Re: Labour sets out stall with ambitious primary care reform agenda – but how?

Dear Editor

When seeking to reform any complex system the first thing to do is add simplicity. It is not obvious from this article that that is being proposed.

My decision to retire early was multifaceted. Leading factors included the morphing of the job into something that became increasingly unrecognisable and undoable. The proportion of time being wasted in non-care productive tasks was exceeding the time available for useful work with patients.

I offer the view that the leading desideratum in Labour led NHS reform should be prioritising the availability of professional assessment and advice of anything, anywhere and at any time. Same day, or better still – immediate, appointments should be the norm, unless the patient wishes otherwise. This can be done – I know – I used to do it and the patients value it.

Anything that inhibits patient/doctor communication harms care.

Yours sincerely

Steve Ford