Herefordshire GPs' concern about the PCT's plans for a walk-in health centre

4:10pm Thursday 6th November 2008

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AS the representatives of GPs in Herefordshire, we are deeply concerned about recent decisions taken by Herefordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), involving the new GP-led health centre.

The initial plan for a walk-in centre, which would not duplicate existing GP services but would improve access for patients during out-of-hours and make the most of current services, was seen as a welcome development by GPs.

However, in September, the PCT had a sudden change of policy.

This will mean that the new GP-led health centre will now duplicate many of the services provided by existing practices during the day. GPs feel this will have a major impact on how primary care is delivered in Herefordshire.

If patients from existing practices register with the new GP-led health centre their former practice could, over time, struggle to maintain their existing level of service. In a worst case scenario some may have to close, thus actually reducing patient choice.

If patients choose to stay with their current GP then the new centre will end up as a expensive white elephant. At a time of great financial uncertainty, patients may rightly wonder why day services are being duplicated at such huge cost. Particularly when Herefordshire’s GPs are providing some of the best access and quality primary care in England (as repeatedly demonstrated in recent NHS surveys).

There are also other issues of concern, not least the impact this will have on continuity of care.

The new centre will be run on a short-term contract, making it difficult for those running it to plan for the long-term health needs of the community. The number of doctors in the practice, and also the short-term nature of their contracts, may mean patients struggle to see the same doctor. It could damage the patient/GP relationship, which has been the cornerstone of general practice for decades.

The cost of this service is also likely to impair the ability of the PCT to provide other services to the county in primary care for years to come.

Our committee believes the PCT has been acutely aware of these concerns but has had to back down from more cost effective and sensible solutions under pressure from the Strategic Health Authority.

We don’t feel the financial and service implications of these far reaching changes have been debated properly by the community. We urge the PCT for whom we have great respect to reconsider these decisions.

HEREFORDSHIRE LOCAL MEDICAL COMMITTEE.

Doctors: Richard Dales (Kingsland Surgery), Paul Harris (Belmont), Richard Laird (Moorfield House), Jonathan Sleath (Kingstone), Mark Helme (Cantiloupe), Ivan Wall (Marches), Christopher Allen (Fownhope), Paul Downey (Pendeen), Marin Crook (St Katherines), Michael Davies (Much Birch), Elizabeth Gwilliam (Westfield Walk), Richard Griffiths (Golden Valley), Simon Lennane (Alton Street).