Weep, oh weep, for what we are going to lose

Ducks lining up

Whenever I have expressed a strong opinion about the way I see the NHS reforms going, I tend to rely on what my patients tell me. Day in, day out.

Their experiences of in-patient care, out-patient care, accident and emergency, nursing home care. Many of the consultations I have I am asked to listen to peoples' experiences with the NHS. That is what Jobbing GPs do.

Some are extremely good experiences. I had one patient tell me how well she was dealt with by a radiology department, because she was claustrophobic, and needed a CT scan. The care of many individual nurses is often praised.

Some of their experiences are not good.

I know what goes on.

This does not mean that I have the time, drive, corporate nous, ability or desire to commission the lot in the 'new' NHS that is on the horizon.

My patients asked me if I am pleased to be in the driving seat of the new reforms, and I tell them that we are heading for complete chaos, and this message is not yet getting through to Mr Lansley. However, one by one, the ducks are lining up....against the reforms.

Now the Kings' Fund [strangely described as a 'respected' and an 'independent' charity] has now come out against the drift of the reforms. Despite having pro-Government supporters and advisers at the helm for the last few years [Messrs Ham and Dickson to name but two], even they are distancing themselves from the new changes.

The vast majority of GPs are against it (although you will always find some zealots who are supportive and pragmatists who are acquiescent).

The patients are being fed the establishment line, or being kept in the dark.

There is a whole undercurrent of what will happen that is being kept opaque, and that will be piecemeal privatisation. My experience of privatisation of services has been uniformly consistent - higher costs, worse service. It is the laws of elemental economics. Private firms owe their first allegiance to the shareholders.

I read this story about a man's personal experience in the Paper yesterday. I know he is a journalist, and the paper is the Guardian, but it is a personal story. A narrative. What happened as opposed to corporate spin.

I get told these stories too.

It makes me want to weep.