Islington Tribune - News: WHEELCHAIR DEMO TO STOP GP’S CLOSURE

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 7 March 2008

Patients Terry and sister Sharon Hadland, Sham Sulislam and Sally Mair

WHEELCHAIR DEMO TO STOP GP’S CLOSURE

Disabled patient plans daily protest outside threatened surgery

A WHEELCHAIR user is launching a one-woman demonstration outside her doctor’s surgery in Highbury in a last ditch stand to keep it open.
Sharon Hadland, 42, says she will remain outside her GP Dr Jitendra Patel’s practice in Blackstock Road, every day until the Islington Primary Care Trust agree to meet her.
A petition with more than 250 signatures was handed by local Labour councillor Richard Greening to Islington’s full council last week, calling for Dr Patel, who is due to retire, to be replaced by another GP.
Ms Hadland described Dr Patel as the best GP she has ever had.
She added: “I know he’s got to retire but I can’t understand why the PCT won’t replace him. I’ve tried to talk to the PCT without
success.
“So from Monday, I shall be sitting outside the surgery in my wheelchair every day – until such times as they are able to give me a satisfactory explanation as to why Dr Patel is not being replaced.”
Next Tuesday a delegation from Islington Council’s scrutiny committee will visit Dr Patel’s surgery and talk to the GP, staff and patients.
Dr Patel has told the Tribune that he should be replaced when he goes at the end of this month after 25 years service. He is the fourth small GP to close in a year and up to 2,200 of his patients are having to find new doctors.
The PCT has stated that the surgery is closing partly because it is in a old building which does not meet the needs of wheelchair users.
However, Ms Hadland who has epilepsy and muscular disease, added: “But I’m disabled and I’m living proof that it does meet those needs.
“Besides there are empty rooms at the practice for expansion and if there are access difficulties they can be resolved with a little money.
“I don’t want to have to go to a big anonymous practice at the other side of the borough. Dr Patel is probably a one-off. His opening hours are fine, his receptionists and staff are kind and helpful and he will even talk to you on the telephone. I don’t want to be just a number at some big surgery.”
Solicitor Peter Dyson said he thought many patients would support Ms Hadland’s stand and said: “This is a very popular surgery. It’s convenient for a lot of people in an area short of doctors.”
A PCT spokeswoman said: “The PCT spoke to Ms Hadland last week about her concerns that she would not be able to find a new doctor once Dr Patel retires at the end of March.
“Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service identified five possible options for Ms Hadland which they discussed at length with her, including their location, the number of doctors in each practice and their ease of access. PALS also discussed with Ms Hadland her concerns about changing doctors and the reasons behind the closure of Dr Patel’s practice.”
She added: “We have found all of Dr Patel’s patients a new local GP and informed them of their new surgery’s details. Patients are free to choose their own surgery if they feel that the one the PCT has chosen is not suitable for their needs.”

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