April Pond Questions Primary Care Trust Over Waiting Times

10.01.52am GMT Sun 21st Jan 2007

April Pond Questions Primary Care Trust Over Waiting Time targets for Out-Of-Hours Services.

Concerns have been raised about cutbacks to out-of-hours GP services across Norfolk, which is run by Anglian Medical Care (AMC), a subsidiary of the East of England Ambulance Service.

The number of out-of-hours bases in the Norfolk Primary Care Trust (PCT) area will be cut from eight to four, to meet cost-cutting demands by the PCT on the service.

April Pond, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Broadland, said:

"I have written to the Primary Care Trust (PCT) expressing my concern over the likely increases in the length of time that ill people will have to wait until they receive out-of hours treatment. I have asked the PCT to clarify whether a target to see 90% of those in need of treatment within one hour still stands. With the rural nature of Norfolk, and the length of travelling times to serve the whole county from just four bases, it seems to me very unlikely that this target could be met."

"These are cutbacks based solely on making financial savings, but the reality is that another part of the health service will have to pick up the tab. This will not produce savings, just costs being moved around." says April Pond. "Cutting out-of-hours services will lead to a big increase in people using emergency admissions to hospitals, where the cost of treatment is high."

From Wednesday 24 January, the only four bases in Norfolk PCT area will be Norwich, North Walsham, King's Lynn and Thetford. Bases will be lost at Fakenham, Downham Market, Dereham, and Diss.

April Pond said: "This means that sick people in many parts of Norfolk, will face long journeys if they are in need of out-of-hours services. If you live in Wells, you will now have to go to King's Lynn, or Norwich, and those working at the bases who are called out will also have to travel much further distances on average to answer emergency calls."