'GPs are being attacked from all sides'– doctor

A LOCAL doctor says GP's in Limavady are being "attacked from all sides" following a £3.6 million cut in general practitioner budgets.

Doctor Ian Gordon, a WLMC representative of GP's in the borough, says the government cutbacks, which will result in a 10,000 loss to each practice, will have a dire effect on patient care. The GP who is based in Claudy Health Centre, spoke out this week after the British Medical Association raised concerns over the mutli-million financial axe to the family service. Doctor Gordon warned that continual rises in practice expenses will result in job losses, an increase in hospital admissions and a "worse" service to patients.

"The amount of money available to GP's has been steadily cut over the last five years and it seems that we are under attack from all sides. As expenses continue to rise and our budget is cut, job losses are inevitable. The crunch point of this is less staff equals a not so smoothly run service."

Dr Gordon, who is based at Claudy Health Centre, fears job losses will take the form of the non-replacement of leaving staff and called on the Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to rethink prescription charges.

"This Minister withdrew prescription charges, which not only removes from funding but it also increases the work load on local surgeries. More patients flock to their GP's to obtain medicines and drugs which they originally bought over the counter. The timing of this withdrawal was very bad by the Minister. Those that did pay for prescriptions could afford to. It's a double loss to General Practitioners."

Dr Gordon continued: "I am not saying that GP's need to be paid more; what I am saying is that a negative income combined with an increase in running costs is unsustainable and is the final insult to the service."

3.6 million has been withdrawn by the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) from 1 August. While discretionary budgets have been targeted and the HSCB can legally do so, the BMA is warning that these cuts are short-sighted and will ultimately result in higher costs for the health service as a whole. Family doctors across Northern Ireland say they are calculating the true cost of the 3.6 million cut in funding to general practice. In a statement released by BMA GP Dr Tom Black said that not only will Accident and Emergency waiting times increase, but patients will have to stay longer in hospital and the treatment of serious illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke could suffer. Dr Black, the deputy-chairman of the BMA's General Practitioner Committee in Northern Ireland said: "I have been inundated by family doctors from across Northern Ireland who are angry, dismayed and disappointed at this cut to frontline services.

"Minister McGimpsey has repeatedly promised to protect frontline health services. If general practice and the services it provides isn't a frontline service then I don't know what is. Patients are going to suffer".

Hospital doctors are also worried about the impact of this cut to funding. Magherafelt doctor Paul Darragh, Chairman of the BMA's Council in Northern Ireland, who works in the Mid Ulster hospital said: "Northern Ireland has an integrated service - you cannot make a major change to one part of the 'patient journey' without it having a dramatic effect on the rest."

The BMA is concerned that this cut is just the start. A number of other services including stroke care, treatment of minor injuries, smoking cessation and contraception have only been commissioned until the end of August.

IN a frank and forthcoming response, a spokesperson for Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety acknowledged the effect cuts are and will have on future services.

"The current public expenditure climate has left the Department and the Minister with little choice." said the spkesperson.

"The Minister is resolutely opposed to these 'made in Northern Ireland cuts'. There is no doubt that further cuts will have a significant detrimental impact on services, resulting in patients being in pain and distress.

"At this time of economic uncertainty where the whole of the HSC continues to operate under severe strain the role of frontline staff and GPs remain integral to the delivery of health and social care.

"The service must respond to significant increases in demand for services within the limited funding available. GP practices are being asked to find 200 a week for the next year to help pay for this.

"Every service provided by Health and Social Care, must be re-examined to make sure that every single pound spent achieves the best outcome for patients and clients.

"In the past two years alone, there has been an increase of some 20% in demand for hospital services, yet funding for health and social care has only increased by less than 1% in real terms, the lowest rise in living memory."

In response to Doctor Ian Gordon's criticism on the withdrawal of prescription charges, the Department of Health spokesperson defended the abolishment of charges and says the cost of doing so has been "accomodated" elsewhere.

The spokesperson said: "Prescription charges are contrary to the fundamental NHS principle that health services should be free at their point of use. They have already been abolished in Wales and being reduced in Scotland and are free for cancer patients in England.

"BMA NI has fully supported abolishing prescription charges, which they felt were resulting in some patients not taking necessary drugs. In fact when the Minister first proposed reviewing prescription charges the BMA NI exhorted the Minister to abolish them and bring equity for all patients.

"The Minister has ensured that the cost of abolishing prescription charges has been accommodated from within existing budgets, and no other existing services have lost out.

"The Department is monitoring dispensing volumes very carefully, and expects the public to act responsibly in asking for prescriptions. If necessary, measures will be put in place to control costs."