Show support for Dr Chopra

My wife and myself have been patients of Dr Chopra since the day he took over the surgery from his predecessor, which must be some 10 years ago now.

My wife has suffered from a brain tumour, a consequent stroke, paralysis, diabetes due to the above, ongoing sight and hearing problems and a deteriorating memory capacity since 1986.

She has needed ongoing medical assistance on a daily basis since that time. I have been her carer since then.

Doctor Chopra and his excellent staff have provided that assistance above and beyond the normal call of duty and have always been there for us. In May of 2015, due to stress etc. I had a quadruple heart bypass operation. Again it was Dr Chopra and his staff who diagnosed and reacted to the problem, and if it hadn’t been for them I wouldn’t be writing this letter today. After the bypass operation guess who was there to deal with my ongoing recovery?

I think you may, by now, have started to understand why I am, like a lot of his patients, totally disgusted that a bunch of overpaid pen pushers on salaries that would be better spent elsewhere in the NHS, have caused problems to an excellent surgery, and are threatening to close it down if the administration is not done to their liking. Even they admit, in their report, that it is a caring practise.

Might I suggest that they turn their attention to the plight of the many carers in this country, young and old, who save the government in excess of £180bn per year. Yes, that’s right, £180bn pounds.

These people didn’t apply to become carers, it was forced on them by circumstances. At some point in their lives they were faced with a decision, to give up their career and nurse a loved one, or walk away.

To those people reading this let me say, “Tomorrow it could be you”.

It varies slightly depending on circumstances but an average working week for a carer can be in excess of 120 hours and the average hourly rate of pay as little as 28p.

So much for your minimum wage Mr Cameron.

To then find that a government appointed quango has stuck its nose in, and is causing problems to a doctor and his staff who are providing an excellent service, is an insult. Perhaps we carers should go on strike and let the government pay for the care. They wouldn’t be able to afford a CQC if we did!

There is a petition on the internet supporting Dr Chopra. This can be accessed by logging into Care 2 Petitions and typing in to the box at the top right Support Dr Chopra. We would ask his patients to register their support if they feel that they can.

Graham Bentley

Pett Road

Pett

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