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Camden News - by TOM FOOT
Published: 8 May 2008

Patients made to wait as surgery is hit by shortage of GPs

STAFF shortages at one of the surgeries taken over by an American health giant left doctors struggling to cope with a high number of patients on Tuesday.
An unnamed doctor has lodged an official complaint with UnitedHealth after patients of the Camden Road Surgery were left waiting for hours to see their GP.
It was issued amid claims that cover at the surgery has been reduced since UnitedHealth took control on April 1.
A source close to the surgery said: “One doctor has gone, leaving two at the surgery. It is simply not enough for a practice that size to be covered by two doctors, especially after the bank holiday weekend. There would normally be three or four.”
Dr Pete Smith, director of primary care for UnitedHealth UK, said: “During the Tuesday morning surgery at Camden Road we are aware that some patients had to wait longer that we would like. Patients should rest assured that this was an exceptional situation which we have already addressed and we are in fact already planning to offer more access to GPs. We expect to be providing surgeries from 8am to 8pm in the near future that will give access to either a GP or a nurse practitioner.”
Two locum doctors working at Camden Road Surgery were told last month they would not be needed at the surgery after May 1.
Dr Sarah Wong has already left, but Dr Alison Buchanan is fighting to stay after 18 years.
It is believed the PCT is now paying her wages on a temporary basis.
Candy Udwin, from Keep Camden GPs In the NHS, said: “It is an absolute scandal if the PCT are subsidising UnitedHealth.
“They won the contract because their price was the lowest.”
A PCT spokeswoman said they could not comment on the details of Dr Buchanan’s contract.
She added: “The GP in question is a sessional locum doctor and not an employee of either Camden Primary Care Trust or UnitedHealth. Camden Primary Care Trust is currently in discussions with the GP regarding alternative locations for her locum work.”

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