11:36am Wednesday 23rd September 2009
By Oliver Evans
PENSIONERS should not be frightened by changes to GP cover at community hospitals, a health boss said.
Ed Macalister-Smith said the decision to let one GP practice instead of several tend to patients would not damage care – and questioned GPs’ efforts under the old system.
There has been uproar over the change to Marlow, Chalfont St Peter, Thame and Buckingham hospitals, with some concerned that doctors will be less on hand.
Family doctors themselves have spoken out over the plan (see link, bottom of story).
Angry pensioner Ryan Mellett asked the NHS+primary+care+trust">Buckinghamshire NHS Primary Care Trust chief executive last night: “How can a serious change like this take place without consultation?
“It would appear that the local doctors aren’t happy with this change.”
He added: “They are going to lose their local contact from doctors going to see them. It will cause distress.”
But Mr Macalister-Smith said most care was delivered by nurses, not GPs, and patients would often not have seen a doctor they know.
He said: “We are very confident that old people who use these community hospital beds should not feel frightened.
“There is no reason for people to feel concerned.”
And he questioned the previous system. He said at the PCT’s AGM last night that the amount of time they spent on wards was “highly vague”.
He said: “We haven’t got a clear picture of what GPs do and how they do it.”
Patients have complained that doctors worked 12 hours before and this was being cut to four.
But Mr Macalister-Smith said they were only on call to come in during this time – and the new contract demands GPs spend four hours there.
Marlow Medical Group GP Dr Chris North previously told the Bucks Free Press: “Medically, legally and professionally it was not possible to do a good job for that amount of time.”
The PCT said the hours would be increased if needed.
The service was put out to tender and awarded to High Wycombe-based The Practice, which took over on September 1.
After an outcry the PCT set up a review to be presented to Buckinghamshire County Council’s scrutiny committee for public health services.
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