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Claire Raynor |
SURGERIES 'NO BETTER THAN CATTLE MARTS'
Agony aunt Claire Rayner backs larger, better-equipped GP surgeries
AGONY aunt Claire Rayner joined a row this week over claims that Islington’s large “super surgeries” were no better than “cattle markets”.
Ms Rayner, president of the pressure group Patients Association, spoke out in favour of the larger “more accountable” GP practices.
The row broke out after former nursing sister Doris Daly said getting an appointment at her large surgery was “like entering an obstacle race”.
Highbury GP Dr Jitendra Patel is retiring next month – the fourth single practice to close in a year – and patients are being advised to join new, larger surgeries.
Mrs Daly said she used to be a patient at a small GP surgery off the Caledonian Road, Barnsbury, who looked after her perfectly well for many years. He retired three years ago and was not replaced.
She added: “With my old GP you could just walk in without an appointment. It was very much the ‘old school’. There was a friendly atmosphere and you could always have a chat.
“Today getting an appointment to see a GP at a big practice can be like an obstacle race. The telephone is either put on hold or a speak-robot will advise ‘ring back later’. Emails are not responded to. When human ?contact is eventually made, the appointment is not assured. You are told to ring back at 2pm.”
The retired nursing sister turned college tutor and writer added that even advance appointments for next week or next month are not easy to make because they are against the practice’s policy.
She said: “One would do better telephoning a call centre in New Delhi.”
Highbury resident Terry Hadland – a former patient with Dr Patel – moved to a bigger centre three years ago.
He said: “It was the worst decision I ever made. It’s like a cattle market.
“You get no ‘hello’. You’re told to sit down and you are in and out of the doctor’s – that’s it.
“If you don’t ring by 8am you can’t get an appointment. There’s no familiarity. No one seems to care.”
The row mirrors the one currently being being waged over the government’s plans to launch so-called polyclinics – half-way treatment centres between hospitals and doctor’s surgeries.
Ms Rayner said she was in favour of the larger, well equipped surgery.
She added: “The single practice means that the doctor has no GP support and no one with him to see what he is doing. It’s nice to see the same doctor but there is always the worry that they may become dangerously complacent or under-informed.
“What you want is a doctor who is up to date with everything and who has colleagues who are aware of what he is doing. For example, alcoholism is a major problem among a lot of doctors and dentists. A colleague may spot it.”
Ms Rayner added that she also supported the polyclinic scheme. “It makes sense for doctors to have areas of expertise, whether it be diabetes or asthma or prostate problems.”
A spokeswoman for the Islington Primary Care Trust said: “We’re very sorry that Mrs Daly has experienced difficulties getting an appointment at her GP practice.
“We take all complaints from patients very seriously and raise them immediately with the practice concerned.
“We are currently working with all local practices to improve their opening times and increase the number of available appointments.
“This is often easier in larger practices because they have more staff, which gives them the opportunity to be more flexible with their opening hours.
“Larger practices can also provide patients with a choice of doctors – for example the chance to see a female doctor – so it should often be easier for patients to make an appointment easily and at a time that suits them.”
n Retiring Highbury Park GP Dr Jitendra Patel added his voice to the growing campaign for a replacement doctor to continue work at his surgery.
“I not sure there is capacity for all my 2,300 patients elsewhere,” he said.
“Having a replacement would make sense and would mean continuity of care.”
There are only two practices within walking distance of his own surgery at Highbury Grange and Highbury New Park.
He added: “Even the GP at St Paul’s Road, about a mile and a half away, is moving to Upper Street, which will make matters worse for some elderly and disabled people.”
Originally from Kenya, Dr Patel, 66, has been a popular GP for 25 years after succeeding the then retiring GP Dr Hancock.
“I’ve enjoyed my work and seeing my patients,” he said, “and I’m sorry that I’m going at a time of such uncertainty.” |
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