I kept hoping that this was a terrible mistake, and that the story would be retracted. Alas, it seems to be be all too real, and an insult to the Hippocratic Oath.
From the Telegraph (UK)
An elderly woman was ordered to find a new GP because the “carbon footprint” of her two-mile round trips to the surgery where she had been treated for 30 years was too large.
Avril Mulcahy, 83, was told to address the “green travelling issues” over her journeys from her home in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, to the West Road Surgery.
The letter said: “Our greatest concern is for your health and convenience but also taking into consideration green travelling issues. Re: Carbon footprints and winter weather conditions, we feel it would be advisable for patients to register at surgeries nearer to where they live. We would be very grateful if you could make the necessary arrangements to re-register at another practice.”
…
“To be treated like this, just because I live too far away or for what I feel is a reaction to my complaint, is disgraceful. It feels like they are just coming up with an excuse to get rid of me.”
Given the treatment I have experienced for my views, I wouldnot be at all surprised if this grows. As Andrew Bolt says: “They really are mad you know…“
I’m so gobsmacked by this post that I have checked the distance to my GP as suggested in Ian E’s post. I live in a UK Midlands town, my GP is in the next town.
Google Maps shows 3.3 mile by car, but only 2.9 miles on foot.
Fortunately my GP is a bit more sensible about carbon footprints but is still on the NHS message about forcing statins down people’s throats.
It is almost certain that the real reason was that she complained about her doctor and the one thing they can’t use as a reason for removing her from the practice list is making a complaint so they probably made it up
Disgusting.
2 miles round trip – 1 mile each way – 83 years old with a 30 year history? I don’t care if she was the most terrible patient in the world this is inexcusable.
Especially considering the West Road Surgery is IN Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex:
http://www.westroadsurgery.co.uk/
12 West Road
Westcliff-on-Sea
Essex, SS0 9DA
Tel: 0844 576 9790
Brave New World
“taking into consideration green travelling issues…”
What more needs to be said.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2124565/Pensioner-ordered-leave-GP-surgery-used-30-years-living-mile-away-caused-green-travel-issues.html?ITO=1490
“A furious Mrs Mulcahy suspects the decision is actually a response to a complaint she made about a doctor a month earlier and is fighting to have it overturned.
‘When he visited me he was very rude and didn’t seem to know why he had been sent,’ she said at her home in Westcliff- on-Sea, Essex.
‘My diabetes had begun affecting the sight in my right eye and was starting to affect my left eye too, so I was quite concerned when he visited.
‘He didn’t seem to care. He did nothing to help me at all other than take my blood pressure and leave. I was so angry about it I called the surgery and told them, “I don’t ever want that doctor under my roof again”.
‘There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this letter was a direct result of my complaint.”
This has nothing to do with her “carbon footprint” doctors in the UK are getting a bit of a reputation for this kind of action.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2050225/NHS-complaints-GPs-ban-patients-following-trivial-disagreements.html
“GPs ban patients just for daring to complain: Entire families unfairly removed from practices following trivial disagreements”
“The West Road Surgery declined to comment. Andrew Stride, the head of governance, risk and customer services for NHS South Essex, said: “We would advise all patients who have concerns about any aspect of local NHS care to contact the patient advice and liaison service.”
Ah! head of governance, risk and customer services, a meaningless title for a meaningless job carried out by a meaningless person.
Doctor Doctor everyone is ignoring me?
Next
O/T
I had known the icon as belonging to Hermes, God of Cunning & Commerce, not medicine.
As below
Today, two serpent motifs are commonly used to symbolize the practice and profession of medicine. Internationally, the most popular symbol of medicine is the single serpent–entwined staff of Asklepios (Latin, Aesculapius), the ancient Greco-Roman god of medicine. However, in the United States, the staff of Asklepios (the Asklepian) and a double serpent–entwined staff with surmounting wings (the caduceus) are both popular medical symbols. The latter symbol is often designated as the “medical caduceus” and is equated with the ancient caduceus, the double serpent–entwined staff of the Greco-Roman god Hermes (Latin, Mercury). Many physicians would be surprised to learn that the medical caduceus has a quite modern origin: Its design is derived not from the ancient caduceus of Hermes but from the printer’s mark of a popular 19th-century medical publisher. Furthermore, this modern caduceus became a popular medical symbol only after its adoption by the U.S. Army Medical Corps at the beginning of the 20th century. This paper describes the ancient origin of the Asklepian and how a misunderstanding of ancient mythology and iconography seems to have led to the inappropriate popularization of the modern caduceus as a medical symbol.
