New contracts 'will not affect emergency care' (From Gazette Series)

New contracts 'will not affect emergency care'

EMERGENCY health care in Wotton-under-Edge is not set to be axed contrary to rumours in the town.

Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust has responded to concerns about the future of the two doctors' surgeries.

The trust has categorically stated despite new contracts for doctors coming into force in April out-of-hours cover will not be withdrawn.

Spokeswoman Joanna Wynne said the key message is patients will continue to receive a safe, high-quality service and will still be able to access out of hours services.

"If patients need to see a GP or have an emergency admission to hospital, they will receive this help as they do now or more quickly," she added.

Under the new contract GPs across England are for the first time being allowed to hand responsibility for providing out of hours cover to their trust.

Trusts will be responsible for providing emergency, out-of-hours primary medical services 6.30pm-8am on weekdays and the whole of weekends, bank and public holidays.

They will also be responsible for ensuring 24-hour care is available to all patients, developing integrated emergency care services and integrating services with NHS Direct.

Ms Wynne added Cotswold and Vale trust is fortunate the between 50 and 70 percent of GPs have expressed an interest in continuing to offer some out-of-hours work within the new contract.

"Central to the model will be at least one well staffed and equipped primary care centre in each PCT area, with patients travelling in to the centres whenever possible or appropriate," she said.

Gloucestershire Ambulance Service Trust will bolster its current 8am-8pm patient transport service to cover 24 hours a day, seven days a week, transporting patients into centres when they are unable to find their own means of transport.

There would also be a countywide visiting service that would cater for housebound patients and also provide medical cover to community hospitals such as Berkeley.

Saturday morning surgeries are also under review at the moment.

Ms Wynne stated a recent survey of the 33 practices within the PCT showed high levels of activity currently taking place on Saturday mornings within practices.

"When asked whether or not practices would wish to continue providing Saturday morning surgeries 24 percent said yes, 27 percent said no and 49 percent said they did not know yet."

The trust will continue to provide patients on its patch with a Saturday (8-11am) service, and is currently considering possible options for delivering this.