Four-hour wait for wife brings home pressures on 999 services
OF IN-PERSON GP APPOINTMENTS
COUNCILLOR CALLS FOR RETURN
A COUNCILLOR from Barwell is calling for GP services to return to normal levels as he fears the lack of appointments is putting huge pressure on the ambulance service and A&Es at hospitals.
Councillor Huw Williams has warned that a lack of access to basic health services, such as doctor’s appointments and dental care, is forcing people to dial 999 when they need treatment, causing a “massive issue” across Leicestershire.
He was made aware of the problem when his wife had a fall in the garden and broke her hip and femur, on a hot day in June.
They had to wait two hours for an ambulance to arrive, another hour for her to be stabilised and given the painkillers she needed, and another hour once she was at Leicester Royal Infirmary waiting in the ambulance before she could be admitted.
Coun Williams claims he asked staff about the backlog, and was told the emergency service is overwhelmed as GPs and dentists are not seeing patients, forcing more and more people to end up in A&E.
The councillor, who sits as an independent on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, said: “I do not blame either the ambulance service or A&E for this.
“This government has failed the public by allowing GPs to not return to something like normal service. Urgent action is required now as nothing appears to have improved in the past five months.”
He has written to the MP for Bosworth, Dr Luke Evans, who is himself a GP, urging for action on the problem.
Dr Evans said: “I was sorry to hear about Coun Williams’ wife’s accident recently, and I have been in touch with Mr Williams about this privately and actioned his case.
“On the subject of access to GP appointments, I understand this is particularly important to people, which is why I have been raising it on a number of fronts over recent months.
“Nationally, I have been able to raise the issue of GP access directly with those in charge, having questioned both the CEO of the NHS, Amanda Pritchard, and the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, directly and in depth, in my role in the Health and Social Care Committee.
NEW GUIDANCE
“I was able to press both on how the Winter Access fund of £250 million to help GPs will be used. I also met with the chairman of the Royal College of GPs and the chairman of the British Medical Association in the last month, to use my experience as a GP, and now an MP, to drive a change.”
The MP has also been in contact with the clinical commissioning group that covers the Hinckley area, to ask how their consultation on access to GPs is progressing, and what steps they are taking to encourage local GPs to adopt more user-friendly booking systems.
He said: “Throughout the pandemic, GPs have worked incredibly hard in unprecedented circumstances, and it is encouraging to see the number of GP appointments delivered in June of this year, for example, were 2.8 per cent higher in comparison to June 2019.
“When vaccinations are included (many of which were administered by GPs), this figure is 18.9 per cent higher than in June 2019.
“However, I know that for some people in Bosworth, this has not been their experience, so I welcome the new NHS England guidance which states GP practices must offer in-person appointments, and I would encourage anybody who is experiencing difficulty with booking a GP appointment to get in touch with me.”
Two weeks ago, the Mercury reported how 85-year-old Charles Hall, from Barwell, had to wait two-and-a-half hours for an ambulance crew to arrive at his home. He later died of his injuries, with his death deemed to be a result of a kidney failure due to a fall, which consequently caused a cardiac arrest.
Coun Williams said: “Some parts of the health service have done a magnificent job during Covid. But with GPs, I’m shocked at how poor they have been.
“In Leicestershire, there’s a massive issue. A&Es have been swamped because that’s the only place people can get treatment.”
In February 2021, the councillor decided to leave the Conservative party and become an independent over the government’s “poor handling” of the coronavirus pandemic, and the lack of support for businesses.
He said at the time: “Parliament is made up of too many bankers, lawyers and professional politicians who are out of touch with the needs of normal people and that needs to be fixed.”
The Mercury has contacted Dr Luke Evans for comment.