Shropdoc Out Of Hours Service

As many will have seen in recent news articles. Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB are in the final stages of procurement for a new Out of Hours Service, replacing the current Shropdoc that has supported Shropshire patients for 25 years or more. https://www.shropshiretelfordandwrekin.nhs.uk/news/approval-granted-for-intent-to-award-countys-gp-out-of-hours-contract/

There is a petition currently open on Change.org regarding this change of provider: https://chng.it/d4s65RvnTF

The GPs here at Drayton Medical Practice share the same concerns as their colleagues and patients across the county. Their letter to the ICB states:

Dear ICB Board Members,

In keeping with the views of thousands of patients, Shropshire GP colleagues, and the Shrewsbury Business Improvement District community, we feel compelled to write to express our shock, alarm and concerns over the process and decision to end the Out of Hours contract with the not-for-profit familiar ShropDoc service – who have understood the local healthcare landscape for the last 20 years – and instead award the contract to Medviva, a profit driven company with no local experience in responding to the unique and complex needs of our Shropshire patients.

We are surprised and disappointed with the lack of consultation with the Shropshire GPs, including ourselves in Market Drayton, in your making this decision, despite such having a direct impact on our service provision.

We are very worried as to whether the current Out of Hours service that includes GP appointments, home visits, hospice and oncology support, and hospital referral coordinators will continue in its current form.

In light of the above, we implore that you reconsider your decision and reassure us as a matter of urgency that any future Out of Hours service will continue to include high-calibre appropriately trained and qualified clinicians providing care across all areas of Shropshire, without reducing the number of rural clinical assessment bases, margins cover, and cover for protected education sessions.

A cheap, doctor-light service will have a direct and detrimental effect on an already stretched and overwhelmed IN-hours primary care service, with a subsequent obvious negative knock-on effect to the already struggling secondary care services, increasing waiting times for urgent hospital assessment and care.

The gravity and depth of angst can be appreciated by the thousands of signatures added to a petition started only a few days ago.

We look forward to your urgent reply.

The Partners of Market Drayton Medical Practice