Keetch Meets GPs Over Continued Beds Pressure

1.01.49pm GMT Thu 6th Jan 2005

Hereford's Lib Dem MP Paul Keetch met with GPs from the Herefordshire Local Medical Committee yesterday to discuss issues of concern to county GPs. The LMC Secretary, Dr Adrian Eyre was joined by GPs from Ross-on- Wye, Hereford City and Ewyas Harold.

Paul Keetch paid tribute to medical staff at local surgeries, Community Hospitals and the County Hospital for their work over the Christmas period. They had faced almost unparalleled calls on their time over the Christmas break, but Mr Keetch said that whilst co-operation between the different health agencies was good, it still needs to be improved.

"For the patient there is no difference in health providers - they just want to be cured," said Mr Keetch. "If a GP refers them into hospital, they then move to a Community Hospital, and then sometimes to a care home. The patient does not care that one service is provided by the Acute Trust, another by the Primary Care Trust, and another by Herefordshire Council. They just want to receive the best care they can."

Mr Keetch also called on the GPs to support the County Hospital when the new "Payment by results" scheme comes into effect in April. Under new Government guidelines patients will have a choice of up to five locations where they can be treated. Paul Keetch says that if GPs and patients in Herefordshire want to see the County Hospital stay and prosper, they must use it.

"It is vital that when further patient choice comes in we need to support our local hospital," said Mr Keetch.

"But also the hospital needs to give us something in return. It is quite clear that we cannot see any further reduction in capacity. With the County Hospital and Community Hospitals full we cannot be thinking about losing more beds - we have to keep what we have and use it better.

"I was concerned to have had to intervene before Christmas over a constituent who was still in Ross Hospital, even though she had been declared fit for discharge last February. She was moved just days before Christmas into a care home, but this kind of bed blocking is not an isolated case. I have been told of two other patients who were in Ross for eight months after they had been medically discharged."

Mr Keetch also discussed out of hours services provided by GPs and the effect of the Shipman Report and Freedom of Information Act on GP practices.

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