What next for out-of-hours GP services in Inverclyde?
CALLS for clarity over the long-term future of out-of-hours services in Inverclyde have been made by the leader of the council.
In a joint letter with Councillor Robert Moran, Convener of Health & Social Care, Cllr Stephen McCabe has written to the chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (GGC) about the matter.
It comes after the health board announced on Tuesday a temporary suspension of the service at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and Greenock Health Centre with local patients instead having to travel to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley to see a doctor out with normal working hours.
Mr McCabe said: “We write to express our deep disappointment with the board’s decision to temporarily withdraw the out-of-hours GP service in Inverclyde and to ask for an urgent review of this decision.
“We understand this decision was made on a contingency basis. How long do you expect the people of Inverclyde to be without a local GP out-of-hours service? How will you monitor the impact of this service reduction, particularly on the accident and emergency service at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and the people of Inverclyde?
“We would welcome your early response to the points raised above.”
The out-of-hours service has been under strain locally for some time because of a shortage of doctors.
Health board officials say the temporary suspension at some centres, including the two in Inverclyde, is the ‘only option’ which will ‘enable us to continue providing this crucial service in the immediate future’ as the current model is ‘unsustainable’.
NHS GGC has agreed to cover transport for local patients.
Cllr Moran said: “We understand that a voluntary transport service may be available to Inverclyde residents travelling to Paisley.
“We would request details of the hours of operation of this service and what assurances you can give that volunteer drivers will be available at all times as required and these journeys will take place in a timely manner.
“As you will be aware, Inverclyde has areas of significant deprivation, including the most deprived datazone in Scotland.
“This significant deprivation means that Inverclyde residents suffer some of the worst health and related outcomes in the NHS GGC board area.
“It is difficult to understand how a decision impacting on some of the most deprived areas in Scotland can be made without an equality impact assessment to truly understand the impact on our communities."
Full letter:
Dear Professor Brown
Withdrawal of Out of Hours GP Service in Greenock Health Centre and Inverclyde Royal Hospital
We write to express our deep disappointment with the Board’s decision to temporarily withdraw the Out of Hours GP Service in Inverclyde and to ask for an urgent review of this decision.
As you will be aware, Inverclyde has areas of significant deprivation, including the most deprived datazone in Scotland. This significant deprivation means that Inverclyde residents suffer some of the worst health and related outcomes in the NHS GG&C Board area. It is difficult to understand how a decision impacting on some of the most deprived areas in Scotland can be made without an equality impact assessment to truly understand the impact on our communities.
Residents of Inverclyde also have some of the lowest levels of car ownership in Scotland and travel to the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley will cause significant difficulties for many residents. For those not in possession of a car or the support of family and friends, travel to the RAH would include a train journey to Paisley Gilmour Street and a bus or taxi for the remainder of the journey as the RAH is not within easy walking distance of the station. Clearly trains and buses would not be available outwith normal operational hours.
We understand that a voluntary transport service may be available to Inverclyde residents travelling to Paisley. We would request details of the hours of operation of this service and what assurances you can give that volunteer drivers will be available at all times as required and these journeys will take place in a timely manner.
Whilst we understand that home visits will still be available, we would, again, seek assurance that these visits will be triaged as priority and would ask that you provide us with information on how the prioritisation will be implemented across the Clyde area – specifically, will a car be stationed at all times within the Inverclyde area?
We understand this decision was made on a contingency basis. How long do you expect the people of Inverclyde to be without a local GP Out of Hour Service? How will you monitor the impact of this service reduction, particularly on the accident and emergency service at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and the people of Inverclyde?
We would welcome your early response to the points raised above.
Yours sincerely,
Councillor Robert Moran Councillor Stephen McCabe
Convenor Leader, Inverclyde Council
Health and Social Care Committee