Past press releases
Past press releases
PRESS RELEASE: 15 October 2004SOUTH NORFOLK FAILS GP STANDARD - MACKSouth Norfolk's failure to meet Government standards for out-of-hours care was highlighted today by Liberal Democrat Candidate for South Norfolk and GP Dr Ian Mack. He has pledged to press the Primary Care Trust again about the level of care it provides.Dr Mack revealed the contents of guidance documents issued by the Government in which out-of-hours providers are expected to plan their services around "periods of peak demand", notably Saturday mornings. The Quality requirements also state "Providers must ensure that patients are treated by the clinician best equipped to meet their needs (especially at periods of peak demand such as Saturday mornings) in the most appropriate location. Patients must be able to have a face-to-face consultation with a GP, including where necessary, at the patient's place of residence" Commenting on this Dr Mack said, "The government's standards sit uneasily with the current level of service here in South Norfolk, where Anglian Medical Care have just axed the Ditchingham Base, leaving the only base in the Constituency at Diss in the far south. I cannot see how the two GPs there on a Saturday morning can provide the level of service required by this guidance. Patients will either face long waits or have to make journeys out of the area for care. We already know the fears A+E staff have of increasing their workload. The notion of GP home visits for those who could need them on Saturday mornings is laughable. I warned Southern Norfolk PCT of my concerns regarding Saturday mornings several months ago. Perhaps now they will sit up and take notice." ENDSNotes for editors1 For more information please contact: Dr Ian Mack 01553 810253 (day), 01366 500942 (eve), 07974961752 (mob), email Docianmack@aol.com 2 The "New national quality requirements for out-of-hours care" were published on Thursday 14 October 2004 by Health Minister John Hutton. The press release about them can be read on the Department of Health web site The new national quality requirements will come into force from 1 January 2005. 3 The "New Quality Requirements for Out-of-Hours Services" have been published in full on the Out-of-Hours web site |
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