Copyright scotsman
Rather than retender the contract, the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (EHSCP) has decided to relocate nearly 5000 patients on a few weeks’ notice. Notice is probably the wrong word for what really happened, however. I was soon contacted by residents who had not heard about the closure until it appeared in their news feeds. There had been no direct communication with them about the fact that they had been assigned, without consultation, to another GP. Polwarth is a densely populated residential area, home to a diverse community, with a wide range of health needs. Many people have been registered with the local GP for decades. Their anger at being moved to a new practice without warning is justified. I am personally concerned about the continuity of care in the area, especially for the elderly. Locals say that nearby GPs who will absorb Polwarth’s patients, such as Gilmore Medical Practice, are already full. To make this move during the winter, and at a time when the pressure on GPs is already immense, does not seem wise. I have therefore written to NHS Lothian and Neil Gray, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, demanding an explanation for this disruptive and poorly communicated decision. It is clear that GP practices across the Capital are under severe pressure at the same time we are seeing a significant population increase in the region. The future of three other practices in Edinburgh run directly by the EHSCP has also caused concern in recent weeks. The contracts for Braefoot Medical Practice, Links Medical Centre, and Mill Lane Surgery will be put out to tender soon to the dismay of patients at these practices. The BMA this summer raised a dispute with Scottish Government Ministers, alleging that GP’s funding has not kept up with inflation since 2008, and Audit Scotland found earlier this year that the government’s plan to increase the number of GPs by 800 will fail to be met by 2027. Our region faces an additional challenge that the rest of the country does not; NHS Lothian has warned that the health board will see 84% of Scotland’s population growth in the period to 2033. Meanwhile, Lothian has consistently received the lowest amount of funding per capita of all Scottish health boards. The question which needs to be asked if why haven’t we seen the investment we need in local GP practices and indeed the opening of new GP Practices? It is clear that the priorities of the SNP Scottish Government are all wrong. John Swinney’s posturing pre-election move of opening fifteen walk-in GP services nationally does little to reassure patients that their existing GP will be able to stay in business or offer them more appointments. It’s time for GP services in the Capital to be made the priority and for a vision on how General Practice can meet the needs of our communities now and in the future. Miles Briggs is a Conservative MSP for Lothian
