Published on e-HealthExpert.org (http://e-healthexpert.org
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British Medical Association Chairman claims that the UK's "Choose
and Book" program is a "fiasco"
By J. Antas
Created 2005-06-28 21:20
An article at the EHI Primary Care site reports that the chairman of the
British Medical Association has criticised the UK government's choice
agenda and dubbed the "Choose and Book" program a "fiasco" that takes no
account of how GPs and hospitals work.
"Choose and Book" is a UK national project that intends to combine
electronic booking and a choice of time, date and place for first
outpatient appointment (more at: _Choose and Book Site_ [1])
A recent survey of more than 2000 members of the public conducted by
YouGov for the BMA found ‘choice of where to have an operation’ came
bottom of a list of 10 options of where those surveyed thought NHS
funding should be prioritised. *Cleaner hospitals, improved accident and
emergency and shorter waits for outpatient appointments were the top
three priorities rated by the public*.
The chairman of the British Medical Association told doctors at the
annual representative that "Choose and Book": “Has been a fiasco so far
because people who do not work with doctors or patients have devised a
system which does not begin to understand the basis on which GPs refer
and hospitals organise clinics. This is just a mini example of the much
bigger mess that could be coming our way with Connecting for Health (*)
if the new systems are not planned with the involvement of the nurses
and doctors who deliver the services to patients.”
(*) Connecting for Health is the UK's National ten year Programme for IT
(more at: _Connecting for Health Site_ [2])
The full article is available at: _Choose and Book a 'fiasco', claims
BMA chair_ [3]
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*Source URL:*
http://e-healthexpert.org/node/198
*Links:*
[1] http://www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk/about.asp
[2] http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/
[3] http://www.ehiprimarycare.com/news/item.cfm?ID=1287
