GPs in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge fear medical centres in the town could be put under threat by new government reforms that seek to introduce longer opening hours.
GPs at the two medical centres are urging patients to contact local MPs and write to the Prime Minister amid concerns that government pressure to extend opening hours without additional funding could put the future of the surgeries under threat.
In a monthly newsletter to patients, Highbridge Medical Centre (pictured) says: “If surgeries were to stay open for longer, and no extra money was made available for this, then we fear that there will be fewer appointments and resources available for patients.”
“Although the government may present their plans as ‘patient friendly’ or responding to ‘consumer’ demand, a GP service is not the same as a supermarket or a bank. We know for our patients that quality is the most important concern, and that we will not offer our best service if we are continually undermined by reforms that do not offer real benefits.”
“There is no benefit to patients of a surgery opening for longer if the quality of care is poorer and the patients who need care most find it harder to get the appointments they need.”
“We are concerned that extended hours are an excuse for the government to introduce large GP surgeries or ‘polyclinics’ that may be run by multi-national companies. GPs are worried that this will put your local surgeries at risk.”
The comments in the newsletter go on to state: “We understand that many patients have to work and sometimes may struggle to get an appointment time that fits in with work and other commitments. At present, your surgery is contracted to provide services between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday and out of hours care is provided by your local Primary Care Trust.”
“We work hard to ensure those who need emergency appointments can see a doctor as soon as possible and satisfaction levels with GP services remain very high. Eight of ten patients say they are happy with current opening hours.”
“The BMA, the doctor’s trade union, has offered for GPs to work longer hours, however we would not want patient care to suffer as a result of any changes. The government is not offering any extra money for surgeries to open longer and we want to ensure that longer opening hours are properly funded. For this reason, we are currently opposed to the proposed changes.”
And Dr Berge Balian, Chairman of the Local Medical Council, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Extending GP surgery opening hours has not been identified as a priority for Somerset by patients, the PCT or practices. By enforcing this change, the Government is shifting the priority of the NHS away from care for those who need it the most, and towards care based on supermarket convenience and political wants.”
The government argues that reforms are needed to introduce more flexible opening hours and create better value for money for tax payers.
