ChilversMcCrea Healthcare criticised for using locums at surgery (From Gazette)

ChilversMcCrea Healthcare criticised for using locums at surgery

7:10am Monday 7th September 2009 in

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PATIENTS are feeling let down by their local GP surgery’s lack of regular doctors.

The last permanent GP recently left Green Elms surgery in Crossways, Jaywick, leaving it relying entirely on locum cover for the first time since it opened a year ago.

ChilversMcCrea Healthcare, the private company which runs the surgery for the primary care trust, NHS North East Essex, says two permanent GPs are due to start within the month, with a third being recruited by the end of September.

Eileen Murphy, a patient at the surgery, said it was unbelievable another doctor was leaving. Mrs Murphy, 75, of Jaywick Lane, said patients were worried about the quality of care provided by temporary locums, who never got to know their patients.

She said: “I can’t afford to be going to one doctor this month and seeing another one the next month.

“I want continuity of care.”

Penny Lansdown, head of commissioning for the trust, said: “We have raised these issues with ChilversMcCrea Healthcare and we are working with it to come up with a permanent solution to provide continuity of care for the Green Elms patients.”

Sarah Chilvers, chief executive of ChilversMcCrea Healthcare, said: “We want to reassure patients the centre will continue to be well staffed and committed to providing excellent care for our patients.”