Threat to surgeries unfounded

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 20th Jun 2008

Liberal Democrats have said today they believe local concerns about threats to GP services in the Cotswolds are unfounded at this stage. Fears have followed the government's directive requiring each Primary Care Trust in the country to set up a GP-led health centre, branded a "polyclinic".

Each GP led health centre will provide access to GP services from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week, and will offer pre-bookable appointments and a walk-in service for both registered and non-registered patients. The idea behind this national initiative is to improve access to patients in the most deprived areas in the country.

Cllr Margaret Edney (Stratton and Whiteway), Shadow Spokesperson for Community Services on CDC said; "In Gloucestershire PCT, Gloucester City has the most deprived areas, and so the new polyclinic will probably be set up here, in addition to current GP practices, to provide improved access to services by those most in need. Therefore, the Cotswolds would not be affected by these plans."

Launching a new set of figures, Cllr Edney, who represents CDC on the county's health overview & scrutiny committee, is alarmed that patients may be waiting too long to register with a GP, or get an appointment; "Research by Liberal Democrats across the country has revealed that in some parts of England, many people find it difficult to go to a GP outside normal working hours. One in three GP surgeries in England is not offering patients appointments within 48 hours, the government target. Only 12% were able to offer an appointment at 7 p.m. on a week day, and only 10% offered appointments at the weekend."

"When it comes to polyclinics, I think people in an urban, working environment like Gloucester, could benefit from a walk-in GP service like this, particularly in the evenings and at weekends. But I don't believe we will be affected in Cotswold district. These sorts of decisions should be made locally in accordance with local opinion, not imposed from the top," she added.

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For further information on this release or the Liberal Democrats in the Cotswolds please contact:

Cllr Maggie Edney: 01285 653051, email emedney@tiscali.co.uk

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson: 07785 263759, email: paul.hodgkinson1@virgin.net