----- Original Message -----
From: Dr Lupoli (QEG) Monkspath Surgery B90 4EH
> The implication was that GP surgeries should be open instead of using
co-op
> and run in a normal manner ie with all GP from that surgery present. Its
> fair to ask therefore how may A&E units have all their consultants present
> working a normal day during on bank holidays?
>
> Regards
> Lou
>
> Dr Arturo "Lou" Lupoli
> GP Solihull W.Mids
> Immediate Care Practitioner, SoliCARE
You're missing the point; we are not concerned about who is or who isn't
working, we are simply concerned about access to service. A&E access doesn't
change over bank holidays, but GP access does - or at least the patients
perceive that it does notwithstanding the 24 hour service delivered by
co-ops etc. But returning to your staffing question, on bank holidays most
A&E departments will run an equivalent service to weekend cover, which
normally means identical junior staffing (SHOs, ENPs etc) but with slightly
reduced senior cover. There is still enough senior cover however to function
as normal, when you consider that on weekdays seniors often do other things
(teach, audit etc) and shop floor cover is provided by a small complement of
the senior establishment. So basically the A&E service is pretty constant,
24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We would like to see a similar approach in
primary care, that's all. But I don't "blame" GPs, I know the problems are
much deeper than that and I don't want to rant on about funding again, Iain
Jamieson has already stolen my thunder on that one...
Regards
Adrian Fogarty
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