GP service move will 'increase pressure' at hospital

An out-of-hours GP service in Limavady is being moved to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry

Moving an out-of-hours GP service in Limavady to Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry will increase pressures at the hospital, a DUP MP has warned.

Gregory Campbell was speaking as the service in Limavady, which has been operated by local GPs, is to be taken over by the Western Urgent Care from 1 April.

The out-of-hours service is for people who need urgent medical treatment after their doctor's practice is closed.

Western Urgent Care is commissioned by the Department of Health to provide cover across the Western Trust area, from Derry to Enniskillen.

Mr Campbell voiced concerns that patients will now have to travel to Derry to be seen at Western Urgent Care's out-of-hours service at Altnagelvin Hospital.

“Now you are going to have an increasingly pressurised service at Altnagelvin Hospital,” DUP MP Gregory Campbell told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today.

“Whenever what we should be trying to do is relieve some of those pressures, but this is going to make the pressure worse.

“This could also probably impact patient safety and care, which should be the primary consideration for everybody.”

A Department of Health spokeswoman said the out-of-hours local enhanced service (LES) is in addition to GP out of hours cover operating across the western trust area.

“A recent evaluation of the service showed significantly lower demand for the service in Limavady than other bases in the Western area,” the spokeswoman added.

'A very valuable service'

Dr Rudolf Thomasius, who works at the service in Limavady, has said he was only informed at the start of this month that the service was moving.

He believes that about 30,000 patients will be affected by the change.

“As of 1 April the service will be no more," Dr Thomasius said.

“For patients it is very disappointing but also for staff, we have got people who provide a very valuable service.

“Some receptionists and drivers have been working with us here for more than 20 years and basically were told that next month either you agree to work in Derry or your job is gone."

In Limavady the LES is staffed by one GP, operated for 2.5 hours on each week night, the Department of Health spokeswoman said.

Western Urgent Care figures, she said, show on average the Limavady-based GP saw three patients, either during a face-to-face consultation, a telephone call, or a home visit, per 2.5 hour shift.

The spokeswoman added: “Separately, there had also been little or no uptake from GPs to cover the normal weekday evening out of hours shifts (9.30pm – 11pm) in the Limavady base."