Equipment fund
I have little doubt that very few members of the public either understand, or even think very
much about what the NHS pays for and how the money is spent in General Practice - indeed why
should they?
But it may surprise you to learn for instance, that Becher's Brook, in common with most GP surgeries, is not a publicly owned building, but is owned by its GP, Dr Morse. Apart from a few disposable syringes and a contribution toward the computer system, the NHS does not provide any furnishings, equipment or indeed anything inside the building at all.
In practices with a number of partners, these costs are shared, so it is perhaps understandable that some small practices may seem to be somewhat "simple" in what they can provide.
However, thanks to the extraordinary kindness and generosity of our patients over the years, the Fovant Practice has an array of equipment that would be the envy of many big practices. This kindness has virtually always been offered without asking, and we are deeply grateful to all our friends who have helped to buy:
- A Stannah stairlift to give disabled access to the upstairs facilities
- A huge range of minor surgery equipment including sterilising equipment and an electronic machine to arrest bleeding
- Resuscitation equipment
- ECG machines: we have two that can interpret cardiac conditions, and another that can be worn as a wristwatch for detecting sudden, intermittent changes of rythm
- Spirometry that measures lung damage
- Many other diagnostic tools and other aids to treatment