I read Robert Fisk's very good article on this matter that Kathryn Bonds & I have been pursuing on behalf of NHS patients (Referrals 'sent to Brighton' from GP, April 2).
I would like to comment on the answers given to your reporter, firstly Dr Anthony Brzezicki, who failed in my view, to explain, as he did to me at the Croydon NHS Commissioning Boards meeting on April 1 when he told me that should I refuse to let my GP triage an NHS Appointment through the Private Company, Cress, (which cost us £1.4m out of our NHS budget) there was nothing they could do except to send my application for an NHS Consultant appointment on, without it going via Cress!
Secondly, the CCG spokewoman, was in my view wrong about other CCGs triaging patients this way, I understand it is only Croydon who do this. I would advise anyone who does not want their Private Medical records to firstly go to an unregulated firm, who are not subject to Freedom of Information Act 2000, to refuse, there is nothing your GP or Croydon Clinical Commissioning Board can do.! I'm sure they will attack me for telling you this!
Peter Howard
by email
- Send your letters to: letters@croydonguardian.co.uk
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