26 June 2014
As you will probably have seen in the local and national media, I have been extremely concerned that where a surgery finds itself under-staffed and feel it has no choice but to re-register patients with a neighbouring practice, this should be done with discretion and in a way which is sensitive to the needs of patients: especially the elderly, infirm or incapacitated, or those who for whatever reason shouldn’t reasonably be expected to re-register like this. I am asking the Surgery to look again and offer these patients a chance to stay.
Obviously, what we really want and need to see is the practice back to full GP capacity so local patients can return / remain with their local surgery. I have been working hard behind the scenes in recent days weeks and months to try and help get this sorted. Since first becoming aware of this from patients + constituents earlier in the year, I have:
It is hugely regrettable that this situation should have been allowed to develop, and that it is now attracting extremely damaging and dangerous attention from the Daily Mail and extreme political groups, like the BNP, mis-representing the situation. Whilst it is true that our area has experienced high rates of migrant labour into especially our food and agriculture sectors (where, sadly, it is becoming increasingly hard for employers to recruit local people who want to work with their hands, in the fields or in factories like Cranswick abattoir and pork factory), this problem is NOT primarily about immigration.
It is principally an issue of retention and recruitment of GPs in the local practice, made harder by the usual challenges of rurality and inaccessibility we face here in Wayland, along with pressure from new housing and a growing population of elderly and retired patients with higher health needs.
NHSE assure me that were it not for the difficulty the practise has had with retention and recruitment, there is no reason for the practice not to be able to cope. GP and nurse numbers, and NHS spending, have all increased under this Government.
I believe that what we all need now is for additional GP resource to be put in place in Watton practice, to allow patients to return to their preferred local practice.
Rest assured I will continue to stay closely involved in this and to speak up for patients, who the NHS is there for, and to work to try and find a practical solution to this as quickly as possible.
George Freeman MP
Obviously, what we really want and need to see is the practice back to full GP capacity so local patients can return / remain with their local surgery. I have been working hard behind the scenes in recent days weeks and months to try and help get this sorted. Since first becoming aware of this from patients + constituents earlier in the year, I have:
- Met with the practice; GPs, Manager, BMA Representative and Patient Representatives to discuss their concerns and offer assistance.
- Raised my specific concerns in Parliament about de-registration of patients.
- Written to the Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS England and Department of Health to push for assistance for the practice.
- On Friday last I met again with NHS England to gain an understanding of what the correct process is in this situation, what assistance they had given, what further assistance they would offer.
- I have this week asked the Surgery if they would reconsider their 'blanket' approach to re-registration on a post code basis and allow some discretion for vulnerable patients.
It is hugely regrettable that this situation should have been allowed to develop, and that it is now attracting extremely damaging and dangerous attention from the Daily Mail and extreme political groups, like the BNP, mis-representing the situation. Whilst it is true that our area has experienced high rates of migrant labour into especially our food and agriculture sectors (where, sadly, it is becoming increasingly hard for employers to recruit local people who want to work with their hands, in the fields or in factories like Cranswick abattoir and pork factory), this problem is NOT primarily about immigration.
It is principally an issue of retention and recruitment of GPs in the local practice, made harder by the usual challenges of rurality and inaccessibility we face here in Wayland, along with pressure from new housing and a growing population of elderly and retired patients with higher health needs.
NHSE assure me that were it not for the difficulty the practise has had with retention and recruitment, there is no reason for the practice not to be able to cope. GP and nurse numbers, and NHS spending, have all increased under this Government.
I believe that what we all need now is for additional GP resource to be put in place in Watton practice, to allow patients to return to their preferred local practice.
Rest assured I will continue to stay closely involved in this and to speak up for patients, who the NHS is there for, and to work to try and find a practical solution to this as quickly as possible.
George Freeman MP
