Interesting piece in the propoganda war that now surrounds the NHS Bill, you know what I mean , all of a sudden research and reports are produced that support a certain view. All published under the guise of news. I was really fascinated by this piece in the online Guardian today. It reports that a collection of NHS directors are arguing the elevation of the private commercial earning ceiling to 49% will benefit NHS patients. they say......
"Examples of these benefits include developing treatment innovations and specialisms - such as complex paediatric treatment, robotic surgery, and employer-funded mental health treatment - and mean that trusts will be able to provide services on the NHS that can no longer be commissioned or are now rationed, including IVF."
Now my eye was drawn to the term "employer funded mental health treatment". What could that treatment be I wonder. I assume its psychological therapies that are currently delivered by Employer Assistance Programmes and which engage with independent contractors. Now this could be an absolute fillip to the psychology services couldn't it? They could recruit more and more psychologists and their assistants and deliver an IAPT style programme for the employers who would pay well for such a service.
But hang on Clin Psychs are a very small group and the low and high intensity workers are being trained to provide IAPT, and in particualr we are now working on a plans to develop that service into greater provision to people with a label of Serious Mental Illness, and indeed Young people.
Could there be a potential diversion of resources here? Could we see a client group neglected because there is more revenue (and less hassle maybe) in treating those employee clinets stressed out as they struggle with the impending recession
I think we need to keep a very careful eye on this one, it would be a real tragedy if a client group that has consistently called for such services sees the promise of delivery lost.
But hey thats the "Market" for you!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment