Of course I do, but not of that word.
A minimal amount of the help does. I would not for an instant *depend* on the NHS or for that matter any doctor for any of this.
- An inadequate for purpose quanbreasty of test materials are supplied by them. Not good enough.
- I have to insist that certain periodic tests are carried out, that are part of the NICE guidelines, but that would not be done otherwise.
- I have to push the GP surgery to supply the detailed results that I require. Being told "OK" is not acceptable to me.
- The GP is quite reasonable and actually supportive of my efforts to manage my own healthcare with him in the role of trusted advisor. However, we have had numerous conversations about what are clinically sensible and advisable targets for various parameters for me. These are at wide variance with those set by the NHS and for which points and bonuses are awarded to GPs. He bemoans the fact that the whole thing has become so politicised and that he has to toe the government line which he knows is not in the best interests of his patients. Given an appropriate opportunity, he and his colleagues in the practice would resign from NHS work tomorrow. Indications are that there would be a lot of local support for primary healthcare operated outside of the NHS.
Equally, most patients are at fault. They expect the doctor to give them a little white pill that they can take every day, paid for by the NHS and which will fix their ills without their having to do anything themselves. To me this is the inevitable outcome of the welfare state and socialised delivery of medicine.
