgeries. Last week the Commons public accounts committee condemned the government's handling of their brainchild contract as shambolic. Personally, I think that was a rather kind statement.

However, there is a key phrase that every voter must remember "services will be offered by private providers", yes you did read right "PRIVATE". The government have always used the arguement that the NHS will be privatised under the tories, and only safe with them, but this statement is a clear example of them hiving off parts of the NHS to the private sector, something they said they would never do. Which I don't remember seeing in any of their election manifestoes, and would therefore make this another Labour lie to the electorate?

So, apart from the lunacy of opening surgeries in supermarkets when there isn't enough GPs to run the existing surgeries, we will also see the provisions of GP services farmed out to the private sector, under a Labour government!

Somebody was definetly using their "Divi Card" when they came up with this one.


Hat-tip to Beau Bo D'Or for the graphic.