Out of Hours GP service ‘secure’

Health chiefs have stepped in to quell the Christmas panic over fears that Welshpool would be left without 24-hour health cover when Shropdoc comes to an end in the spring.

Cash strapped Shropdoc’s contract with Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) ends in a few months, sparking fears that no alternative service was in place to continue out-of-hours care.

But a statement from PTHB said: “Is the Out of Hours GP service closing in Powys? NO!

“There will always be access to health services in Powys when your GP is closed.

“ShropDoc is the company that currently provides this service. When our contract with them ends later this year, we plan to offer an integrated service that combines GP Out of Hours services and a 24-hour information and advice service through the single free telephone number - 111.”

The Board continued by stating that the service will be similar to what is currently available, with specially trained staff on the phone who will either give advice or “arrange for a GP or other clinician to talk to you, or will arrange for them to see you”.

The Board says that the changes are not about saving money but will ensure a consistent and reliable service with the same levels of investment maintained. It pointed out that calls to the new 111 number will be free instead of currently having to pay to call Shropdoc.

On Boxing Day, we reported how Shropdoc was in financial trouble and was being propped upby financial support from Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin clinical commissioning groups and Powys Teaching Health Board.