Potential loss of out of hours GP service in Shropshire

A NHS campaign group say the potential loss of an out of hours GP service in the county would be “catastrophic.”

Shropdoc has been a not-for-profit organisation since it was established in 1996. However, the NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW) Integrated Care Board (ICB) is undertaking a “competitive procurement” process, meaning that a new, privatised service could take over.

Councillor Julia Evans, who is a former emergency department nurse and emergency nurse practitioner, said: “The loss of Shropdoc would be a catastrophic blow for the county.

“As someone who worked on the frontline of the NHS for 23 years, I know what a difference a good out of hours service can make.

“Giving patients 24/7 access to primary care services means fewer unnecessary visits to A&E, reducing the strain on the NHS as a whole.

“Lots of people will have used Shropdoc many times over the years when their GP surgery was closed – parents with poorly children in the middle of the night, adults who are suffering in pain, the elderly who need help to stay at home and avoid a costly and emotionally traumatic stay in hospital.

“Shropdoc is a vital part of our local NHS and it’s deeply worrying to learn that it could be axed and replaced with a profit-driven service.”

Cllr Evans is the secretary of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Defend our NHS. The group has sent a letter to the ICB, which highlights its concerns. It has been signed by several people, including other Green Party councillors.

“Destroying an extremely good not-for-profit local organisation while handing over an estimated £36 million of NHS money to a “for profit” private company has absolutely zero benefit for Shropshire residents,” added Cllr Evans.

“If Shropdoc vanishes, it will have a huge impact on people across the county, not least of all those receiving palliative and end of life care.

“We will see increased costs – both financial, but also in terms of the impact on our community. Shropdoc is run by local GPs who know the local area well and have built up an enviable network of relationships with local organisations.

“Swapping this expertise for a private company that simply has a list of email addresses and phone numbers and a desire to turn a profit, would be devastating. As Green Party councillors, we are committed to fighting for local services. I hope Shropshire’s MPs join us in saying: hands off our NHS.”

NHS STW says it has responded directly to the open letter, and people can view its website for the latest FAQ document for the out of services procurement.

“In line with our statutory and legal duties, a robust and fair process is currently underway to determine the future of the GP out of hours service in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin,” said Gemma Smith, director of commissioning at NHS SWT.

“This process is being undertaken via a competitive procurement so that we continue to provide a high-quality out of hours service that meets the needs of our local people.

“As part of this process, we have collected a broad range of patient feedback to help us to understand people’s views around GP out of hours services and what is important to them.

“This enables us to enact our role as a health commissioning organisation to provide the very best service we can for the people of this county, and to ensure we are acting in line with procurement regulations.”