GP out of hours

MSP’s concerns to health board chief

Ministers were this week urged to take action to support NHS Forth Valley following changes to the health board’s GP out-ofhours’ service.

NHS FV has had to make contingency plans at short notice due to the increasing difficulty getting enough GPs to staff the service.

Interim changes have been put in place until September 30 and NHS FV are also undertaking a wider review of out-of-hours activity across the area.

Mid Scotland and Fife Regional MSP Mark Ruskell has written to NHS Forth Valley’s medical director, Andrew Murray, to express concern about the latest developments.

He is now calling on the Scottish Government to ensure staffing levels are sufficient to deliver the out-of-hours care that people in Forth Valley deserve.

He added: “It is disappointing that the health board has had to introduce these interim measures with little warning to patients – and I would hope that any change to service provision in the future is communicated more widely.

“I have asked NHS Forth Valley to ensure their forthcoming review of services is widely advertised and is accessible to all those who may wish to input.

“I am encouraged that they have committed to doing so and would urge everyone to have their say on this very important issue.”

Last month the board said it was finding it hard to provide sufficient medical cover for the three primary care out-ofhours centres at Forth Valley Hospital, Stirling Community Hospital) and Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre, Sauchie.

For the moment, during the week the services are continuing to be provided from the three existing centres up until midnight. After midnight, they are provided only from Larbert.

At weekends and public holidays services are provided from only Larbert and Stirling up until midnight, and after midnight only at Larbert.

Services continue to be accessed via NHS 24 who will arrange for people to attend a primary care out-of-hours centre, speak to a health professional for advice or receive a home visit from a GP, if appropriate.

The board says the changes are designed to provide greater stability, reduce the need for unplanned contingency arrangements (which often have to be put in place at very short notice) and ensure people across Forth Valley continue to have access to GP advice, treatment and home visits for urgent healthcare issues during evenings, weekends and public holidays.

Most calls and attendances, they add, are already before midnight and FVRH is already the busiest of the three sites.

I would urge everyone to have their say on this issue