VIEWPOINT FROM DR RICHARD TAYLOR 
FOR 8 JANUARY 2009

It was good news on Christmas Eve to learn that a partnership of south Worcerstershire NHS GPs had won the contract to run the new GP-led health centre in Worcester. 
For those against privatisation of the NHS it is reassuring that NHS providers can now win contracts in competition with private providers who until now appear to have been given unfair advantages. Competition can improve services and complaints about this can be countered if competitive tendering is on a level playing field, and, as in this case, NHS providers can win and thus retain services within the NHS.
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There was welcome news also from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). 
Following consultation NICE treatment appraisal committees are to take into account the severity of the illness under consideration and end of life treatments. It was NICE's refusal to allow the NHS to provide some anti-cancer drugs that prolong life that led the Government to request Professor Richards, the Cancer Tsar, to review the pros and cons of allowing top-up fees for NHS drugs. 
This review has led to welcome efforts to reduce significantly the numbers of treatments not passed by NICE and to negotiate price control with pharmaceutical companies. The Richards' Review recommended that treatment under the NHS for those who could afford to top up their treatment would be acceptable as long as it was provided separately from those who were not able to top up their treatment. 
To me this amounted to an unacceptable two tier system and, at a meeting with the Health Secretary and Professor Richards before Christmas, 
I told them of my feelings and that we were disregarding the majority of people who would never be able to consider raising the money for top up fees. I am watching the outcome with interest.
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I have written to the Chancellor and Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, about the Government's ruling brought in last April to charge rates on empty business properties. 
The idea of this was to encourage the use of such premises but the effect, I am told, is crippling by reducing drastically the value of empty properties and thus making them less attractive to banks as collateral for essential loans. I understand that some valuable premises are even being demolished because of this reduction in effective value and extra costs for struggling businesses. I wonder if the Government, looking for help in the financial crisis, will see any merit in reviewing these charges.
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I recently visited the Kidderminster branch of Remploy to hear about the Government's "Pathways to Work" scheme for those with disabilities. 
I was very impressed by the enthusiasm of the Branch Manager and the successes they are having in a friendly atmosphere aimed at increasing skills and confidence in interesting and enjoyable ways. If recommended by the Jobcentre the programme is mandatory but they also help voluntary customers. 
One slogan on the wall attracted me, 

"My ability is what makes me different". 

Contact details: 0845 155 2819 or pathways@remploy.co.uk.

RT

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