The Government has committed to helping patients who face long round trips to see consultants, after a local GP surgery stopped offering some services normally delivered in hospitals.
Answering a question from Boston and Skegness MP Matt Warman, Health Minister David Mowat explained that there is currently a special relationship whereby a GP agrees with a hospital consultant to prescribe complex drugs which are normally only hospital-prescribed.
He said, however, “This is not part of the standard GP contract and they cannot be required to provide this service. On the specific issue raised, we have asked NHS England to determine whether there are alternatives and I will revert to my hon. Friend on that”.
Matt said, “I met with Beacon Medical Practice Managers in Skegness earlier this month to discuss their concerns and reasoning for the change in this service, and am pleased the Government is committed to helping the situation. I am keen to ensure that a sensible solution is found for all those affected by the cancellation of additional services that many have relied on for years for their essential complex prescriptions.
Many of my constituents who have consultants based in Lincoln, Peterborough or even Sheffield should not be expected to travel for what could be a six hour round trip to get their medicine. I am confident that NHS England will find an alternative.
picture originally in the Skegness Standard