Government must pressure GPs to stay open longer (Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Liberal Democrats)

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Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Liberal Democrats <Brian.Thomas@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk>

Government must pressure GPs to stay open longer

December 26, 2008 12:00 AM
Originally published by Welsh Liberal Democrats

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Minister, Peter Black has called on the One Wales Government to put more pressure on GPs to stay open outside normal hours so as to help working patients get treatment and to take some pressure off accident and emergency units.

Mr. Black was speaking in light of a survey which indicated that a government initiative to extend the opening hours of GP surgeries has failed to have any impact. Only a few Local Health Boards have responded to a £16m injection of cash from the Welsh Government by commissioning longer opening hours leaving Cardiff, Monmouthshire, the whole of West Wales, Powys and a big chunk of North Wales without a single surgery opening early mornings, evenings or weekends. Just 30 of the 490 GP Practices in Wales have responded to the initiative. "This initiative was meant to help working people get to their doctor when they need to," said Mr. Black. "It is also important in taking the strain off Accident and Emergency Units. Too many people end up at their local hospital for minor health concerns just because they have not been able to get access to their local health centre. The fact that the government is putting extra money into this initiative is welcome however it is deeply disappointing that so few Local Health Boards are taking it up." "I accept that not all parts of the Country will need this provision but what is clear is that large urban centres like Cardiff, Wrexham, Conwy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Llandrindod Wells and Aberystwyth and others are missing out when logic indicates that they need longer opening hours. Even areas like Swansea where there are 12 practices, Neath Port Talbot, 6 practices and Bridgend, one practice opening longer hours there is a need for more." "Having announced that she will shortly be taking supreme control of the NHS personally sometime next year, the Minister cannot now pretend that this poor take-up is nothing to do with her. She is democratically accountable for all 22 LHBs and she needs to lay down the law more firmly and insist that they do better in securing more GP practices which will be open outside of normal working hours."