Doctors to discuss new MIU proposals (From Western Telegraph)

Doctors to discuss new MIU proposals

11:00am Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News

Doctors from practices in Tenby have agreed to meetings with Hywel Dda Local Health Board today (Tuesday ) to discuss the proposed seasonal minor injuries scheme.

Tenby Doctors Surgery have a meeting arranged and has asked for detailed information on the structure, support and finance of the board’s reprovision proposals.

The eight-week service, from mid-July to September and including weekends and bank holidays, is being put forward as a pilot project by the board to cope with extra demand from summer visitors to the area.

It has not yet identified a provider, but the board has stated that this could be a GP practice, pharmacy or the voluntary sector.

At a recent meeting of county, town and community councillors in the area, Tenby Town Council agreed to ask both Tenby and Saundersfoot medical practices for their views on the situation.

Both have repeated their strong objections to closing minor injuries units.

Saundersfoot Medical Centre stated: “We are not in the position to provide an input into any pilot on weekends and bank holidays, and we are seriously concerned that influx of temporary residents, especially within the core hours, would be a significant stretch to our resources (while accepting, of course, a duty of care that applies for any unwell person who accesses our premises).”

Writing on behalf of his partners, Dr H. E. Davies said that the practice was ‘working at saturation level’ and was not able to take on extra work.

He pointed out that the view of the partners over the Tenby MIU closure continued to be that it was ‘a retrograde move’ in terms of health needs.

Dr Iwan Griffiths and partners have told the board that they are already ‘stretched to capacity’, adding: “Taking on additional commitments passed over from secondary care would need to be carefully analysed and balanced to ensure that our current level of patient care is not jeopardised.”