Pembrokeshire Local Health Board’s (LHB) plans to restructure out-of-hours medical care

Pembrokeshire Local Health Board’s (LHB) plans to restructure out-of-hours medical care have been slammed by local GPs, who fear the move could be dangerous and see services fall below an acceptable level.

GP Forum Group Pembrokeshire has now written to the county’s Community Health Council (CHC) voicing concerns about the “perceived gravity of the situation” and calling for action to preserve the service.

The letter states: “Views ranged from concerns that the general level of service would fall to below an acceptable level, to concerns that it would be, on occasions, dangerous and actually put a patient’s life at risk.”

At a meeting last year GP representatives rejected the proposals which would no longer see out-of-hours care based solely in Pembrokeshire.

Under the new plans, three doctors would cover Pembrokeshire from midnight to 8am, based at treatment centres in Haverfordwest, Llandysul and Aberystwyth.

The CHC has thoroughly debated the GPs’ concerns and will monitor the service closely over the coming months.

While accepting that the LHB has significantly revised the way the scheme will be delivered, chief officer Ashley Warlow said: “Patient safety cannot and must not be compromised in any way.

“To achieve this, and to ensure that there is no diminution of service, or increased delays and risks to patients, a number of CHC members will be making a series of ad-hoc visits to the out-of-hours treatment and call centres and talk to patients when the new system becomes operational.”

At a recent meeting, the health watchdog said it has not received any patient complaints about the changes so far, only anecdotes.

Pembrokeshire LHB’s associate medical director Dr Iain Robertson-Steel said: “The LHB and its out-of-hours provider organisations are committed to delivering a safe and effective service for urgent care during the 118 hours a week when GP surgeries are closed. “The changes are fully supported by the LHBs and CHC and reflect national standards and national policy. “GPs had been fully kept informed of the developments over the last 18 months, their views and constructive comments had been solicited and considered. “The LHB is keen to improve access to GP surgeries during the day for patients, particularly those with urgent problems who otherwise would end up using the out-of-hours service inappropriately.”