The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Campaigners say GP out-of-hours set-up is flawed
WARNING: Fears Fife care partnership is setting up new model to fail so that service can be centralised
The out-of-hours GP service to cover north-east Fife is being set up to fail, campaigners have warned.
Staffing structures for the new model to be operated from St Andrews Community Hospital, which include three-hour shifts, could prove unviable, critics fear.
Fife Health and Social Care Partnership has been accused of dangerously watering down its promises for the reinstated system.
The urgent out-of-hours service was temporarily centralised in Kirkcaldy last year due to a staff shortage and a public campaign was launched to block any moves to try to make the contingency measure a permanent feature.
The partnership said the new model was being implemented with the full involvement of staff and unions to ensure it was safe and sustainable.
However, Dr Angela Anderson, of the Out of Hours Group, explained: “We are afraid the partnership is setting the new service up to fail.”
Campaigners fear the GP out-of-hours service in St Andrews is being set up to fail.
Fife Health and Social Care Partnership (FHSCP) has been accused of dangerously watering down promises in reinstating the service.
A group representing community councils across north-east Fife alleges three-hour shifts on weekday evenings will be so difficult to fill, the service may prove unviable.
It also says the partnership intends to close the unit two hours earlier than agreed on Saturdays and will relocate its car for home visits to Kirkcaldy after an initial period at St Andrews Community Hospital.
Furthermore, there would be GP cover for only six hours on Saturdays and Sundays, when the unit is open for 14 hours and 12 hours, respectively.
The Out Of Hours Group, established by St Andrews Community Council, said nurses were anxious about working extended periods without a GP on site.
Dr Angela Anderson, group chairwoman, said: “We are afraid the partnership is setting up the new service to fail.”
She said the partnership had pledged to continue discussions with the group to help it develop, refine and implement the revised model.
However, she added: “In practice, the partnership has progressed plans without consulting with us in any meaningful way and has continued to ignore the voices of those working in the out-of-hours service at St Andrews.”
East Neuk and Landward Liberal Democrat councillor Bill Porteous said: “As we enter September the FHSCP must inform the public of how many nurses and GPs have signed up to the revised structure starting in December.”
Conservative councillor for the area, Linda Holt, said: “Staff, patients and communities are losing trust in the partnership.”
The partnership said its board approved the new model for out-ofhours urgent care in June following extensive consultation and engagement.
Nicky Connor, interim director, said implementation was being undertaken with full involvement of staff and union representatives to ensure the model was safe and sustainable.
“We are afraid the partnership is setting up the new service to fail. DR ANGELA ANDERSON, OUTOF-HOURS GROUP CHAIRWOMAN