Thread by @docrussjackson

#THREAD

The anti-NHS Express reports Sarah Jarvis, a regular on the toxic #JeremyVine show, has called for fines for #NHS patients who fail to turn up for GP appointments. Unmentioned in this article is that she is also Clinical Director FOR PATIENT UK.

express.co.uk/news/uk/161788…

Missing GP appointments is serious, & most Doctors surgeries make it clear to patients that it has consequences.

But there are many legitimate reasons why patients miss appointments & fines would disproportionately hit already poor/marginalised groups.

bjgp.org/content/71/707…

Predictably, controversial anti-lockdown & anti-#NHS Professor, Karol Sikora, now an Express columnist, said: “How do we solve the problem? Fines for those who fail to attend appointments without fair notice could be considered. We have to try something."

https://twitter.com/docrussjackson/status/1495424619418951688?s=20&t=vDa9rYnehVOTIgJoicQ3QQ

'Patient info' is part of Patient UK, an online resource providing information on health, lifestyle, disease & other medical related topics.

Patient UK is a subsidiary of EMIS Health, a business providing digital healthcare products to the general public via 'Patient info'.

EMIS Health, formerly known as Egton Medical Information Systems, supplies electronic patient record systems & software used in primary care, acute care & community pharmacy in the UK, & claims that more than half of GP practices across the UK use EMIS Health software.

The other approved GP systems are SystmOne, Microtest Health & Vision. In England EMIS & SystmOne have a duopoly. The pair were paid £77million for primary care software in 2018.

'Patient info' provides members of the public with up-to-date information on health related topics.

Users also have access to a symptom checker where they may attempt to self-diagnose health conditions.

There is also a community forum to discuss any health topics with other users of the website, however this section is not actively reviewed by any healthcare professionals.

Interestingly, & what the article fails to mention, is that there is also a paid-for service at 'Patient info' called 'Patient Pro', where users may pay a monthly subscription fee.

Imho, the threat of fines MIGHT push more people to pay for this.

Imho, there is currently a carefully crafted & concerted effort by our free-market Govt, aided by pretty much every single right-wing news & politics print & broadcast media platform, to destroy faith in our #NHS in order to push for introducing EVEN MORE UK private healthcare.