The letter said: “Our greatest concern is for your health and convenience but also taking into consideration green travelling issues. Re: Carbon footprints and winter weather conditions, we feel it would be advisable for patients to register at surgeries nearer to where they live. We would be very grateful if you could make the necessary arrangements to re-register at another practice.” Mrs Mulcahy, a grandmother, believes the decision was made because she complained about a doctor.
“When I read through the letter, I found it absolutely ridiculous they were saying the reason was to decrease their carbon footprint,” she said. “I have been a patient at the practice for 30 years now, and there has never been any problem. To be treated like this, just because I live too far away or for what I feel is a reaction to my complaint, is disgraceful. It feels like they are just coming up with an excuse to get rid of me.” Mrs Mulcahy said she was anxious and worried at having to try to find a new GP. “If they really cared, they could have found me a new practice instead of just basically saying do it yourself,” she said.
“It is a great worry to me as I am elderly and need to get repeat prescriptions for medication. This is really a stress I could do without. I won’t let it rest though, because I feel like I am being treated poorly.” The West Road Surgery declined to comment. Andrew Stride, the head of governance, risk and customer services for NHS South Essex, said: “We would advise all patients who have concerns about any aspect of local NHS care to contact the patient advice and liaison service. While we are unable to comment on individual cases, we would like to assure patients there is a procedure GP practices need to follow before they can remove patients from their lists.”
3 comments:
Are British miles different than American? Two miles is like a 25 minute walk, if even. The drive would be very very short. Are there even any closer options? What a bunch of douchebags.
Think green :(
Anonymous I doubt two miles is a 25 minute walk for your average 83 year old.
I've heard talk of some GPs not liking to have high risk patients on their books because of the cost. Could this be a plot to rid themselves of the cost of caring for elderly patients?
I would suggest to Mrs Mulcahy that she makes a FOI request to her local NHS trust asking how many patients living a similar distance from their surgery have been issued with similar notices.
I live two miles from the nearest Doctor's surgery. No doubt if my surgery had the same management as Mrs Mulcahy has to suffer they would suggest I moved house to be nearer my GP.
Post a Comment