Out of hours cover cut at service base

COVER at the GP out-of-hours base in Craigavon is being cut back, with no doctor on call at the base from midnight to 8am.

A member of staff at the Southern Trust GP Out of Hours Service has laughed off a suggestion changes there are an improvement.

Last year the 'MAIL' reported on concerns GPs from the service at Craigavon were to be withdrawn from the base from midnight to 8am.

Staff had expressed concern the move would leave Craigavon without cover - with doctors manning bases at Dungannon and Newry seen as a poor substitute.

Now the Trust has decided to implement the changes, with staff pouring scorn on the suggestion the move will improve the service.

"They use some statistics pointing out an average of 34 people use the service during the night but that takes no account of what happens when there's 60 calls, what happens then?"

He went on: "It is not an improvement, it's uncalled for.

"They're not looking at the whole picture, just this narrow part of it.

"There are all sorts of practical area that need to be talked about."

He went on to say the decision made was a backward one: "There is universal opposition to it. Think what could happen if people are left waiting hours to be seen."

In a press release on the move the Trust stated: "Improvements to the Southern Trust GP Out of Hours Service are to be implemented after proposals designed to better meet patient demand were approved at a meeting of the Southern Trust Board.

"The changes to the service will mean that more staff and resources will be made available at the busiest times. At times of lesser demand, additional ‘back up’ GPs will also be on call to provide any extra cover where required.

"These changes follow a review of the GP Out Of Hours service which showed when demand for the service was at its greatest and when less resources are needed."

Dr Robert Carlile, Clinical Lead of GP Out Of Hours service at the Trust has reassured the public that changes to GP Out of Hours service will lead to improvements for patients.

Dr Carlile said: “The GP Out Of Hours service will continue to be provided to patients in the same way as it is currently provided. The purpose of the review is not to reduce the service or make cuts to the service, in fact, the review proposes making more staff available at times of increased demand."

In the statement he pointed out: "People may be surprised to know that the average number of patients who contact the GP Out of Hours service between the hours of 12pm to 8am, across the entire Trust region, is 34 and of these half will have their needs met by telephone advice.

"At a time of serious financial restraint across the health service, spending 1,500 - 2,000 per night for three doctors in GP Out Of Hours (from 12pm -8am) to cover such a low number of calls really isn’t the best use of scarce resources.

"The busiest time for the GP Out of Hours service tends to be on Saturday and Sunday mornings, when it is not unusual to have as many as 140 calls an hour, at the busiest times. We know that by reorganising our staffing levels, patients will receive a better service with more staff available to treat them.

"Change is always a challenge but as a GP who still works in Out Of Hours, I am confident that these changes will lead to a service which better meets patient demand.”

Dr Carlile concluded: “The Trust recognises that GP Out of Hours service is vitally important to local people and that’s why we are committed to continually improving the service. Patients should continue to contact the service by phoning first on 0870 600 6009.”

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