From April 1st Devon PCT has determined that this service will mainly be available from Totnes Hospital Minor Injuries Unit (MIU).
Devon PCT will now only commission and resource GPs to provide a "minor injuries" service where the practice is more than 10 miles from an MIU"
This I lifted from a Devon PCT leaflet they have provided for patients to inform them of the new changes.
We have lots of these at the Surgery for people to collect and read so that they can better understand that if they attend the Surgery with a sprain or cut or whatever, we will turn them away (bleeding maybe?) and get them to go to Totnes Hospital because they've come to the wrong place. Just as if they wandered in to, lets say, the dentists or even the Chip Shop with the same injury.
Devon PCT doesn't pay us to treat this sort of thing- they now pay the MIU.
Devon PCT tells us that this is a change in response to what patients want.
They want the GP to provide management of long-term health conditions, and that patients would rather go to an MIU for an injury rather than to their own, trusted, Doctor.
I have to say though that it just seems wrong, and I find it hard to believe that "patients wishes" is the reason.
It seems more likely that given Devon PCTs perilous financial situation that finances must be the driver in some way.
Totnes GPs have always been able and willing to help people with Minor Injuries if they have attended the Surgery.
Now we are told that it is not our job and we won't be paid for helping you in these circumstances.
We could of course continue to treat patients with minor injuries as and when they turn up, but, you know, quite frankly if we aren't being paid for doing a job we are unlikely to offer it for free. Just like any other job in any walk of life.
Trust me; we could (and did) offer this service much cheaper than the MIU. In fact we never even thought at all about the finances of it. It was just part of the job..... til we were told it wasn't any more.
Sorry. Really sorry.
If you feel stongly at all about this it might help to let the PCT know. Their PALS (Complaints) details are below:
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
Telephone: 0845 111 0080 or 01392 385694
E mail: pals.devonpct@nhs.net
Or wite to: PALS, St Edmunds Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter, EX4 1DU
1 comments:
I have lived in Totnes Harbertonford for 2 1/2 years now and was really concerned to be leaving my old doctors surgery which me and my family have attended for years and been with the same doctor who has seen my daughter since she was born and been a constant help through my daughters heart surgery. I shouldn`t have worried since becoming a patient at leatside i have been impressed with the care my family have recieved from doctors to nurses, midwives and health visitors. My doctor is Dr Watkins ad could not have a nicer caring person to talk to about any health issues. My daughter fell at school and banged her head which nicely came up in a big lump, i immediatley called the docors for an apt to have her checked and felt reassurred when i left the surgery that my daughter was fine. If i had to attend the hospital for this minor injury i would had to wait like you do at any hospital injury unit, my daughter would have seen someone she didn`t know in unfamiliar surroundings. This idea is a disgrace by the PCT if the doctors are willing to treat minor injuries we as pts have the right to see people we know and trust Posted by Michala Board e-mail m.board@nhs.net
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