The NHS are considering changes to the NHS constitution. These include making it a right to access services within a maximum waiting time, health checks every 5 years for those aged 40-74, and a 'constitution champion'.
When I talk to temporary patients (visitors to the area needing medical treatment), the feeling I get is that some have to wait days for an urgent appointment and possibly a week or two for a routine appointment to see a GP of their choice- thankfully this is not the situation at Reeth. We already offer a well person check every 3 years and often we are able to pick up problems such as diabetes or lung disease early on. I think that this should be an entitlement across the whole NHS.
To have your say, go to the on-line survey at: www.northyorkshireandyork.nhs.uk by 11 Jan 10
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The 'rights' proposed in the new NHS are not very challenging. A right to treatment within 18 weeks is pathetic; 18 weeks is a long time to wait for someone in pain. There should be a commitment to move over say 5 years to treatment within 4 - 6 weeks. As you suggest, a heath check every 5 years is also uninspiring; 2 -3 years should be a national target. Personal health budgets sound interesting but need a lot more fleshing out if they are to be effective in improving quality of service for the long-term ill, across the NHS.
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