Stockport Psychiatry Service
Stockport Health Authority
Springwood House
Poplar Grove
Stockport
SK7 5BY
13 November 2007
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Stockport
Local Medical
Committee
Stockport Psychiatry Service |
Stockport Health Authority 13 November 2007 |
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Your
LMC has been contacted by a number of concerned GPs regarding the current
state of Psychiatry Services in Stockport. It
is clear that although Stockport PCT have commissioned and are therefore
paying Stockport Acute Trust for the provision of a psychiatry service the
current service is being provided without the backup of Consultant
Psychiatrists. Typically,
General Practice has once again been asked to provide the escape valve for
secondary care problems. GPs are now being asked to take on the ongoing
care of patients they neither have the time or expertise to manage. Your
LMC believes it is essential in this context that GPs only undertake the
work they are trained and paid to provide under GMS. We have therefore
attached a model letter, which you may wish to adapt and send to
Mrs Sue Alting, Director of Commissioning, Stockport PCT to state your
position. Should any GPs have any queries in respect of this letter please do not hesitate to contact one of your LMC members or Paul Stevens on Old Telephone Number. Dear
Mrs Alting Re:
Provision of Psychiatry Services in Stockport I
have received the enclosed letter from a CPN with regard to a patient who
is supposed to be under the care of the Psychiatry Department at Stepping
Hill Hospital. (If you have a copy letter to send) I
trust you are aware that there is essentially very little in the way of
psychiatry care being delivered by Stockport Acute Trust, as they do not
appear to have the psychiatrists to provide such care. As
a result, I am now being asked to provide secondary care services to my
patient, as the secondary care sector is unable to provide this care.
Unfortunately, I can only provide this service if I am appropriately
remunerated and trained. Since
it would appear that Stepping Hill Hospital is unable to fulfil its
responsibility with regard to psychiatric care, I expect remuneration to
be provided at the BMA recommended rate of £140 per hour to provide
secondary care services to this patient, and any other patient for whom I
am asked to provide similar services. I shall not be seeing this patient other than for the provision of standard GMS until I have written confirmation from you that such remuneration has been agreeed. Yours
sincerely |