Shropdoc turns 20

It revolutionised the way we receive round the clock medical care, and despite its ups and downs, Shropdoc has turned 20.

A celebration at Shrewsbury Town Football Club raised funds for the Alzheimer’s Society and it gave those involved a chance to reflect on the past two decades.

Current Shropdoc chairman, Dr Russell Muirhead, said: “Our patients depend on Shropdoc and Shropdoc depends on everyone in our team. What we do is often complex and difficult and requires everyone to do their part of the job and to do it well.

“I believe that our greatest strength is the sum of this joint commitment to do the best we can for our patients – that is the key element of Shropdoc’s success.

“Success is having one of the highest access rates per patient in the UK – a double edged sword you may feel - but what it actually means is that Shropdoc patients don’t resort to 999 and A&E the way they do in other areas – we are a significant resource within the local health economy.

“Looking back over the past 20 years, Shropdoc has done exceedingly well – we have much to celebrate and to be proud of.”

Shropshire Doctors Co-operative Ltd (Shropdoc) provides urgent medical services for patients in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Powys when their own surgery is closed and their needs cannot safely wait until the surgery is next open.

It operates during evenings, over weekends and bank holidays and provides services to 600,000 patients in the region and the call centre deals with around 250,000 calls and in excess of 150,000 patients per year.