The Symbol of Modern Medicine: Why One Snake Is More Than Two*
Annals of Internal Medicine (2003) April 15 V138
source: Ref 1 wiki article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius#cite_note-AIM-0
Mine is just across the street. Any of you denialist coal train driving bear murderers wanna buy some carbon credits? Preferably before you get ill? /sarc
Welcome to Barking Britain. This story is typical of the UK now.
Oh, and where I am they relocated the main hospital years ago. It used to be near the middle of town; it’s now two or three miles out, near the ring road. That move increases the “carbon footprint” of thousands of patients every year, but presumably has some unguessable administrative advantage.
The story here is not about climate alarmism, it is about using fatuous excuses given pseudo-legitimacy through political correctness to get rid of an inconvenient and, given her age, probably expensive patient. This is pretty standard for state provision in the UK I am ashamed to say.
The Hippocratic Oath metamorphosed into the Anti-Carbon Hypocrites’ Oath.
Next, our carbon footprint will be metered from the day we are born and when we reach a certain predetermined amount we will be injected a lethal dose. Of course this willnot apply to Al Gore and his church members.
I have met Big Brother and his colour is (solyent) green.
Just remember all you Americans – this is what Obama is trying to get you to buy into. As for Onion, his experience with the NHS is different to mine. The NHS is fine unless you are sick.
“Carbon footprint used to deny medical visit”
vs:
December 7th, 2009…a day that will live in hypocrisy:
“As well 15,000 delegates and officials, 5,000 journalists and 98 world leaders, the Danish capital will be blessed by the presence of Leonardo DiCaprio, Daryl Hannah, Helena Christensen, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Prince Charles. A Republican US senator, Jim Inhofe, is jetting in at the head of an anti-climate-change “Truth Squad.” The top hotels – all fully booked at £650 a night – are readying their Climate Convention menus of (no doubt sustainable) scallops, foie gras and sculpted caviar wedges.”
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/07/december-7th-2009-a-day-that-will-live-in-hypocrisy/
Ian E says:
April 6, 2012 at 12:46 am
It would be interesting to know how many patients live more than a mile (2-mile round-trip) from their GPs. Rather a lot I would have thought! [I’m OK, though (sick!), I’m in walking distance.]
Of more interest would be the distance that the doctors lived from their surgery. Remember due to the ruling that doctors need not see patients overnight, the locum services and the hospitals have been flying in doctors from Germany to UK daily for night cover.
One of the reasons we travelled half way round the world was to get away from the NHS … sounds as bad as ever, only for different reasons. At least, it seems that the practice you are registered at is no longer dictated by the NHS. As observed above, there may be more to this story.
I recall a UK study, early-mid 70s probably, into why some people are better than others at surviving hospital treatment. The stand-out reason was (and I paraphrase) “being a pain in the arse”.
I also recall medi-alert bracelets that said “In the event of an emergency, please do not take me to Prince Charles Hospital” [Merthyr]
83 and still driving? Avril’s probably better off getting away from these clowns. Can we send her a carbon credit? (We live 30 metres away from our medical centre.)
Mr Green Genes says:
Proof, if any were needed, that a socialist medical system is run for the benefit of the practitioners and not the patients.
That is in complete contrast to the United States where the most important question when it comes to diagnosing and treating illnesses is, “what is your credit card number?”
Well said, onion.
And how much CO2 is emitted by all the journeys of those large white vehicles with flashing lights and sirens? Ban ’em, I say!
Few reader to this site would fail to recognise a ruse when they see one. Such is the case here where the GP concerned has employed an argument wrapped up in nothing more than horse manure. This superficial moralising is common amongst the higher echelons of British society, a major factor in the ongoing decline of this country. While this is recognised, the grip of unprincipled behaviour continues to strengthen thanks to generations who never get stretched by the educational system, never mind meaningful work. To keep this group growing and stupid, the controlling elites provide a diet of rubbish via conflict orientated television programming and trivia obsessed media. Unable to escape far too many here never learn anything accept how to put our their hands for the next welfare payment. Within such a atmosphere, doctors and for that matter anyone else, can and do get away with doing as they please.
This is nothing to do with climate change and all to do with some petty jobs worth using it as excuse to deny this women treatment for having the temerity to make a complaint trashy embarrassed them.
Meanwhile 60,000 global warming junketeers are booking their tickets to fly round the world to yet another vacuous, talk fest in Rio.
I would have thought having a GP within two miles would be a bonus, but what do I know? Time to sack some managers and save a great British institution!
For all they know she might have walked, cycled or driven in a Toyota Pious or some other form of transport acceptable to eco loons!
What next?
‘I’m sorry sir, we can’t treat you – you arrived in an SUV. We’ve worked out your fuel consumption and decided that if you live more than 450 yards from the surgery you’re not eligible.
Find another GP!
Any excuse will serve a tyrant.