 Some patients have complained about long waits |
A group of doctors in east Lincolnshire say an out-of-hours GP service is not serving patients properly. One local GP says patients have complained about slow response to queries and long waits at hospital emergency centres.
East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust took over the service in November 2004.
GP home visits were replaced with paramedic visits, telephone advice and treatment from GPs at hospitals under the new system.
Dr Andrew Mowat says there have been complaints from patients about long waits for call backs and home visits.
Long waits
"We have had a lot of feedback over Christmas and New Year - it has been a particularly difficult time for the service.
"Our most important mission is to provide safe care for patients - and this responsibility doesn't stop at 6 o'clock at night.
"If the service continues as it is doing, patients will be waiting longer and longer to see a health care professional - and perhaps they will not have the skill ranges of a general practitioner.
"Local GPs are quite willing to come back and supply a complete service for patients, including call handling and home visits," he said.
In a statement, the trust said all 143 GPs in East Lincolnshire had chosen to opt out of the service.
A board, which included eight GPs, was set up to develop the alternative service, the trust said.
"The service is consistent with many others across the country. and has been designed to provide a high standard of service to Department of Health guidelines," the trust said.
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