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Exclusive: Health secretary Alan Johnson's new year's message for GPs

07-Jan-09

Health secretary Alan Johnson says that the GP role will become even more critical this year, in his new year's message to GPs.

Writing exclusively for Healthcare Republic, Mr Johnson details the ‘significant milestones’ achieved in primary care, congratulates GPs and their teams for an ‘outstanding job’ in 2008 and reveals the crucial role he is looking for the profession to fulfil this year.

Mr Johnson’s message in full:
I’m delighted to be starting another new year as health secretary. There’s no such thing as a quiet year in the life of the NHS and 2008 was no exception.

In primary care alone, we’ve seen many significant milestones: more surgeries opening in the evenings and at weekends; new investment for GP practices in under-doctored areas; we’ve agreed fairer funding for GP practices with the BMA; and just over a month ago, I had the pleasure of opening the first GP health centre in Bradford.

These changes are important, because primary care is in many ways what defines the NHS. Over the past year, I have been lucky enough to visit practices across the country, and have seen first hand the outstanding job that GPs, practice nurses and primary care staff do.

Easy access to a doctor if you’re sick or worried about your health is the bit of the NHS that the public cherishes the most. And it is the dedication and hard work of GPs and the many primary care professionals who work with them, that we have to thank for some of the most significant recent improvements in the health and wellbeing of people in this country.

In 2009 and beyond, the role of GPs will become even more critical. It is GPs who will lead the fight against major preventable illnesses and lifestyle diseases such as obesity. And it is GPs who can enable people to take more control over their own health – whether by managing a long-term condition more effectively or by leading a healthier life.
So thank you for all your hard work and for everything you’ve achieved and I wish you every success for the coming year.

neil.durham@haymarket.com

What do you think of Mr Johnson’s message?

Comment below and tell us what you think

Comments

Daniel Franks

07/01/2009

How will GPs "lead the fight against...lifestyle diseases such as obesity" exactly?

It is government that needs to act, not GPs...

How about taxing unhealthy food and subsidising "healthy" food?

Or even tax breaks for those with a BMI in the normal range?!

Lindy Williams

07/01/2009

Looks a bit like that method of questioning suspects when they do heavy questions one minute and then go all nice.

One day GPs are not available enough hours in the day or are so hopeless that they must be castigated by a dissatisfied public on some expensive privatised website and the next they are all wonderful.

Let's have some meaningful respect and trust for primary instead of constant meddling and bullying.

Rupen Kulkarni

07/01/2009

What can one say about sleazy jokers, who cannot tell the difference between what is offensive to hear and what is funny but fails to make one laugh ? Ignore the drivel. Let the people responsible for it, pick up the tab.

Caroline Downes

08/01/2009

When will the government realise that they cannot legislate to make people take responsibility for their own lifestyle.

GP's cannot force patients to eat healthily etc they can only advise on the options and then it is the responsibility of the individual to choose which course they will take.

Why do we not teach healthy lifestyle and eating from the beginning of shchool lives, give our youngest children the proper tools to enable them to improve their life choices instead of letting them continue to beleive that take away meals and salt and sugar laden pre prepared meals are the correct choice. Education is what should be provided.

Jonathan Harte

08/01/2009

Medicalising lifestyle issues such as obesity and lack of exercise is only going to fuel demand for already stretched primary care services and provide a perfect cop out for the public when they can't or won't change. I fully support providing health promotion services and identifying and advising on risks to health, but as said above we can't force people to change so shouldn't be penalised when they don't.