A GP surgery on the Isle of Wight has been slammed by a councillor for ‘inadequate levels of service’.
Bringing the issue to the attention of the Isle of Wight Council’s policy and scrutiny committee for health and social care, chair, Cllr John Nicholson, said he was sad to raise it but he had been told about alarming concerns patients have in obtaining ‘satisfactory levels of service’ from the centre on Newport Road.
He said patients were having problems trying to get appointments and speaking to anybody on the phone as they are ‘seldom, if ever’ answered, causing unnecessary stress, delay and frustrations.
The health body responsible for the Cowes Medical Centre says appointments have been increasing.
Cllr Nicholson, who is also ward representative for Cowes South and Northwood, said:
“It is plain that such inadequate levels of service and accessibility that now exists has the potential to put sick and vulnerable people in the community at unwarranted risk.
“For those who do not have a computer, internet service or are not savvy with the internet it is impossible to use the web contact service.
“Some say that trying to get into the medical centre is more difficult then trying to get into Parkhurst Prison.
Article continues below this advertisement “The concern is whether the medical centre has lost its focus on helping the community which it is charged to attend — becoming introverted and self-centred that their focus has shifted to matters serving their own convenience, safety and internal operations, clearly, to those outside, at the loss of their increasingly desperate patients.
“It appears the writing is on the wall but is this practice so absorbed in its own indulgence that it has failed to notice the light under which all good practices should operate?”
Cllr Nicholson asked for those who commission the GP service, the NHS Isle of Wight CCG (CCG) to ‘lift the veil’ on what is or is not happening at the CMC and try to resolve the issues.
No one at the committee meeting was able to answer Cllr Nicholson’s allegations, so John Metcalfe, chief executive of the council, said it should be brought back to another meeting where representatives could have the right to reply.
When asked about the issues raised by Cllr Nicholson, Alison Smith, managing director of the IOW CCG, said the body had been and will continue to monitor GP practice activity across the Island and had seen consultations increase by 10%, compared to pre-COVID levels — meaning all GP surgeries on the Island were seeing more patients now than they did before the first lockdown in March.
At CMC, there has been an almost 5% increase in consultations in any given week, said Ms Smith — an average of 1,571 consultations every week. Ms Smith said:
“Although the figures show CMC is working hard and getting to as many patients as possible, and working in innovative ways to achieve this, we are sorry to hear some people are experiencing difficulties getting through on the phone.
“We continue to work with the practice to see how pressure can be eased. We also know the practice have an estates improvement plan in place — the practice has secured some funding to help with improvements and we are working with them to see what can be carried out.
“The Island is no different to the mainland, and changes had to be made in order to ensure patient safety and staff were able to continue carrying out their vital work in a Covid-safe way.
“We have seen an increase in telephone, video and online consultations, and of course those who need to be seen in person are still invited to come in for a face-to-face appointment — which is still the majority of the way people are being treated.”
The body has said it will continue to liaise with Healthwatch and keep members of the council’s health and social care committee updated.
And when thousands more homes are built, all such things will become ever more intolerable, as more and more wait for a declining service.
BUT all is not hopeless, the high Council officials and all their family have ‘private health care’ so, they are not ‘bothered’ as they fill the Island to over capacity and beyond.
Think then vote them out next given chance.
Tower House Surgery in Ryde is just as bad.. Not been able to my doctor for over 9 months..
I know, I had to jump through hoops to get seen over something quite serious, and ended up seeing a mere lad, who, was a nice person, but totally inexperienced and had to go to ask a doctor their advise, after reading off a pc check list possible causes, but ended up referring me to the hospital where, almost 9m since, I have STILL not been seen.
Disgusting the way these overpaid doctors and consultants are being hailed as heroes, which SOME are, but others have ‘used’ this as an excuse to avoid risk, avoid work, but still get full pay and liberal undeserved praise.
Most of the doctors are nice people who I have seen, but, very elusive now, I understand they are frightened, but so are we, and so were all our troops in the war. But doctors have the best PE equipment and safety measures, and one even admitted to me it has been too quiet and she likes it a little busier, so I don’t know who is at fault in all this.
Well said ! If you get through the surgery door it’s usually a nurse that sees you not a doctor so the story above should be nurse consultations are up 10% and they weren’t given a payrise.
The doctors have gone into hiding absolutely disgraceful behaviour and as for answering the phones they give all covid talk put you on hold then cut you off after 3 minutes
I telephone CMC a couple of days ago. My call was answered and I was dealt with very curtiously.
Rarely able to see a GP anymore, it’s always a nurse and has been this way since before the Pandemic; and while we are on this discussion has anyone tried to get a Dental Appointment since last March !!!
What doctors? they all went into hiding. But hey they will pop out to get their bonus for giving people the flu and covid vaccines
Yeh £12.50 per covid jab and an extra £10 if it’s in a care home ! How many vaccines could you buy with that to vaccinate the rest of us who have to go to work and face the public everyday. Disgrace.
Agree with a lot of people here – where have they all gone all of a sudden .. they let the phone ring and then a message tells you ‘we are extremely busy, use the e form.
Thanks very much to my doctors .. I’ve moved a mile as the crow flies, ok for 15 years, but now I’ve been told that I’m out of the area so have to register with a doctor nearer to where I live – all this done via email, I was taken off their books Christmas Eve. Shame on them, I’m on medication and come under the umbrella of vulnerable in these times.
It is about time a time and motion study was carried out on GPS and the question asked ‘what are you exactly doing now’.
Newport Dower House is equally as bad if not worse!! Since the merge with Carisbrooke it’s terrible
Newport Dower House is equally as bad if not worse!! Since the merge with Carisbrooke it’s terrible