The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Councillors condemn GP care consultation
Document lacks option for continued out-of-hours care in north-east Fife
Consultation on out-of-hours GP care for Fife is ‘not fit for purpose’, it has been claimed.
From next month, Fifers will be asked to give their views on provision of urgent appointments and medical advice overnight, at weekends and on public holidays.
But the document mapping out how the service could be altered provides no real option to continue delivery in north-east Fife, councillors said.
Councillor Linda Holt said: “To be offered the status quo whilst being told the status quo is unviable makes fools of the people taking part in the consultation.”
Fife Health and Social Care Partnership proposes out-of-hours centres at Victoria Hospital, in Kirkcaldy, and Dunfermline’s Queen Margaret Hospital. The provision was temporarily axed from St Andrews Community Hospital, Glenrothes Hospital and Queen Margaret in April due to a shortage of GPs.
Consultation on Fife’s out-of-hours GP service has been branded a sham after it was given the go-ahead to start on July 2.
The public will be asked for views on how urgent cover is provided overnight, at weekends and on public holidays.
However, there is no new option for provision at either St Andrews Community or Glenrothes Hospitals.
There was outrage when a shortage of available GPs led to the temporary closure of out-of-hours services in the two hospitals and at Dunfermline’s Queen Margaret Hospital in April.
It has suggested creating two centres in Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital and Queen Margaret, with either both, or just Kirkcaldy, open overnight.
A third option to retain the current service is the only one which includes cover at St Andrews Community Hospital and Glenrothes Hospital.
However, Cupar Conservative councillor Tony Miklinski said the consultation papers were “not fit for purpose” and made the status quo as unattractive as possible.
Fellow Conservative councillor for East Neuk and Landward, Linda Holt, said: “The consultation, as currently on offer, is a sham.
“To be offered the status quo whilst being told the status quo is unviable makes fools of the people taking part in the consultation.”
Fife Council’s north east Fife area committee requested a review by the local authority’s scrutiny committee.
Liberal Democrat Tay Bridgehead councillor Tim Brett, who proposed the review, said: “North-east Fife has particular geographic challenges.
“The geography means that people in the East Neuk, St Andrews, Cupar and the Howe have long distances to travel to the Victoria Hospital or Dundee.
“It would be a mistake on the part of the integrated joint board not to at least include the option of a north-east Fife centre.”
Fife Health and Social Care Partnership said the two out-of-hours centres would be within an hour’s drive of everyone in Fife and the change was in response to national and local challenges of GP shortages and ensuring patients’ clinical safety.
Michael Kellet, partnership director, said: “To make sure that care remains safe and sustainable now and in the future, all three parts of the joining up care proposal must work together.
“Working as a team across health and social care, professionals can act together to help people get the right care, at the right time, in the right place – day or night.”
Mr Kellet also said other ideas about how a safe and sustainable out-of-hours service would be provided will be listened to.
Consultation will include drop-in sessions and meetings with community group. Copies of the document will be available online or by emailing fife-uhb. joiningupcare@nhs.net or phoning 01383 565199.
It would be a mistake on the part of the integrated joint board not to at least include the option of a north-east Fife centre. COUNCILLOR TIM BRETT