Surveys on GP surgeries fail to inspire confidence
Fears that Furnace Surgery could close permanently and Inveraray Surgery could be left relying on locums indefinitely were raised at a consultation into GP services last week.
In January this year, Lochgilphead Medical Centre partners gave notice of their intention to return the contract for GP services in the two areas.
It followed an unpopular decision to close Furnace surgery during Covid and an attempt in 2022 to make the closure permanent.
Responsibility for the service goes back to Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, which is currently seeking new partners for the practices.
The Lochgilphead doctors said they had been struggling with attracting and retaining GPs for some time and had attempted “to seek advice from the HSCP Primary Care leadership team in relation to this change to service delivery but sadly found this advice lacking and unhelpful”.
The HSCP has stated that it remains committed to delivering high quality health services. Surveys for people in Furnace and Inveraray were held on Thursday April 4 and Friday April 5 respectively. But people in both areas still have their concerns.
There was a big turnout at Inveraray’s Nicol Hall on Friday, where the Advertiser spoke to Pamela Spalding of Inveraray Community Council.
Mrs Spalding joined the community council due to concerns over the future of health care in the Royal Burgh.
She said she has had a lot of dealings with the Inveraray surgery over recent years due to personal family matters.
She said: “I joined the community council because I wanted to have an understanding about what was happening with the doctors. And this is an opportunity to do something about it.
“It is going to have a big impact on people’s lives if we don’t have doctors in Inveraray.”
She said that previously, people were able to get appointments at Furnace and Inveraray surgeries.
But after Covid, when social distancing came about, only the Inveraray surgery was reopened and Furnace surgery, eight miles away, remained closed.
She said: “Before Covid generally there would be a doctor here every day.
“Then they changed the service to having to phone in and make a telephone appointment.
“The receptionist took details and the doctor would phone back. You were given a vague indication, you would get the phone call at some point during the day, you could be driving, shopping. You would have to explain to the doctor over the phone what was wrong.
“The doctor made the decision over the phone if they had to see you or not. Most times you would get to see the doctor that day, other times they diagnosed over the phone.
“There have been occasions that has caused problems for some people not being able to get a face-to-face appointment with the doctor.”
Mrs Spalding explained: “There is an older generation in Inveraray that don’t want to speak to the doctor over the phone, they couldn’t understand why they couldn’t just see a doctor.
“They would feel much more at ease if they had someone to listen to their chest, look in their ear. It’s the reassurance they get from seeing the doctor.”
She said she hoped Friday’s survey and consultation event would mean the community would have a say on the GPs applying to come to Inveraray.
But it was made clear that was not the case. There will be only one representative from the three community councils, Furnace, Inveraray and West Loch Fyne, joining the interview panel.
Mrs Spalding continued: “This survey is a long-term plan. The contract that is going to be given to the GPs is just a government contract, the same contract that is given to all the GPs throughout Scotland.
“Whatever we return in this survey is not going to have an impact on what questions are asked at interview process or what’s required.
“What we have been told is that the contract that will be given out is the same one as before. They can’t make amendments to it. There is nothing to stop the new GP that is appointed from closing Furnace surgery.
“The HSCP is saying it is certain that a new contract will be up and running by August 1. At this point there hasn’t been an advert placed. There’s no closing date.”
The community has fears that it could take a considerable amount of time before a permanent GP is in post.
Mrs Spalding explained: “The last time they had to advertise for doctors coming to Inveraray, it was two years before we got one. We had to depend on locums. If we get locums after July 31, how long is that going to last and how much is it going to cost?
“If we do get locums, there will be inconsistency of service. A patient will see one locum, who is diagnosing and investigating. The patient is waiting for results, and by the time they come back, there is a different locum here. It is detrimental to care.
“Instead of seeing the same doctor after four weeks, it’s going to be every eight weeks or not at all.
“The HSCP are convinced the contract will be in place by August 1 but I don’t see how they can promise that when the ad won’t be going out for another three to four weeks. The closing date is the end of May.”
She added: “A patient liaison group would be a good way for the community to work with the GP.”
The HSCP was asked for a comment but had not responded before the Advertiser went to press.