Apr 11 - GSD Criticises Primary Care Centre Advanced Appointments System
The GSD has expressed concern over the current Primary Care Centre advanced appointment system. The party insists that there are ‘continued difficulties posed on the morning of the first day of each month for the booking of advance GP appointments’, they add that appointments are often filled within two hours, and witnesses have reported ugly scenes of arguments and flared tempers between those unable to obtain appointments.
The party goes on to say, ‘although patients have benefitted from the ‘appointment with last prescription’ service, this Government’s new appointment system has clearly not been enough to accommodate the 9,000 patients that are seen by the GPs every month at the Primary Care Centre. Much more needs to be done in order for it to work and the GSD suggests the exploration of new initiatives for repeat prescriptions, cancellation lists, enhanced emergency GP services, more phone lines, the vigorous promotion of ‘prevention rather than cure’ through the GHA Public Health Department, a proper Occupational Health service and online access to Primary Care services such as repeat prescriptions or triage. ‘
Commenting on the issue, Opposition Health Spokesman Isobel Ellul-Hammond noted that The Government has had two years to audit and sort out a one month advance appointment system. She added, ‘they are still failing to deliver consistency because a continued frantic, concerned public is dissatisfied with the operational aspects of the service.
The GSD believes that the issue has had ‘a knock-on effect on the Accident & Emergency (A&E) services at St Bernard’s Hospital, which has seen a 13% annual increase of attendance since 2011, while Primary Care Centre attendance has reduced. Reports coming to the GSD are of a demoralised A&E staff under pressure, dealing with an increasing number of primary care concerns, many brought in by ambulance through misuse of this service as a Medical Priority Dispatch System is still not set up. ‘
Mrs. Ellul-Hammond said that a local constituent recently reported to her that during a trip to A&E ‘the staff begged him to speak to the Minister about their staffing after 8pm’. She expressed her shock at the Government’s spending on ‘vanity projects such as £4.4m on the extension to No. 6, when it could be better spent on basic healthcare services much needed in our community’.
