Suddenly in November the ConDemGovernment announced that NHS England will no longer be responsible for kidney dialysis (a life saving treatment for people with failed kidneys): Instead, our local Clinical Commissioning Groups will fund and commission these services with all the risk that carries of a postcode lottery for patients.
Not only has the Government not consulted with Kidney patient groups and charities before announcing this but it has said that the new system will be in place by next April: An incredibly tight deadline for such a specialised and high tech’ health treatment.
On Tuesday 25th November, concerned charities and patient groups lobbied the ‘Dialysis Clinical Reference Group’ in Parliament to seek to belatedly influence Government plans. Why the rush to make such sweeping changes to such a sensitive service? Is the timetable being dictated by the needs of patients or a desire to move an expensive service before the General Election date?
Not only has the Government not consulted with Kidney patient groups and charities before announcing this but it has said that the new system will be in place by next April: An incredibly tight deadline for such a specialised and high tech’ health treatment.
On Tuesday 25th November, concerned charities and patient groups lobbied the ‘Dialysis Clinical Reference Group’ in Parliament to seek to belatedly influence Government plans. Why the rush to make such sweeping changes to such a sensitive service? Is the timetable being dictated by the needs of patients or a desire to move an expensive service before the General Election date?