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Letter to the Secretary of State for Health
Dear Andrew Lansley
Commodification, commissioning and commercialisation: the growing threats
to personal healthcare
I have been an inner city Principal GP since the 1970s and have witnessed and implemented the successive changes.
All have been well intentioned, and all have had adverse unintended consequences. Changes towards commodification,
commissioning and commercialisation of healthcare are particularly destructive where ‘soft skills’ and personal
investment are crucial.
We are at the edge of another tranche of accelerated changes. In the near future I fear for the integrity of my
work and the personal care of my patients. Beyond that, almost certainly, I shall become a patient: I have a dread
of care by agencies and teams with no personal experience or knowledge of me, and little skills or interest to
invest in these.
I enclose an analytical summary of my last few years’ observation and thoughts about these very difficult and important
healthcare issues. ‘Five Executive Follies’ pursues lines of enquiry that may be unfamiliar for you, but may be
rewarding. It has been written very carefully and requires similar attention to best assimilate and understand.
Despite your enormous volume of written communication and other work, I hope you will find time for this.
I write to stimulate thought and creative discussion. I welcome any further contact from either you, or one of
your deputies.
Thank you for your attention and interest.
With best wishes
David Zigmond
Copyright © David Zigmond 1986, 2011
Interested?
Many articles exploring similar themes are available via David Zigmond’s home page on www.marco-learningsystems.com
David Zigmond would be pleased to receive your
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Version: 2nd May 2012
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